Slot Sales See a Spike in North America
Casinos in both Canada and America have seen a notable increase in spending on slot games this year. 2018’s second fiscal quarter saw sales of online slots Canada increase by 15.7%, and the rise looks set to continue through to the end of the year. Slot games have long been heralded as the most popular casino game, both online and offline, and these figures certainly seem to show that their popularity remains undiminished.
Why the Sudden Surge?
New Casinos have sprung up across Canada and the United States in recent times, and construction on yet more casino-entertainment complexes is ongoing in both countries. The surge in slot games is primarily connected with gamblers now having more venues at which to play. This goes hand in hand with the fact that the economy in North America has begun to bounce back after a crippling recession. People are finally starting to feel the weight of extra coins back in their pockets, and what better way to spend it than by trying their luck on a few reel spins?
The Evolution of Slots
Slot games started out as clunky, 3 reel games that barely paid out any winnings to hopeful punters. Over the years, however, the slot game has taken on new dimensions. More reels have been added, as well as entertaining in-game features, awesome bonus games and potentially huge jackpots. Long gone are the days when a win would only get you a pack of smokes or a free drink at the bar. These days, slot game players could win life-changing sums of money on a single spin. The current record for a single spin win in Vegas is $40 million! Absolutely no skill is required to play these games, and the bets can be as little a $0.10, which is perhaps why the games are so popular. Games like Blackjack and poker played at a professional table on a busy casino floor, can seem intimidating to the uninitiated, so it’s no wonder then that so many people find their way to the walls of slot machines.
Online or Offline?
The question remains, however, will the land-based casinos be able to compete with the meteoric rise of the online casino? Now that online casinos are licenced and regulated by official bodies, and now that online security software has become sophisticated, the appeal of playing from the comfort of home is gaining momentum. Slot players don’t need to interact with other players in order to enjoy their favourite games, so playing online rather than hauling themselves down to the local casino certainly seems to make sense. However, there’s no denying the appeal of the bustling, electric atmosphere of the real life, flesh and blood casino floor. We don’t think land-based casinos are going to disappear anytime soon, and even slot players need a little human contact now and again.
