Launching back in 1997, the online casino industry is a young one. Despite only just celebrating its 25th birthday, the online betting world has undergone enormous change, evolving from simplistic experiences to enormous and evolving platforms. Slot games are some of the most illustrative examples of this evolution, having constantly adapted to new technologies and potentials. We want to explore some of the biggest leaps made by the slot game market, and what those changes meant for slot game players.
A Change in Themes
The first few years of slot games were simple through necessity. Like the first physical slot games that arrived over a century before, the technology of those years wasn’t enough to provide complicated or detailed experiences or themes. Home computers of the late 90s were slow, internet connections were slower, and so the offer of any digital interpretations of slots was novel.
Today, computers and the internet have become so fast that practically any theme conceivable can be delivered at high quality. Some of the more famous examples are found in pop games with slots like Michael Jackson and NSYNC POP. These games adopt high-quality music from the musician’s biggest hits, combining them with cutting-edge graphics. Such an emphasis on broad themes provides an entry point to players who might otherwise ignore slots, helping to further build the slot environment.
Going Mobile
The limited computational power of the late 90s also meant that the first few generations of slot games were relegated to desktops and laptops. This changed in 2007 when Apple popularized the smartphone with the launch of the original iPhone. The smartphone opened the door to mobile apps, and slot games were poised as fantastic fits for mobile screen sizes and touch controls.
Later, as HTML5 became standard and mobile internet increasingly became the status quo, players would flock to mobiles and mobile slots. It became easier for developers to target mobiles, it became easier for players to jump in, and the market responded to this perfect combination. Today, mobile systems are the most common platform for online casino players, and slots played a big part in popularizing this form of access.
The Libraries of Choice
Over time, a greater targeting of mobiles and a continual exploration of themes led to online slot libraries continuing to expand. Unlike physical casinos, which only have so much space, online casinos can easily host thousands of individual titles under one digital roof. This growth eventually manifested as even humble online casinos offering a level of choice that only the biggest physical casinos can match.
Modern online casinos offer slot themes, variety, and convenience that’s practically unrecognisable from what was possible in the early days. By accident, the digital slot market found itself as a perfect fit for what the new digital age would offer. By design, slot developers and casino websites leveraged these advantages to create a diverse market that players love. Slots have come a long way in a short time, and with AR and VR around the corner, we have to wonder what might come next.
