The recent rise of the iGaming industry has caught the attention of markets around the globe. United Kingdom has long been one of the most established markets in the iGaming world, which includes online casino play, online sports betting, and Esports. Emerging markets are appearing in Germany, Brazil, India, and South Africa to highlight the spread of this craze.
But what about one of the largest markets in the world across all industries? The U.S has been making the headlines in recent weeks following the election of Donald Trump to the Oval Office. But while the U.S and the rest of the world concern themselves with tariffs and their impact on the physical and digital world, there is a conversation growing steadily louder in states across the country that could have a profound impact on the lucrative iGaming and entertainment industry.
The Rise of Online Slots
Over the course of history, game consoles have characterized the gaming industry, with PlayStations and Xboxes providing the cornerstone for entertainment for people of all ages. However, that notion is being challenged by a simple “i.” The increased influence of the internet and digital processes and devices has propelled gaming into an internet realm. Hence, the birth and subsequent rise of iGaming.
Within the umbrella term, one game in particular has proved popular, not only in the U.S, but across the planet. Online slots form a significant part of online casinos that are fast emerging in states that have created a legalized framework for this activity. Right now, that includes Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. However, these states could be soon joined by the likes of Oklahoma, Georgia, Missouri, Minnesota, and South Carolina that are seriously considering adding their names to the states where online casino play is legal.
Why are online slots so popular?
Online slots are responsible for a sizable proportion of the revenue generated in each of the states that regulate online casino play. The advances in software and coding especially have allowed game developers such as NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and Playtech to take their production to another level.
Online slots from the previous era mainly consisted of the monotonous spinning of non-excitable reels accompanied by tinny music in the background. However, those advances have brought a game like online slots to the level of video games on gaming consoles, equipped with animations, soundtracks, and interactive features to create an exhilarating and exciting gaming experience.
Furthermore, the variety of online slots titles on offer also appeal to a wider range of interest, hobbies with favored classics from the television and movie industries being recreated in online slots form. Many Americans are discovering that these titles can also be accessed and played from the full range of digital devices and at one’s own convenience. An aspect of control that is unrivalled by land-based casinos for example.
But the one aspect that has slingshot online slots into the limelight ahead of other online casino games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker, is the number of bonuses incorporated into this category of game. USA online slots typically shower players with an array of bonuses that can boost game play. Benefits such as bonus buy rounds, where players can skip to a bonus round with potentially higher rewards, and free spins are commonly found on all online slots titles. While these bonuses do not guarantee wins, they do provide a gamified aspect that millions of players enjoy.
What is next for online slots in the U.S?
For now, it is a waiting game, especially in the states where online casino action is not legal. However, the interest surrounding the activity is there and the popularity around the game of online slots is only gathering more momentum as word spreads across the U.S. The revenue produced by the handful of states that have a regulated online casino industry is decent enough incentive for indecisive states. Stamping out illegal markets with a regulated framework is a further reason to approve legislation. The game of online slots will surely reach more Americans over the coming years. The question is not if, but when?
