The online gambling industry was carefully crafted on certain pillars. Responsibility, security, accessibility, and fun are the four pillars keep the industry going today. However, at their foundation, these pillars are being supported by the emergence of one game; online slots.
Without slots, it is doubtful if online casinos would even be where they are today. In this article, we are going to take a look at the different ways that online slots helped to build the iGaming industry as we know it. Considering so many today play top pokies online for real cash, we can’t ignore the contributions and influences of the classic games.
The Foundation of iGaming
At the core of online gambling are slot machines. In the late 1990s, online slot games were first introduced to the public. This was an era when the internet was still fresh and new in most people’s eyes. Which meant that not many were accustomed to online casinos yet. Even so, slots on the internet were an instant success.
The early success of slots gave developers courage to press on. Nobody could have predicted then that the world wide web would become the kind of phenomenon that it is today. But, both players and developers saw the success of slot games and knew that there was something to it. Enough to keep creating new games, and entice new audiences.
Because of the success of online slots, we soon saw poker websites, blackjack sites, roulette options, and so much more. Truly, online slots had created the foundation of the entire industry.
Introduction of Bonuses
At the earliest stages of the gambling industry, online slots were the only games available. While many thought the industry would get boring, they were disproven. Slots remain the most popular and widely played game online to this day. But, online casinos have found ways to make them more entertaining. One of the first additions to the world of slot games was bonuses.
In the late 90s and early 2000s, casinos introduced promotional features for online slots. The most popular of these were the free spins, which allowed players to make an extra additional spin after they’ve already wagered. Most gamblers today are well familiar with free spins, as well as gambling bonuses in general. After all, they’ve become staples of the industry.
But, were slots not successful enough to draw newbies and amateurs, who knows if bonuses would have been introduced at all. And if they hadn’t been, who knows what the industry might look like today? Perhaps it wouldn’t be the multi-billion-dollar market that it is.
Conclusion
Slots are an integral part of the gambling industry. They helped to revitalize interest in gambling when they were first introduced, and they did the same 100 years later, when the iGaming market got off the ground. Today, online casinos are most people’s first choice for getting into gambling. In large part, we have slot games to thank for this. Their broad appeal and simplistic gameplay are the main reasons that these games are such a marvelous success worldwide.
