For centuries, punters have enjoyed gambling using cards, dice and anything else on which a wager could be placed. But, in 1894, the invention of the slot machine rocked the entire landscape of gambling.
Today, slots are at the forefront of any online or physical gambling establishment. They are the most commonly played casino game, with millions of players enjoying a wide range of slots every day of the year.
But why are slots so popular? What makes them stand out compared to other casino games that offer just as much excitement, thrills and suspense? We’ve got the answers, and it’s no surprise that slots look to continue their supremacy into the future.
Accessibility
With more than 151,260 physical slot machines in the UK by March 2022, slots are easily the most accessible games in terms of gambling. When you add the mix of thousands of slots offered by the 49 online casinos operating in the region, there are almost countless games available.
Thanks to online casinos, finding an online slot you love can be done in seconds. These can be accessed regardless of where you are using a PC or mobile phone. Because of how easy it is to log on and play, most gamblers love to play slots.
Affordability
Poker, roulette, blackjack and many other table games offer unique thrills that slots sometimes have a hard time comparing to. However, the minimum buy-in or wager amount for these games is usually much higher than the minimum offered by slot games.
Slots offer a cheaper alternative to gamblers, with betting starting at just £0.10 on some games. Paying less means that the enjoyment of gambling can be felt for extended periods without having to fork out more than a player might be comfortable with.
Ease of Play
All casino games require a degree of knowledge to play successfully. Knowing what hand has the higher value in poker or understanding the different bet types in a game of roulette usually translates to power when gambling.
While slots still require a degree of understanding, they are usually much easier to play than any other game. In most cases, players who have never gambled before can sit down and follow the prompts offered by the game to get started. They will soon pick up how to play and can enjoy the adrenaline of waiting to see if the next spin is a winner.
Graphics and Themes
All casinos, particularly online casinos, have massive libraries of slot games to choose from. Each of these has been expertly designed and programmed by developers to offer the best entertainment, graphics and sounds.
The unique themes available in slot games also help bring entertainment while playing. Depending on the slot’s theme, most games take players on a story adventure to seek a jackpot. This story is played out using high-quality visuals and intriguing sounds and soundtracks.
Bonuses and Promotions
Everybody loves a good reward, bonus or promotion. If such a reward lets you play using a casino’s own money, all the better. Thankfully, slots are one of the best places to find bonuses, which is why they attract so many players.
Many online and physical casinos offer unique bonuses to new and existing players that entice them to play slot games. From free spin bonuses that let you play for free to deposit match rewards that allow you to play using extra money funded by the casino, slots hold many appealing promotions throughout the year.
Jackpots
While no one is denying that gambling is all about the fun of playing and enjoying the moment, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a punter who doesn’t think winning is also important. After all, we all want to get at least a return on our money after we feed it into a machine.
Slots hold heavy appeal because they hold some of the largest jackpots imaginable. Progressive slots, in particular, offer jackpots that other casino games struggle to contend with. An example is the famed Mega Moolah slot, which has previously paid out a jackpot of around £16.71 million.
Odds of Winning
It is commonly acknowledged that blackjack is the casino game with one of the best odds of winning, followed closely by craps and roulette. However, these games require a degree of skill, knowledge and understanding. They can also be expensive to play, and games traditionally don’t last very long.
Like these games, slots can also offer great odds. These odds are based on a specific game’s RTP (return to player) rate and volatility. Most online slots offer an average RTP percentage of 97.3%. A high rate like this means that 97.3% of all money received is paid out to players.
Entertainment Value
We’ve already said that slots are entertaining. However, it deserves another mention due to the unique ways these games offer up the fun they have waiting. Most games offer bonus rounds, whether online or in a physical slot.
How these rounds present themselves varies from slot to slot. Bonuses range from interactive bonus games where you must select different options to rounds that offer free spins with added wilds and over-the-top graphics. These add immense fun to playing and help you enjoy your experience more.
