The first slot machine was named “Liberty Bell” by inventor Charles Fey who named the device after one of its symbols.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s slot machines were placed in salons and candy shops to give customers a chance to play a fun-filled game where, for a penny or two, they had the chance to double, triple or further multiply their wagers.
Over the years, slot machines became a fixture at land-based Vegas casino. They suited both the customers and the casino operators perfectly – people could grab a machine and play a budget game while operators didn’t need to staff the machines or otherwise interact with the slots room.
Since the 1990s, the majority of slots play has taken place online at the online casino. The popularity of online slots has caused the industry to grow tremendously.
There are dozens of game designers who produce hundreds of new machines every year, all of which can be played for free or for real money prizes on any internet-connected PC or mobile device at the player’s leisure. The Grande Vegas casino features a slots lobby with slot machines that suit any taste, fantasy or interest for gamers of all betting preferences and skill levels.
Slots games development continues to evolve, taking players into the 21st century and beyond. What can you expect in slots gameplay in the coming years?
Branded Slots
Branded and licensed slots are trending. These slot machines are based on popular TV shows, movies, music and games.
Branded slots are popular because they meet players’ search for themes that they recognize and love. They can play these games while interacting with familiar characters and storylines.
The content of branded slots is generally extremely engaging and through the gameplay, the player can connect with iconic scenes, memorable music and recognizable characters. All of this combines to enhance the overall entertainment value and make the gameplay more immersive.
Game designers like to focus on branded slots because popular TV shows and movies have dedicated fan bases and these fans are likely to be attracted to themed slot machines. Fans tend to trust games that are associated with well-known brands are often more willing to try these games.
They enjoy engaging with their favorite characters and storylines in new and interactive ways. These slot machines often incorporate unique features and bonus rounds that are themed around the TV show or movie so the player enjoys an egaging gameplay experience that stands out from standard slot machines.
Megaways
Megaway slots, also known as PayWay slot machines or Ways to Win slots have become increasingly popular in recent years. This type of machine has a random reel modifier mechanic that changes the way that the symbols appear on a reel so there are more ways to win on every spin.
In a Megaways slot, the number of symbols on each reel varies. A traditional slot machine has a fixed number of symbols per reel but a Megaways slot can display a different number on each reel so that increases the opportunities for completing combinations.
Many of the Megaways slots have more than 5 reels which further increases the opportunities for the player to hit a win. On every spin, the number of ways to win changes with each spin so a six-reel Megaway machine can give the gamer hundreds, even thousands of possible winning combination opportunities on each spin.
Megaway slots are usually high volatility so players can look forward to a high percentage of wins, albeit at a lower payout level than for a slot with a lower volatility.
Accessibility
Just a few years ago, there were few mobile-enabled slot machines and most PC slots were Download slots, meaning that you would have to download the casino software into your device in order to play. Today, it’s hard to find a casino that doesn’t feature all of its games for mobile play.
In addition, casinos are slowly changing over to browser play which is more convenient for everyone. You can easily place an app on your phone or desktop or even enter the casino right from the browser and have access to all the casino games at your fingertips, with no download necessary.
Blockchain
The question regarding how slots players could transfer money to and from their casino account has always been a tricky one. Each casino can accept deposits and distribute payouts to a limited number of online banking institutions. No casino can support all of the various options.
But cryptocurrency transfers is becoming a universal option which allows all gamers in all areas of the world, regardless of their country’s currency, to conduct financial transactions using crypto.
Cybercurrency is an increasingly popular method of conducting online transfers because it’s faster than other methods, involves lower fees, is secure and offers good exchange rates. Most casinos now support crypto and many even encourage these types of transactions with special crypto bonuses. As cybercurrency continues to grow in popularity, more and more casinos will be supporting crypto for online casino gambling.
Progressive Jackpots
Today’s technology makes it possible for online gamers to compete interactively through progressive jackpot machines that are linked around the world.
When you play a progressive jackpot, not only do you experience the excitement of competing for the jackpot prize but you also enjoy the social atmosphere of vying with other gamers who are all trying to win the same prize that you are.
Everyone plays the same game, with a portion of each bet being set aside to add to the jackpot. The jackpot grows and grows as more and more gamers play the game. Then, when one player hits the jackpot, s/he wins the entire jackpot reward.
As more players discover how entertaining jackpot competitions are, the demand grows and casinos are meeting that demand with more progressive jackpot slots.
These trends, along with gamification elements that include leveling up, achievements, and missions, are making the slots experience more engaging and interactive than ever! .
