How Online Slots Have Changed Since the Last Decade

One undeniable fact about online video slots, such as the Deco Diamonds slot is that they are increasingly popular, more so, given that the internet is widely accessible. A trip back in time also confirms that slot machines have been a well-liked stop for players since they came about more than a century ago, courtesy of Charles Fey.

There are two major reasons as to why slots, including free slot machines, have retained their popularity for this long. Firstly, they offer impressively straightforward gameplay. Secondly, they have notably evolved more so over the last 10 years. With that being said, in this article, we shall delve into the stages of evolution over the last decade. Read on!

1. Progressive Jackpots

In the conventional brick and mortar slot machines, microchips are embedded into each, to avail and monitor the jackpot. However, online gaming software developers have incorporated a unique code for each progressive jackpot. Thus, this facilitates the addition of other variables and criteria to monitor the jackpot. For instance, in a slot machine such as Mega Moolah that has a progressive jackpot, a small percentage of every player's wager to play this game is deducted to collectively form the jackpot. And, as players continue betting, the value of the jackpot increases until a winner is declared.

In 2013, an anonymous participant played the Mega Fortune online slot machine and walked away as a stoked winner of the progressive jackpot valued at nearly 18 million EUR. It was one of the greatest wins from online slots across the globe.

2. Online Social Gaming

Online slot machines have ushered in a new and exciting social gaming experience since gaming sites began providing slot tournaments. These tournaments link punters virtually, and they compete to see who can score the most wins within a stipulated time frame. Slot machine tournaments allow users across the globe to compete and interact with each other. As opposed to sitting and competing in an actual brick and mortar casino, online slot tournaments allow friends to compete virtually right from the comfort of their homes.

3. Mobile Gaming

With the skyrocketing popularity of mobile gaming, casino software developers have made significant investments in churning out mobile-friendly slot machines in recent years. A barrage of online slots has been optimized to facilitate gaming on the move on a myriad of tablets and smartphones. In turn, this creates a more immersive, intuitive and convenient gaming encounter for players across the globe.

Through the implementation of HTML5 technology, mobile slots exude responsiveness coupled with compatibility on a multitude of modern gadgets that run on Android or IOS operating systems. New slot machines are constantly being released by gaming software providers, with most concurrently being churned out for PC and mobile gaming. So, during your daily commutes to work, waiting at a reception area and more, you can whip out your mobile gadget and delight in your favourite slot machine.

4. Advanced Visuals

Gone are the days when partaking in a slot game entailed jerking in a coin and manually spinning some reels with fruit visuals. Nowadays, online slots constitute state-of-the-art visuals coupled with sound effects that immerse players in a storyline as they set the reels in motion to score a payout.

These advancements have paved the way for gaming software developers to churn out slot titles based on epic or legendary films, TV shows, and movie characters. Some examples are Game of Thrones, Bridesmaids, and The Dark Knight, among others. These games comprise tiptop graphics and sound effects and may include reenacted scenes from the initial film or show. In turn, this enhances realism in the gameplay.

5. Technological Advancements

With the advent of technology, we have begun seeing online slot games that utilize the newest gaming software. In recent years, two of the greatest breakthroughs have been virtual reality (VR) and 3D.

The latter had a small impact back in the 90s. However, in 2012, 3D started becoming mainstream, and since then, developers have continued exploring the gaming possibilities it holds. Keeping that in mind, the 1st 3D online slot game was called Sushi Bar that came about in 2012 and was targeted towards seafood lovers, particularly Sushi fans. It was then followed by popular titles such as:

• Mamma Mia
• 50 Lions
• Sphinx
• A Night of Mystery
• More Gold Diggin'
• Amazon Queen
• Aliens
• Wizard of Oz
• Cleopatra
• Golden Goddess
• Crystal Forest
• Gonzo's Quest

Virtual Reality (VR) has started infiltrating online slot machines and has become the next big thing in web-based gaming. In VR gaming, top-of-the-range technology is utilized to furnish players with a remarkably life-like and immersive gameplay experience.

With VR equipment (a special helmet, sound system, and LED screen), punters get to delve into the game and are then blanketed with the gaming provider's seemingly realistic world. As a result, the punter interacts with the game on a whole new level and becomes an active participant courtesy of the simulation of his/her senses.

Through VR gaming, players can delight in gaming in an up-close and personal manner, without a screen getting in the way. What began as a hyped idea in mid-2010, quickly evolved to become a reality in 2015, when Slots Million Casino became the 1st gaming site to support VR gaming. In this casino, punters can pace around and take their pick on available online slots, peek through skyscraper windows, and even hang out at the virtual bar. This is more intriguing than the typical gaming sites accessible through PCs and mobile gadgets.

Some of the VR online slots are Jack and the Beanstalk and Gonzo's Quest courtesy of Net Entertainment. These are the 2 greatest VR online slot machines. Another reputable company that has thrown its hat into this ring is PokerStars that came about in 2018.

6. Online Video Slots with Storylines and Features

While the initial video slot games came about in the 70s, their development has stretched far into the 2000s. The stiff competition among the myriad of gaming sites in existence has birthed vast developments in the gaming encounter for players worldwide. These advancements include the introduction of amazing slot machine features that have considerably intensified the gaming experience. They include:

• Multipliers
• 1024 and 243 ways of winning
• Autoplay
• Scatters
• Nudges
• The Gamble Feature
• Shifting Wilds
• Cascading Reels
• Expanding Wilds
• Stacked Wilds
• Split Icons

In the last decade, online slots have been imbued with rich and immersive storylines that paint a vivid picture for players. Hence, these slots engross them in a storyline and captivate them. In turn, this keeps them glued to the screens.

Closing Remarks

The growth of online slots over the last decade is nothing short of impressive. What begun as simple and very basic games has turned into chic VR and 3D gameplay options. The wonders of technology have tossed players into a whole new world of possibilities that were once unachievable. Hence, it's through technology that punters get to try out new things that they would never have dreamed possible. It'll be even better to see how online slot machines continue evolving as the future unfolds.