Those sweet treats came in the form of chewing gum. One famous example was a slot machine that had to convert from giving cash prizes to dispensing sweet treats when someone actually won. Some outlawed gambling altogether, and others prevented using imagery like the liberty bell. What we know for sure is that in the early 1900s, slot machines had become pretty popular, and some of the manufacturers faced the wrath of new gambling laws and legislation. There are multiple theories about why fruits are used in these games. So, where does this link between fruits and slot machines come from? Why do so many devices still use fruits today? Fruits are used as symbols that can be matched in a game and represent the different levels of prizes available. If you’ve previously used slot machines, you will know the relationship between slot games and fruits.