The slot machine is one of the most iconic and fun casino experiences in existence. Given how much of its popularity is tied to the experience of playing in person, you’d be forgiven for thinking that out of all the casino games that moved online, this one isn’t doing that well. Surprisingly though, quite the opposite is true. Indeed, it seems that this classic slot machine has had huge success after it made the switch into the online world. In fact, recent industry trends suggest that online slots are among the most popular games played online today. But why have slots continued to be so popular as casino gaming has shifted into the digital age?
Easy to understand gameplay
Out of all the casino games on offer, slots machines are, without question, the easiest to understand. Even the old faithful – roulette – which consists of not much else than spinning a giant wheel and guessing where the ball will land, has a surprising amount of strategy involved when placing bets. This is not the case with slots however, which take only a matter of minutes to fully understand with no strategy to memorise or apply. This format also works perfectly on the mobile platform, making slots easily accessible from virtually anywhere.
Low commitment fun
Another reason why slots have proven to be so popular in the digital age is due to the low amount of commitment needed to play a game at online casinos. Given that the action and gameplay unfold rapidly, and the whole game can be over in a matter of minutes, it is the perfect format for the online and mobile space. In contrast to games such as blackjack or poker, where games can stretch over long periods of time, slots are a low commitment, fast-paced game. This works perfectly for mobile and online games where the average player might only want to play a game for a short amount of time before finishing up and moving on to something else. This has helped to increase the popularity of slot machines as casino gaming has gone online.
Variety is the spice of life
As previously mentioned, the gameplay and format of slot machines are incredibly simple, which make them a highly versatile medium for game developers to tweak and adjust. Go on to any online casino and you will be immediately struck by the sheer volume of different slot machine game types on offer. With a simple format that is the same across many of these, this gives developers a lot of scope to develop takes on this basic format to suit any number of consumer desires. This has proven a key benefit in the online space where the more variety you can offer to individual players, the greater your chances of success.
Fair play standards
The core technology behind slot machines is known as a Random Number Generator (RNG) which dictates how the wheels will fall once the release button has been pressed. A given game’s RNG can be tested to a high industry standard to ensure fairness in terms of the outcome for players. This technology ensures that online casinos don’t tilt the odds in favour of themselves and give consistent returns to players. Thanks to this, the customer is more likely to play for real money. As one of the fairest online games out there, customers’ faith in slots has certainly contributed to their continued popularity.
