As of November 2020, the UK gambling industry was worth £14.2 billion, showing only a 0.6% decrease from last year. While the number of physical gambling premises continues to decrease by 6.4%, online gaming has become incredibly popular and makes a significant contribution to the UK economy each year.
Among some of the most popular games at online casinos are slot games. With a reputation for being an easy to play game, slot games have really taken off since they’ve gone digital; thanks to technology, slot games now offer an improved user experience with enhanced graphics and sound, as well as different themes to choose from.
While slot games are not one of the most tactical casino games to play, players can make a lot of money from them if they do it right. It’s true that slot games involve a degree of luck, but is there something you can do to turn the odds in your favor?
Why are slot games so popular?
While slot machine odds can be calculated roughly, there have been a number of improvements since the move to digital, making the games not only fairer but more enjoyable. Some of the benefits of online slot games include:
New player bonuses
Due to the sheer volume of online casinos, many sites are now deploying a range of creative tactics to attract and retain new customers. As a result, there are a huge variety of offers for new players, from sign up bonuses to free spins and even no deposit sign up offers. All of these deals reassure the player that they won’t quickly burn through their own pot of funds, while enabling gamers to experience the online slots before committing to parting with a large deposit.
If players fail to win, then they’re usually offered a number of bonus games and free spins to ensure they have a good first experience. And for players concerned that they are missing out compared to new players, they don’t need to worry as there are great loyalty schemes that mean seasoned players also benefit from the great online deals.
Variety of Games
One of the great things about online casinos is that they’re not limited by the same physical space issues that land-based casinos experience. Online casinos are able to provide a huge variety of slot machines that interest different types of players. Some slots retain the traditional casino vibe while others are based on popular tv shows and movies.
With land-based casino slot games, they’re usually all the same machines since the casinos are utilizing the same supplier. With online slots, casinos are able to draw on a greater variety of software providers and can even customize games to make them more impactful with their audience.
If you’re bored while spending a night at home on the weekend, online slots are the perfect remedy as players can choose any game to play, without having to leave their house.
Ease of access
Visiting a land-based casino takes a lot more planning and effort than online casinos. You may have to arrange a babysitter, book a taxi, find an outfit, and you’re probably going to end up spending more money on games and drinks than if you were at home.
Whereas online slots enable players to play from the comfort of their own sofa, in which they can put spending caps on their account to ensure they don’t go over the limit. What’s more, you could even order yourself a home cocktail making kit to do with friends while enjoying online slots. It’s far less fuss.
Is it down to luck or strategy?
Slots aren’t down to all luck there are strategies to increase your chances.
Slot machines are thought to be one of the easiest games to play in the casinos; you push a button, and your symbols appear. However, there is evidence to suggest that the outcome can be influenced to some extent by following some simple best practice procedures.
Choosing payback rates carefully.
While the slot machine operates completely randomly, each slot machine has a payback rate and they’re not all the same. While both online and land-based casinos must follow the strict regulations by the Gambling and Gaming Commission, players can select machines that have a high payback rate over time.
Most machines have a 75 to 99% payback rate, so by doing a bit of research before playing, you could save yourself some cash and profit in the long run.
Online slots vs land-based slots
It is hard to calculate the odds of online slots
Older land-based slots are based on a specific algorithm that considers how many rows and symbols there are. From this perspective, a player could calculate the odds of winning by doing a few simple math’s calculations, helping them to choose the most effective slot machine.
However, newer online slot machines are controlled by a computer, in which a far more elaborate algorithm is created by the computer, making it more difficult or virtually impossible for players to calculate the odds.
It’s fairer but it is a drawback, nonetheless.
What are the odds of winning?
Despite new algorithms with online slots, players are still able to improve their odds of winning to some extent.
