Online casinos around the world continue to flourish. There may always be the threat of stricter regulation but that’s not stopping players heading to online casinos on a regular basis. When they do log in, it’s the slots section that many players go to as their first point of call.
The future of online slots is an exciting one indeed. Recent years have seen them become even more thrilling to play and that’s being reflected by the financial figures that are being reported by online gambling companies.
Canada has seen a boom in their online casino industry in recent years. Playing a slot game with casino bonus is the way most new site members begin their journey.
The province of Ontario changed their rules so that private companies could apply for a license to operate. That resulted in some of the top businesses in the industry applying for and being granted the ability to operate in the province.
In Q4 of the 2023-24 financial year, the total number of online casino wagers was $14.6 billion. That resulted in a year-end total of $51.7 billion, that’s up 88% on the figure for the previous financial year. A high percentage of that figure was spent on playing online slot games.
With over 1.3 million player accounts being active during the final quarter of the financial year, 2024 is already proving to be a very successful year.
It’s not just in Canada that playing online slot games is so important for gambling companies. In the UK, slots gross gaming yield was £614 million in Q4 with an increase in the number of online slot sessions that lasted over an hour.
Just why are online slots proving to be so popular around the globe? Slot games have always been popular right back to the days when they were first introduced. A visit to a local casino or amusement arcade would give players the opportunity to get some wins on slot machines.
They were popular to play, especially those with big cash prizes that could be won. As time moved on and the internet arrived, a new home was found for these games.
Modern technology has seen massive improvements in the quality of online slot games. Rather than there being one payline and no bonus games to play, online slots took the games to the next level.
Players simply adore playing online slots that sometimes have thousands of different ways to get a win. There has been so much innovation in recent years. Whether it be wilds (some of which can be sticky or expanding), scatters, rolling reels and bonuses that don’t need to be triggered have seen the popularity of online slots go through the roof.
The graphics of the games are out of this world and that’s particularly the case in the bonus games. Second-screen bonus games regularly have superb animation and players just can’t get enough of them.
Then there’s the amounts that can be won. Online slots that contain progressive jackpots can see a player become a multi-millionaire in seconds. Just imagine what it’s like to go online, spin the reels just once and become a millionaire!
What does the future hold for online slots? It can only get better because of the continual technological improvements being made. It’s not just the fact that players can be trying to get big wins when out and about on their smartphones. The quality of games is going to continue to rise in quality.
Virtual reality (VR) and AI are going to revolutionize the online slots industry. The graphics in modern-day online slots are superb but we confidently state that in the future they will get even better.
A more immersive level of play is what will make online slots be so much more exciting in the future. You’ll be able to feel part of the game that is being played. You’ll be transported to Ancient Egypt or become part of the movies that online slots are often based on.
VR helmets may look a bit silly but you’re going to have to get used to them. Slot designers know this to be the case and that’s why they are spending so much money on VR technology. If you think that the 3D slots that have come onto the market, they are going to be nothing compared to when VR games rule the roost.
Interactive bonus games are going to become more commonplace in the future. If you think the symbols are exciting now, wait until the moment you put on your VR helmet and they start to ‘come alive.’
AI-generated slots will add to the experience that online slot players have. Custom-made games will be on offer so you could find yourself playing games that mix together a couple of your favorite themes. Being able to set some of the rules may also become possible. If you want the slot to have an RTP of 97.5% with free spins round and rolling reels, then that is going to be a possibility.
You can see therefore that an exciting future lies ahead for the online slots industry. It’s still possible to play retro slots online, so it might not be a case of saying goodbye to the current set of popular games.
Just as online slots ended the reign of the basic fruit machines, AI and VR games will rule the roost in the future and boost profits even more.
