Most of us have seen phenomenal changes in technology within our lifetimes, and the industry doesn’t look as if it’s going to slow its advancements any time soon. From digital special effects in the movies, to electric cars and missions to space, these things seemed impossible just 100 years ago. Technology has also affected our lives on a smaller scale. Most adults now own a smartphone, with computing technology small enough to fit in their pocket. And by connecting to 4G internet, they can instantly access a global network of information.
The advancement of technology has also brought into existence entirely new industries. One of the fastest growing new industries is the online gambling industry, which is only 25 years old now. Online casinos and slot providers, like Wink Slots, are now able to provide top quality games to millions of customers, anytime and anywhere. This convenience is why mobile slots are fast becoming one of the nation’s favourite online games.
The Evolution of Online Slots
Online slots developers have now got more creative freedom to design their games, because they know that modern technology can handle it. Gone are the standard 3 reels, some slots play around with 5 or 7, but developer NetEnt have taken it one step further and invented InfiniReels, where every win adds a new reel to your slot, with no limit to how many you can have. This really shakes up the way that online slots are played, and it’s not the only fun new innovation in slot design.
Megaways and Gigablox are some of the other fun new slot designs which offer players the change to play for higher jackpots than every before. Of course, the odds of hitting the top money are still very small, but new players are enticed in by the promise of larger payouts.
Technological advancements have also enabled online slots to come in many different themes and styles. Because it’s so easy to tweak a few settings within the coding of a game, new slots can be released quickly and without much cost. There are now online slots to suit every player, from animal themes to Viking themes, with different RTPs and volatility ratings.
How Technology has Made Online Slots Popular
Slots have always been a very visually appealing game, so it was important for their success that online developers be able to replicate the classic video slots look. But it was also important for players to possess hardware powerful enough to showcase the games in all their glory. The development of the smartphone market, and the fact that prices now start reasonably low for what is still a decent phone, has made it possible for more people than ever to access online games and enjoy them at their leisure.
Fibre broadband and the arrival of 5G mobile internet has also been a massive boost to the industry. Players no longer have to wait for their games to load, or deal with buffering and lag. Online slot games load almost instantly and players can play for as long as they like. Faster download speeds have made it more appealing for people to play for short bursts of time, like during a commute or a lunch break, and this has been great for the online slots industry.
Technology has allowed players to be able to play whenever and wherever they want.
Increased Competition
One of the downsides of the online slot industry’s rapid growth is that the marketplace is now saturated with competing sites. While this is great for the players as they have more choice of where to go, it means the online slots sites are having to work harder to appeal to new customers.
One-way sites are using technology to do this is by offering different payment methods. Debit and credit cards are no longer the only way of making deposits, with many online providers utilising the services of online wallets and cryptocurrencies to encourage new types of users to join their sites.
Female players tend to gravitate towards slots, but they also like to play socially. So online slots sites have started offering chat rooms, live slots games, and multiplayer slots. This increases player interaction and has replaced the missing social element that you could get from playing slot with friends in a land-based casino.
Technology has opened many doors for slot providers, however, competition has become even more intense.
The Future
Live online slots are just starting to appear online, as are virtual reality casinos, proving that there’s plenty of scope for the sector to continue evolving. Live online slots utilise fast streaming technology to broadcast from a studio where a dealer oversees spinning the reels. Players can interact with the dealer through a chat box and carry out conversations in real time – like being part of a massive game show! So far, only two online slots are available in this format, but interest is growing, and it looks certain to join other live casino games as the next big thing.
Conclusion
Online slots are constantly evolving and advancing to keep up with technological changes. Faster internet speeds mean the games can include more functions and better graphics; better smartphone penetration means that more slots are optimised for mobile in order to tap into a new market; and live slots are putting the community feel back into gaming. With 5G rolling out and virtual reality headsets becoming more affordable, online slots will be in for another big change soon.