The success of online casinos is not something that one can deny. The industry has gone from a relatively small subsidiary of the greater gambling market, to a developed, multi-billion-dollar industry in its own right. There are quite a few reasons for the quick and impressive growth of the iGaming industry. Among them, the most obvious one is developing technology.
As digital technology improves, so too do various aspects of online gambling. For example, nowadays, games are much faster, have better graphics, and of course, players have different options. Two notable changes caused by improving tech are the addition of live casinos and the incredible development of slot games.
Slot Games Online
Slot games are the driving force behind the success of the online gambling industry. They are the main feature at every casino, both land-based and online. Many gambling websites feature as many as hundreds, even thousands of slot games, allowing you to spin your way to top prizes and enjoy a relatively fun experience.
The main changes done to online slots thanks to improving technology is that online casinos have incorporated a ton of different features in the latest games. For example, many modern slot games feature mini-games, bonus rounds, and free spins. Slots today also have incredible graphics, some of which could be compared to popular AAA games.
There is also the case of themed slots. Themed slots are exactly what they sound like; a sub-category of spin-the-reel games that are backed up by some sort of a unified aesthetic. Themed slots can be historical, science fiction, fantasy, mythological, or could feature any other theme you can think of. They can even feature classic slot aesthetics, bringing people back to a nostalgic, simpler time.
Live Casinos
Live casinos are also quite simple to understand. Their existence is entirely predicated on developing technology, particularly the growing success of live streaming. Though it may sound difficult to grasp at first, the way live casinos work is quite simple. A human dealer broadcasts themselves at a table that features one of the popular table games, and runs a game for live customers.
The customers participate in the game using one of various live chats, either text, voice, or even video sometimes, though rarely. This sort of real-time interaction between the players and the dealer goes a long way in making the customers feel like they are being immersed in an old-school, land-based casino. All the while, live casinos retain the benefits of being online, meaning they are more accessible and simple to use.
If live casinos and slot games are the two most prominent gambling options, that have elevated the iGaming world, then the question, surely, is if they’ve ever been brought together. In other words, are there live slot games at online casinos?
Slots at Live Casinos
The questions of slots at live casinos has been asked numerous times. After all, at first glance, it seems a match made in Heaven. If live casinos are incredibly popular, and online slots are incredibly popular, then why not bring the two together? The answer is that, there really is no reason to play slots in live casinos specifically. It all has to do with how online slots work.
Online slots function on what is called a random number generator. In essence, each spin triggers the software to produce random numbers for each slot. The numbers are tied to different outcomes on the slot, which results in completely random occurrences with each new spin. This random, completely luck-based sort of gambling is what appeals to slots players.
On the other hand, what appeals to live casino players is that there is a human element to their games. The dealer is not an AI or a software, but rather a living person. Which means, players can use all of the same strategies for live blackjack that they would use for land-based blackjack. That is simply not possible in online blackjack. Certainly, you can already begin to see why online slots and live casinos don’t gel.
The reason is that there is really no point to creating “live slots.” Land-based slot machines function on the exact same principle as online slots. They are machines, fully operated by a random number generator. Whether you play them at live casinos or in online casinos, the experience would be exactly the same, and so most live gambling establishments don’t bother to include them.
Could Slots Be Played Live?
Some have wondered if it is even possible for online slots to be played live online. The answer is yes, and indeed, many online casinos have featured a live slot experience. Unlike with blackjack or roulette, however, they’ve found that most of their visitors prefer the digital versions of these well-known games. But, it is still interesting to learn how live slots would and have functioned.
The most popular way to do so is to set up a kiosk or a terminal slot machine, which connects to digital slots, and have the player spin them in real time. As we said, the outcome here is basically the same as rolling slots at the regular online casino, which is why this method is not as popular as some of the others that online casinos have used in the past.
Another option is to let a live dealer spin the slots for you. Basically, you are paying for the chips, and the human dealer is then inserting them into a machine, as you give them specifications. While interesting at first, many have found that the outcome here is far less fun than simply spinning the reel yourself at an online casino.
Final Thoughts
The iGaming industry is growing, and will likely continue to grow in the future. From social media influencers, to corporate accountants, the audience for online casinos is growing. Two reasons for the success of the market are online slots and live casinos. However, as popular as these features may be, it seems that most casinos online have found that there is no real reason to combine them.