Key takeaways
- From the Liberty Bell machine.
- Three bells was the original jackpot.
- Gave 'bell machines' their name.
- Still a mid-to-high symbol.
In shortThe bell comes from Charles Fey's Liberty Bell of the 1890s, where three bells paid the top prize. Early slot machines were simply called bells.
Origin
Fey's machine showed a cracked Liberty Bell among its five symbols and paid fifty cents for three.
A name for the machine
For decades slot machines were known as bell machines, and makers used the word in product names.
Today
On classic-style slots the bell usually sits between the fruit and the sevens in the paytable.
Elsewhere on the site: Slot machine glossary, Fruit machines, Loose and tight slot machines and Slot machines in Britain.
Bells in Britain
One of Britain's best-known machine makers took the bell into its name, and the symbol appears on countless pub machines. On a feature trail a bell often marks a bonus square.
In the paytable
Three bells commonly pay more than any fruit and less than three BARs or sevens, though the order is each designer's choice.
Keep reading: Why slot machines are so absorbing, Classic slot machines, Slot machine myths and Cash collect.
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
Why is there a bell on slot machines?
From the Liberty Bell.
What did three bells pay?
The top prize, originally fifty cents.
Is it a high symbol?
Usually mid-to-high.
Who made the Liberty Bell?
Charles Fey.