The History and Future of Online Slots in Canada
Sometimes it appears every day a new technology bursts in front of us and it becomes difficult to stay updated on all the different fronts that are open to us, including in the online casino industry.
Let’s have a closer look at the developments in online casinos and the history and future of online slots in Canada!
The History and Future of Online Slots in Canada
Online Casinos Vs Live Casinos
Probably you would have been wondering about the difference between live casinos and your classic online casino experience! After all, is there a big difference between these two types of casinos?
Online casinos have been operating since the mid-‘90s when inter-casino launched the first online software casino. These casinos worked on a Random Number Generator algorithm offering a great experience to players who wish to enjoy a gambling adventure in the comfort of their own home.
These online games offer the player the opportunity to play with real money on online machines in a safe environment. The only thing you could miss in an online casino game is the interactive experience that you could get in land-based casinos.
That’s where live casinos come into the picture. Through this, you can play the game live through cameras on both the dealer’s and the player’s sides. The dealer shuffles the cards in front of you and gives you the experience that you would get at a land-based casino, including the interaction between players. Such types of live casinos offer games like poker, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, craps.
The Evolving Slot Machines
Yet another revolution in the gambling world has been the one that has hit slot machines in the last few decades.
The maiden slot machine was developed in the late 1800s by Charles (August) Fey, which is also termed as the “one-armed bandit”. This was a mechanical machine with 3 reels and 5 paylines based on the poker game. It immediately became popular across America and when the prohibition laws hit the gambling industry, it had to adapt. Fey changed the card symbols to fruits in the slot and gave it the name of a chewing-gum dispenser.
In the ‘70s, there was an explosion of video slots that lead to the creation of the first electronic slot machines with multiple paylines, bonuses, and various themes. It spread across the world including Canada where 1985’s new gambling legislation authorized licensed bodies to run video slot machines.
The gaming giant Microgaming developed its first online wagering software and launched Cash Splash in 1994, which was the first online slot game where you could bet with real money through secure encryption.
Since then, the gambling industry does not have to look back and online slot games and casinos became increasingly popular. This success led to the creation of a variety of slot games that can be found today.
How does these Slot Games Differentiate themselves?
These slot games have been distinguishing themselves via an amazingly diverse selection of themes, unique features, and multiple paylines.
1. Themes
Although the classical slot machines didn’t provide a major variety in themes, today you can play on any theme you like. Varieties are still available ranging from animals, brand names (e.g. Marvel), to romance, cowboys, etc. you can find a machine with the theme of your choice.
2. Special Features
All these video slots are mostly equipped with an array of special features. The most commonly found are Free Spins, Wild symbols (simple, expanding, multiplying, etc.), bonus games, re-spins… and the most common of all is it all offers the player multiple chances to win.
Yet another feature in online slots is the progressive jackpot, which gives you the opportunity to win a huge prize that defies your imagination. Such slot games with this special feature are integrated with one another, without boundaries of country or casinos and every time someone makes a wager, a part of their money is added to a common jackpot, which keeps growing. This may lead to massive wins, like 23 million CAD jackpot won by 26 years/old British soldier on Microgaming’s Mega Moolah slot game, which you can play online at Jackpot City.
3. Multiple Paylines
Due to the restriction of physical space of the traditional slot machines, developers were limited in what they could create and were restricted to having only 3 reels and 5 paylines.
But today, they are free to offer an unlimited amount of paylines that are unlimited, be it for their number or shape. You can choose on which payline you would like to wager or automatically bet on all of them on the “Ways-to-Win” type of slot games.
All such things offer the player a much better chance to hit the jackpot!
What is the Future of Online Slots?
Considering the evolution and innovations that took place in the last 20 years, it is not easy to imagine that we could go any further in the creation of at-home casinos. Still, there are certain aspects that will surely influence the gambling market!
1. Augmented Reality Video Slots
In the coming years, you can sit at the family table and see other virtual gamblers sitting on your grandfather’s chairs.
Casino software developers are creating augmented reality video slots using overlay virtual images to reality in a perfect 360° experience. The first AR slot machine, developed by BetInReal in 2018, offers you the chance to assemble a virtual slot machine anywhere by scanning your surroundings and playing freely without any added cost.
2. Virtual Reality Slot Games
Same way, casino software developers have also been working on developing virtual reality slots games. It differentiates its sleeve in the sense that instead of overlaying virtual elements to reality, it transports the gambler to an entirely virtual world where they can play in a fantastical environment.
Synopsis
Still due to its nascent stages, Augmented and Virtual Reality needs hardware equipment that hasn’t been so popular and becomes mainstream yet. With the development of technology, we will surely see the development of at-home casinos as well.