Key takeaways
- Generally traced to a gum company logo.
- Single, double and triple BARs.
- 'Any BAR' mixes often pay.
- A classic-machine staple.
In shortThe BAR is generally traced to the logo of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company on early gum-paying machines. Classic machines use single, double and triple BARs.
Origin
The gum-vending machines of the early 1900s are said to have carried the maker's bar-shaped logo on the reels. The story is widely repeated and hard to verify in detail.
How BARs pay
| On the line | Pays |
|---|---|
| Three triple BARs | Highest BAR prize |
| Three double BARs | Less |
| Three single BARs | Less again |
| Any three BARs, mixed | A small prize |
Typical pattern; paytables vary.
Today
Starburst uses a BAR among its top symbols, alongside the seven.
Elsewhere on the site: Compare slot machines, Jackpot slot machines, Low stake slot machines and The history of online slots.
Singles, doubles and triples
Stacking BARs gave designers three ranks from one symbol and made mixed lines possible: any three BARs, in any combination, for a small prize. That mixed win is one reason classic machines hit often.
Keep reading: Three-reel vs five-reel slot machines, Fruit machines, Slot machine odds and The cherry symbol.
Next: how slot machines work, or seven slots taken apart.
Slot figures are developers' published defaults, each confirmed against two sources; the version at your casino can differ. UK land-based stake and prize limits and online rule dates were checked against Gambling Commission and licensing authority sources on 6 October 2026. History follows commonly cited accounts. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What does BAR mean on a slot machine?
It began, by most accounts, as a gum logo.
What are double and triple BARs?
Higher-paying versions.
What is 'any BAR'?
A mixed-BAR win.
Which modern slot has a BAR?
Starburst.