The popularity of online slots has seen them become the leading driver of growth in the digital gaming sector. The Great Britain Gambling Commission recently reported that slots accounted for 47% of total online gross gambling yield (GGY) in the first quarter of the year.
The total of £689 million in slots revenue is up 11% on the same period in the previous year, while total spins grew by 6% to 23.4 billion. All in all, it’s a staggering story of success in a relatively short space of time.
Evolution of Online Slots
Slots have always been a big draw in casinos, but it was the advent of the internet that truly changed the games fortunes. The mid 90’s saw the first ever online casinos launched and they were an immediate success, providing players with a more accessible way to enjoy their favourite online slots while staying true to the original mechanical slot games.
However, it wasn’t until the smartphone revolution that slots became the game of choice for so many fans. Games are now fully optimised for a seamless and immersive mobile gameplay experience, allowing fans to access them anytime and anywhere they choose.
The global reach of the internet has allowed gamers across the world to discover this exciting casino classic, but there’s more to slots success than technology. Here’s our guide to the factors contributing to this trend.
Convenience and Accessibility
While slots were always one of the most popular games in physical casinos, the location and opening times of these buildings were often prohibitive for many players. However, the internet has revolutionised everything.
Now gamers can play online anytime and anywhere they choose using their smartphone, tablet or laptop. This convenience and accessibility have brought slots to wider, global audience, particularly in regions where traditional casinos are scarce.
Simple to Play
People like being able to pick up and play a game without having to learn lots of different rules and strategies. However, slots are considered one of the simplest casino games to play, making them accessible to a wider audience including beginners and more experienced players.
Game Variety
Land-based casinos have long been restricted in their game offerings due to their physical limitations. But online platforms offer thousands of slot games for players to enjoy, with new titles and game upgrades regularly added.
There are numerous themes to choose from too, including:
- Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome
- Fishing
- Sport
- Irish
- Mythical
- Movies and TV
- Music
There are also several different versions of games available online, allowing players to enjoy new experiences and formats. From three, five, and seven-reel slots, to progressive jackpots, video slots, 3D slots and much more.
This constant updating helps keep the gaming experience fresh and engaging, and ensures payers keep coming back to the platform.
Immersive Gameplay
Today’s online slots utilise cutting-edge technology to create a more immersive and engaging experience for players. High-quality graphics, impressive sound effects, and innovative features such as bonus rounds and interactive mini-games, have all helped grow the appeal of online slots.
Many slots also include gamified elements such as missions, leaderboards, and progressive jackpots to add an extra layer of excitement and intrigue to the gameplay.
Competition
The success of online casinos and slots has created fierce competition in the sector as more businesses look to get in on the action. In order to retain and attract customers, operators are pushing the boundaries of technology to create ever more immersive games for players to enjoy.
Virtual Reality games, Artificial Intelligence, 3D, and Augmented Reality, are all being explored in order to create better games, improved functionality, and a smoother user experience for players.
Bonuses and Promotions
Another effect of competition in the online sector, is the creation of bonuses and promotions. Used to attract new players as well as reward loyal customers, operators utilise features such as wild symbols, scatters, free spins, and interactive mini-games to keep customers engaged and coming back for more.
Security
When divulging personal and financial details online, players need to know that their information is safe and secure. Which is why reputable operators now feature advanced security features and incorporate Secure Socket Layer encryption.
Now, customers who sign up to an online casino know that their money and personal information is safer than ever before. This has boosted player confidence in online gaming and helped make online slots more popular.
Fairness
To enhance fairness, online slots now use Random Number Generators (RNG) in order to ensure the game’s outcome is random and fair. All online operators who offer online casino games that use a random number generator, must have their software and gameplay tested before they are released to the public.
Fun Ultimately, there are many factors that have contributed to slots meteoric rise. But perhaps the biggest and most important factor in their success, is that slots are a fun game to play.