When it comes to game distribution in any modern casino, it’s immediately noticeable that slots are the dominant content. There are a few reasons for that. Table games can accommodate several players, while slots can be played by one person at a time. Slots are more popular among the players. Finally, slots generate more revenue compared to other games. As a result, casinos want to ensure that anyone who wants to play can do so. Here we will take a good look at the evolution of slots in the last 20 years and see what makes them so appealing.
Increased Accessibility
It’s incredibly easy to play slots today, regardless of where you are. All you need is a smartphone, internet access, and an account on an online casino. You can find multiple reputable operators on kaszinoworld, a site that reviews online casinos in Hungary. In fact most of the operators there have neat promotions that will give you free spins on the first deposit. So you don’t even need a significant budget to get a lasting playsession nowadays. This wasn’t always the case though.
Early slot machines were available in casinos and in bars, but only in the last 20 years did we see a spike in accessibility. This is really all thanks to online gambling apps. Even bars and small gambling joints would still need a specific license to host slots in their establishment. So many of them didn’t bother but now players can enjoy this content regardless of where they are.
A Different Design Philosophy
When slot games went fully digital they were just mimicking the old fruit machines. Many players love this classic look, but there was a certain problem A game of video poker has also made its way into online casinos. Unlike regular poker, this one was more beginner friendly, and it had some similarities with how slots are played. You were essentially hoping to get the right combination of cards that gives you a big multiplier to your winnings. Unlike slots video poker is way more consistent so it’s easy to see why it was a preferred choice for many gamblers.
In gambling lingo, some of the slot machines were even called poker machines, and pokies in Australia. No one knows why exactly players started using this terminology but there is a theory that it’s because video poker was so popular. At first glance slots and poker look very different but the core principles are incredibly similar. As a player, you are chasing specific combinations to get higher payouts. This made it clear that online slots need to re-establish their identity.
Modern Online Casino Slots
Modern poker machines or pokies are very similar to online slots today. They are a big hit in Australia, and the government had to interfere out of concern that it can become a problem. The laws may seem strict at times but bear in mind that gambling was illegal in a lot of places a few decades ago. However, many online operators are based in jurisdictions where regulators aren’t so strict, which also gives more freedom in terms of game design.
Since slots went digital, a whole world of possibilities opened up for the developers. They no longer had to be restricted to set paylines and strict symbol interaction. Compared to video poker the only big difference was the existence of big jackpots in slots, but that gradually changed.
Nowadays there are very different sub-genres in the slots category:
- Megaways – slots that have dozens of paylines
- Cascading slots – the symbols get rearranged after a winning combination, allowing for multiple subsequent or cascading hits
- Classic and 5-Reel
- Progressive Jackpot – Slots with a potentially massive jackpot that keeps growing until someone wins.
- Hot Drop Jackpot – A new trend that has guaranteed jackpots
Moreover, even classic versions of slots can have some unique features or interactions. Wild and scatter symbols aren’t that new but they added additional interactions or mechanics that revolve around them. Players can enter bonus rounds where they get free spins or more multipliers. Alternatively, a bonus round can be a completely separate mini-game that just multiplies your winnings.
Conclusion
Slots have significantly changed over the past 20 years, but developers recognize that there is still demand for the classic experience. This is why, many of the new releases often mimic the older games. Moreover, the graphics and aesthetics are incredibly polished today, so even those classic games have been refreshed. Designers also take theme into consideration and add unique mechanics so that the game can live up to the IP it is based on.
