Barnorama All Fun In The Barn
Slot games are perhaps the easiest of all casino games to play. Starting out as the huge machines with a single lever and retro wheels, and progressing into the digitalised form of the same bit of tech, just with a few more modern game dynamics and themed – players who wish to experience slot games today don’t require much introduction.
The gameplay loop is straightforward: set the rate of each spin, press spin, and wait for the reels to stop. This format has stood the test of time and has even advanced in the modern space of iGaming, remaining as the most popular section of any given online casino, as shown by its gross gambling yield in the UK.
Due to slot games being so accessible, easy to understand, and entertaining – from the suspense created by the spins and the chances for rewards – other platforms outside of the online casino industry have started to incorporate slot dynamics in different ways. From fellow gambling platforms to mobile and video games, the slots format is becoming increasingly popular across the world of gaming.
Slots have become mainstream
It would be easy to assume that classic casino games like roulette and blackjack would be the most popular games on iGaming platforms but, in the modern space, it’s slots that have taken over. With thousands of titles spanning hundreds of themes and gameplay variations, the slot section has become the most exciting of them all.
In fact, even the newest iGaming platforms that, on the face of it, have nothing to do with slot games have introduced some of these games into their arsenal. For example, bingo has been one of the biggest newcomers to the iGaming scene in recent years, and even the most successful and popular bingo platforms have forged a bingo slots online section, featuring exclusive games like Sons of Asgard and Aztec Bonanza, as well as popular slots like Gods of Olympus and Legacy of Ra.
Why is the format so popular?
Slots are designed to be inherently entertaining, but they also feature the additional aspect of players having the chance to win more than they put into the game. It’s the combination of suspense created on the reels, the ‘luck’ that comes from getting a winning combination from the random number generator which governs the game, and the potential rewards, which make the sector so popular.
So, when building their in-game casino, Rockstar simply had to include some standing slot machines. The Diamond Casino & Resort opened in Grand Theft Auto V last year, bringing in a virtual casino which, via an exchange of in-game currencies, players can pay real money into. Among the most popular of the in-game casino games are the slot machines, as they don’t require any skill to play – it’s more about seeing if it’s your lucky day.
Other developers have created titles around the format of slots, rather than including one as a part of its game. The mobile game Coin Master, which featured at the summit of the app games charts for a very long time, includes a core mechanic which is to play the slot machine, get coins, and then build your camp. So, instead of performing tasks to level-up, progression comes down to one’s luck on familiar formatted game dynamics.
Given how popular slot games have become online, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that other game developers are trying to harness exactly what has given them a vast audience. Like GTA V and Coin Master, devs will look for new ways to bring excitement to their players through the use of in-game slot mechanics.