For years online slot developers have been mastering their craft and creating some of the most entertaining, polished gaming experiences available.
It seems that physical casinos have finally taken notice.
Earlier this year Gaming Arts released a physical edition of the popular online game Big Catch Bass Fishing by Blueprint Gaming.
The cabinet has had limited release, but it’s available for play at the Venetian right now and was on display at the G2E gaming convention.
Could this be the start of a new trend as physical casinos and slot makers search for an untapped asset that might appeal to different demographics?
Why the Interest in Online Slots?
So why are brick-and-mortar casinos starting to pay attention to online games?
There are a few different reasons but the main one is simple: Online slots have gotten really good.
The origins of online slots go back to the ‘90s but the initial versions were clunky at best. The technical resources simply weren’t there yet and Adobe Flash-based games were slot and glitchy. Standalone online casino apps were also difficult to get on the Apple Store or Google Store.
It wasn’t till the rise of in-browser play that online slots really started to take off. A new batch of slot developers including Pragmatic Play, Fantasma Gaming and Evoplay started to experiment with a mobile-first approach to games. They were heavily inspired by video games and the subsequent games featured lush graphics and lightning-fast gameplay.
Their experiments have paid off with excellent, innovative games that can be played on any device with no download required.
Originally online slot companies tried to ape whatever was popular in the casino but these days games like Sugar Rush, Gates of Olympus, Fortune Llama and The Greatest Catch are beloved in their own right.
YouTube Streamers Are Fueling the Slots Renaissance
Part of the reason slots are getting so much attention right now is the rise of the slots influencers on YouTube.
Influencers like Brian Christopher and Diana Evoni helped pioneer the concept of recording footage of slots play in real-life casinos and then releasing highly polished videos of the experience on YouTube. Fellow influencers like Vegas Matt and Lady Luck HQ have perfected the format and are experiencing unprecedented success with tens of millions of views every month.
Most – but not all – influencers have started to dip their feet in the world of online slots. Viewers still vastly prefer watching influencers play physical slots but online games have been gaining in popularity.
Slots influencer Slotaholic was initially put off by online slots but eventually came around in a big way.
“I was very hesitant about doing online slots but there so many entertaining games,” he said. “I personally would love to see some of these online slots integrated into land-based casinos. I think that would be really interesting.”
YouTube slots streamer TheBigPayback is a bit of an expert when it comes to slot machines and he pointed that online games offer something that physical games don’t.
“I love game design and they are pushing the envelope online,” he said. “They’re doing whatever they want. At physical casinos, the innovation is just not there.”
There are some limitations, however, and TheBigPayback pointed out they may not be able to replicate the exact same playing experience in person.
“The design of online games is so interesting because you don’t need to have physical casinos to support them games so you can have a much greater return to player,” he said.
“Online we’re talking 95-96%. You get so much more of an in-game experience with that kind of model.”
Slotaholic also brought up the elephant in the room.
“I’m wondering if there’s some kind of regulation or something that keeps them from bringing the games to casinos,” he said.
Brick-and-morter gaming regulators are notoriously strict and it’s a significant process getting approved for casino play.
Game Makers Continue to Innovate
Gaming Arts might be one of the smaller gaming suppliers, but it’s proved to be far more progressive than some of its competitors.
In addition to the experiment with Blueprint, Gaming Arts has also collaborated with mega-popular slots influencer Brian Christopher to create a game in his likeness. Brian Christopher’s Pop’N Pays MORE is the first game based on a slots influencer and is available at a handful of casinos around Las Vegas.
Gaming Arts isn’t the only company to take notice of the burgeoning online slots scene.
In 2022 physical gaming giant Light & Wonder helped facilitate Fantasma’s entry into the legal Canadian gambling market.
Meanwhile Pragmatic Play recently expanded into the Canadian gaming market thanks to its integration with Caesars Digital.
A Golden Age for Online Slots
It seems that everything comes full circle.
Online slots were initially invented as shoddy facsimiles of real-life slot machines, but after years of innovation, they have become a compelling product in their own right.
It helps that online slots are available free-to-play on sweepstakes casinos (also referred to as social casinos) across the USA with no download required. There are thousands of different games available, and more are introduced every week. You don’t have to spend a dime to experience the best online slots, which is not something you’ll ever find in live casinos.
At this point you have to wonder if the reverse might also come true. Perhaps ultra-popular physical games like Huff N’ Puff and Dragon Link might be ported to online platforms. The appetite is definitely there as many slots fan have watched their favorite YouTube influencers win (and lose!) fortunes on those machines.
It’s likely the line between live and online play becomes even more blurry as time goes on.
