Online slots are not a new novelty; they have been around for over twenty years now. The first online slot sites largely operated out of the Caribbean, where the logistics of the operations were not always legal.
As for the UK, online slot operations have been legal since 2005, which made it much simpler for Brits to access online casino games.
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Since then, the industry has continued to grow, with more and more online casino sites popping up, providing a variety of slots, as well as classic games like blackjack, poker, and roulette.
Today,
the global online casino industry is estimated to be worth more than
$63.53 billion US dollars, with people from all over the world being
able to access such games.
What does this mean for the world’s
casinos, you ask? Below, we’ll take a deep dive into why online slots
are so popular and how the online casino industry is affecting physical
casinos.
The rise of online slots:
As mentioned above, online slots are nothing new with the first online slots appearing more than 20 years ago.
While
they may not have been as sophisticated or smooth running as today’s
online slots, they were a great success while operating from the shadows
of the Caribbean and similar locations.
In the US, online slots
have been more of a taboo subject, with online casino operations first
becoming legal in the state of New Jersey in 2013.
Brick-and-mortar casinos are highly regulated in this state; however, the availability of offshore online slots was damaging the physical casino industry, and it became worthwhile to find a way to regulate online slots.
Between 2013 and 2024, 7 states in the US have made online slots and other online casino games legal.
As
a result, the industry as a whole has begun to flourish again as more
income streams have made both the online and offline sides of casinos
stronger.
Have brick-and-mortar casinos become ghost towns?
While the rise in online casinos means that people do not need to visit a real-life casino, it does not mean that people do not want the brick-and-mortar casino experience any longer.
In fact, it depends on the locations of the casino and the type of casino experience they are offering.
Some
brick-and-mortar casinos are small and exclusive venues where exclusive
membership is required to enter. People visiting these types of casinos
are looking for an exclusive experience where the players are as elite
as the games on offer.
Additionally, elite casinos in the likes
of Las Vegas and Monte Carlo will always stay in style in relation to
online casinos as they offer a specific experience that can only be
thoroughly lived and enjoyed in the flesh.
That being said, many
smaller and local casino establishments across the world have closed
down as online casinos have grown, and there is simply no demand to
visit these smaller establishments anymore when the games are available
from anywhere when playing online.
For
these smaller establishments, players were visiting out of necessity to
access their favorite casino games rather than for the experience
itself.
The benefits of playing slots online
There are many more benefits of playing online slots in a brick-and-mortar venue.
While
visiting exciting casino resorts and upscale casinos will never be
completely replaced, there are several reasons why leveraging online
benefits could work in your slot’s strategy, too.
- More bonuses: Online slots are more diverse and offer a greater variety of bonus features than physical slots. In particular, new player bonuses are most popular and can be highly beneficial for players just starting out in the online casino world and are looking to be more cautious with their bankroll.
- Exciting themes: Online slots offer a variety of exciting themes based on the latest blockbuster hits, popular TV shows, and, of course, retro game themes that bring back a sense of nostalgia.
- More game variety: There are many different types of online slots, and in a physical venue, only a few may be available. Online casino establishments can offer a greater variety of games.
Overall, the online casino industry continues to grow at an incredibly rapid rate, with more and more people across the world accessing online slots every day.
While
there are many benefits to playing slots online, it seems that
brick-and-mortar casino venues will always live simultaneously with
these online offerings for the foreseeable future.
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