Why Did Slot Games Drive Online Casino Growth?
Looking at online casinos today almost always gives the impression that slots are the star of the show. While other key games like blackjack and roulette often feature prominently, the sheer range and variety of slot games far outweigh anything else the casino industry has to offer. This current popularity is far from a secret, but what is far less understood is the influence that these games have had on the online casino industry as a whole.
From their earliest days of smaller casinos to their current time in the spotlight, there are many reasons that slot popularity tracks so well with online casino popularity. Taking a look at some of these key features, it can be possible to trace the success of both to where they sit today.
Ease of Translation
For the first online casinos back in the nineties and early 2000s, a major limiting factor was that of processing power. Consumer-grade computers at the time often struggled with online gaming, hampered further by limitations on data transmission speeds. This meant that, in terms of traditional video games, many potential players were left in the dark.
Slot games avoided these problems by virtue of their relative simplicity. Rather than requiring large downloads or fast internet speeds, slots were small and worked well with lower bandwidths. Combined with their ability to perfectly represent brick-and-mortar slot experiences, slots quickly became a reliable leg on which the online casino industry could lean.
"Internet symbol" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Christiaan Colen
Integration of Bonus Systems
Once established, creative software developers and casino began to notice that online slots held potential in bonuses that no physical slots could match. In terms of the games themselves, this meant that immense and creative bonus games could be implemented that could fundamentally alter the way we looked at slots.
On the other end of the equation, casinos also began to take note that slot spins could prove an enormous draw for new customers. This is a tactic which continues to this day, with contemporary highly rated casinos like the Grand Mondial Casino giving free spins a key place in welcome bonuses. Alongside generous deposit matches, these have proven hits for players and casinos both.
The Strength of Variety
The final advantage of slot games comes from the flexibility in themes which their software provides. In essence, practically any idea imaginable can be turned into a slot game. In some cases, this has led to the creation of themes based on historical events, while at other times casinos have leveraged trends in popular culture to draw in significant numbers of new players.
For some slots, even new IPs from developers have been popular enough to create mini-franchises of their own. Many online casino players might recognise Gonzo's Quest or Bloodsuckers, for example, with dozens of more examples currently building a legacy for the casinos and slots of tomorrow.
Looking at all of these elements together, it's easy to conclude that slots and online casinos have been a perfect match. From the integration with hardware devices to the range of bonuses arriving constantly, and a variety among casino games that is second to none, it makes sense that this grouping is all but inseparable. Whatever comes next in the ever-evolving world of online casinos, there's no question that slots will be there and that they'll always play an important part.
