Why Slots Continue to Dominate the Online Casino Industry

Historical research and archaeological evidence shows that humans have been playing games of chance – and betting on the outcome – since the earliest civilisations. This passionate interest in getting the answer right, predicting the future, or even just getting one over on your friends is something that we all do in different ways, even if we aren’t playing games in a casino.

Gambling such as sports betting and casino gaming is growing increasingly popular, with more people now having access to these forms of entertainment thanks to the internet and modern technological advancements. It is now easier than ever to head online to a slots site and choose your favourite slot game to play or visit a sportsbook and place a bet on an upcoming sports tournament.

The earliest games we know of that involved gambling were more likely to have used the equivalent of dice, often bones or leaves. These games of chance would see players deciding which way up something would land when thrown, for example.

Fast forward a couple of thousand years, and we have thousands of internet casinos at our fingertips thanks to the internet, and we can even play on the move using our smartphones – and the most popular games are still those that are about chance rather than skill – the slots.

A Potted Slot History

The earliest slot games were mechanical machines that relied on levers and mechanisms to spin wheels covered in playing cards. To win, you pulled the lever and the wheels rotated, and you won a prize according to the hand of cards that was displayed on the winning line – all based on hands in poker.

This was the invention of Charles Fey in the late 19th Century. A mechanic from San Diego, Fey created a barrel-shaped machine that soon had copies all across America, incorporating different designs and ideas.

It wasn’t too much longer until the Depression and the answering Prohibition era in the US, where it seemed like anything considered too much fun was against God’s will – and gambling, along with drinking alcohol, became illegal. That didn’t stop the manufacturers of the slots, however – now, they paid out in sweets and gum, instead. While this might not have been as exciting as winning cash, it is where many of the symbols we still see on classic slot games come from, and why they are known as ‘fruit machines’ in the UK – the brightly coloured, cartoonish fruits determined the flavour of candy you could win.

It didn’t take long for the government in the US to realise the taxation potential of gambling, and as more states opened up to the idea, slot machines became the norm in places like malls and barbers around the country.

As technology advanced, so did the slots – adding electromechanical devices, video screens, and even linked-up networks to offer enormous jackpots from machines states apart.

Today, slots make up the biggest portion of revenue for land-based casinos, with many providers giving over entire floors of their building to the bright, noisy games – and this is also true in the online casino world.

Why So Popular?

There are several reasons why slots are so popular with casino gamers, but the main one is that it remains the most accessible type of game. You don’t need to learn any complicated rules, and the game almost plays itself – all you have to do is push the button that starts the reels spinning.

Slots are an entry-level game that can be enjoyed by anyone, and with the addition of special bonuses, different levels, and things like progressive jackpots and multipliers, even seasoned players will still find something new and innovative in the games they are playing.

This ease of play is what usually tempts a player into the realm of the games, but it is the technology and the design of them that attracts players. There are hundreds of thousands of slot games available, and you can find one to suit your particular taste, no matter what you are into. From hobbies like fishing to music and movies, who wouldn’t want to play a game based on your favourite thing to do?

Online casinos often offer bonuses for playing slots that are not available elsewhere, making them an even more attractive option for the new player.

Slot games are attractive because they are easy to learn, they remain fun for much longer than games of skill, and your chances of winning are not affected by how many hands you play, what you know about the game, or even trying to use a strategy. The chance-based nature of the game appeals broadly and, combined with the bright colours, jaunty sound effects, and often glamorous designs, slot games will continue to be the favourite pastime of the casino goer, whether they play online or in a brick-and-mortar casino.