Slot machines are considered to be the youngest of all of the gambling inventions. Yes, it may sound silly but the first slot machine was invented in 1891. However, this slot machine was nothing like the ones we use nowadays — it contained 5 drums in it, with 50 playing cards. To win, you needed to get a poker hand on the reels. Fast forward to 1964 and the first fully electromechanical slot was introduced, called Money Honey. Back then, having a slot without a lever was unimaginable — quite different from what we’re used to today. Also, the maximum number of coins you could get was 500. The game was widely popular, and it paved the way for the virtual slot machines people of 21st century enjoy so much.
It was in the 90s that we witnessed the increase in popularity of the Internet, and with it, the need for first online casinos.
So Why Are Slots so Popular?
Many agree that the main reason is hiding in human psychology. However, it might be a lot more simple than that — they are simply easy to learn and very convenient. Unlike other casino games, such as poker and sports betting, slots don’t require so much dedication and thorough analysis. They are simple and easy to use. So there is no difference between experienced and inexperienced players. A person who has been playing slots for six years will have the same chances of success as a rookie. This makes slots very attractive to everyone, including busy people, veteran gamblers, and newbies. By the beginning of the 2000s, slots moved online and the wider audience realized what makes them so addictive.
Slots Are Cheaper and More Profitable
Most of the casino games require a certain buy-in from a player, and if a casino is very popular, you will need to cash out more. Your chances of hitting a winning combination in slot games are also much higher. Table games are usually left to the veterans who enjoy planning and tactics. The combinations are endless, especially on video slots.
Is There a Way to Tell How Many People Play Online Slots?
The answer is both yes and no. Nobody really counts how many people play online slot games on a daily basis per se. However, we can easily get an estimate by the amount of space slot games take up in casinos and online casinos (up to 70%) and the demographics. Across the UK, the USA, and Australia, over 37% of online casino players aged 18–37 favorize slots. So for an example, if the gambling audience counts 100 million players, that would mean 37 million play mostly slots. Seems huge, doesn’t it? Only this year, the state of Nevada scooped over 240 million USD from gambling alone. Now that you know how important slots are, it is only natural to figure out the science behind them.
How Do Online Slots Exactly Work?
The most important thing to mention here is that you need to be aware that your luck is determined by a mere algorithm. It’s a simple mathematical equation programmers like to call RNG (Random Number Generator). RNG is applied to absolutely all online slots, as it produces random numbers at all times. It does so all day every day, and it has no idea whether you’re winning or losing. It even has no idea if you’re the same person as a matter of fact. RNG is important because it brings fairness to online gambling and due to that, it became a standard.
Different Countries — Different Rules
Each country has different regulations regarding gambling, and slots are no exception. If you are a regular slot player from the USA, you might be surprised if you start playing the UK version. In the UK, slots are split into categories; A, B, C, and D. What’s important to know is that A slots don’t exist anymore, as the maximum prize was set at unlimited. Sounds like a bargain, but not for the casinos. The most widely used slots are C category slots, also referred to as fruit machines. You can find them anywhere — online, pubs, casinos, UK made sure they’re as available as possible. The English call them fruit machines for obvious reasons, as fruits were painted onto the rows.
On the other side of the pond, regulations tend to be a little bit more strict. The only state without stern regulations is Nevada. There, you can find casino slots almost everywhere — the state’s regulations even allow private use. This doesn’t really come as a surprise since the first thing you think of when someone mentions Las Vegas is gambling. However, other states are not so liberal when it comes to any type of gambling. Similarly to the UK, their slot machines are also categorized, but in classes. There’s class II and class III, and given the fact slot machines have evolved so much lately, a regular player can barely tell the difference between the two.
On the youngest continent though, slot gaming is the most popular and the fairest of them all. In Australia, gaming machines must provide at least 85% return rate. However, if located in casinos, the return rate has to be 90%. Just like in the UK, you can find slots anywhere — pubs, malls, casinos, etc.
The Reason Online Slots Became More Popular
Online slots are no different from your regular slots, only you get to play from the comfort of your living room. Due to the fact online slots need to respect regulations of their respective countries, players feel quite safe with their money. In the 21st century, a modern slot is an online slot, and players prefer it that way. They have plenty of other advantages too, such as that you get a lot of free spins, as online casinos are trying to compete with each other.
Also, most of the online slots are available as mobile applications, which makes them extremely convenient. Playing online slots is very cost-efficient. To play a regular slot you need to spend more cash just to get to a casino. Being so cost effective and easy to play, it is no wonder online slots managed to fit into the online community so well. Can’t sleep? — Play some online slots. You probably won’t get much sleep, but you just might win some money.