Change is coming
In the words of Bob Dylan: “The time’s they are a-changin’.” While the folk-rock legend might have been speaking about politics and social revolution, the same applies to the world of slots gaming.
Whether its virtual reality, artificial intelligence, or some other emerging technology, slot gaming developers have to remain at the forefront of tech advancements. That ensures they keep up with their competitors.
strong themes, immersive storylines, and mindblowing visuals
Online slots have come a long way since the early days of the late 90s, thanks to this swift adoption of new tech. Long gone are the days of simple slots based around traditional fruit machines, such as Cash Splash from 1998. Now, games have strong themes, immersive storylines, and mindblowing visuals and soundtracks.
But what is next on the horizon for slots? We’ve taken a look at four new technologies that could breakthrough and change slot gaming forever.
Virtual reality and immersive worlds
Virtual reality (VR) has been a buzz word in the world of tech for many years. The technology has not been fully embraced in any sector yet, but it is improving every day.
Slot gaming is one sector in which a progression to VR seems possible. Games have already progressed from basic traditional fruit machine-based slots into storyline-focused theme-driven immersive games. Some of the latest slot releases, such as Play’n GO’s Colt Lightning Inferno, Red Tiger’s Loki’s Descendants, and Area Link Wolf from Area Vegas, prove just that.
But other slots suppliers are going one step further, making the experience even more immersive. SlotsMillion launched a VR casino all the way back in 2015. It included a full rendered virtual casino with 3D slot machines. It was also possible to interact with other players as avatars.
NetEnt is one of the biggest studios to try out VR. The company, which has released famous slots such as Blood Suckers and Wild Worlds, launched Gonzo’s Quest VR in 2017. It was the VR version of its hugely popular Gonzo’s Quest slot, turning the original game into a first-person VR experience.
Other gaming companies have also ventured into VR, although outside of just slots gaming. For instance, MicroGaming launched VR roulette and casino rooms, featuring interactive tables and casinos spaces. PokerStars did the same for poker with its PokerStars VR, allowing players to interact socially in the virtual space.
For the time being, VR remains a show piece rather than a mainstream entertainment source. VR headsets are still relatively expensive, meaning not many people have them, so adoption remains limited. That means that while VR has potential, it may still be several years before we see it adopted fully.
Artificial intelligence and personalization
Next up, it’s the tech that everyone seems to have an opinion on. Artificial intelligence is here to stay, whether we like it or not, and it is having an impact on the majority of industries. The tool allows for increased personalization, whether it is streamlining Google searches to find the perfect response, or curating Spotify playlists just for you.
AI has opened up the possibility of personalizing slots towards each individual player
The same goes for slots gaming. AI has opened up the possibility of personalizing slots towards each individual player, whether that be through a personal storyline, a soundtrack, or a theme that a certain player would love. A few online casinos and developers are in the process of implementing this new tech.
Just like Spotify and Netflix, online casinos have implemented AI recommendation systems to offer up the slots that best suit certain users. The tech analyzes favorite slot themes, betting habits, session lengths, volatility preferences, and bonus engagement to propose the games that the visitor is most likely to enjoy. Therefore, online casino lobbies of the future will soon look different for every player, much like a Netflix homescreen.
Endorphina is one developer leading the way when it comes to AI implementation in slot design. It released Joker Ra in 2023, which used AI tools within the creative process. The company used AI to analyze player preferences, guide design decisions, and create more engaging mechanics. In this way, AI became a creative partner in the process, rather than designing the slot out and out.
Meanwhile, adaptive AI-guided gameplay is in the early stages of development, but industry reports suggest it is happening. Slots will adapt based on player behavior, including changing music or visuals, personalized bonus offers, adaptive volatility, dynamic in-game events, and personalized mini-challenges. This might not be happening any time soon, but it certainly has us excited.
Gamification and social slots
Another major development in the world of slots is that developers are taking inspiration from other forms of gaming, in addition to esports, streaming culture, and social media platforms. Instead of just pulling a lever on a slot machine and watching the fruits spin, players are encouraged to complete missions, compete in tournaments, unlock rewards, and engage with slots communities.
players across multiple games participate simultaneously
Relax Gaming was one of the first to launch a community around slots gaming in 2022. It introduced Dream Drop Jackpots, a network of jackpots designed to build community excitement in online casinos across the globe. Jackpots can drop randomly at any time and players across multiple games participate simultaneously.
As for casino leaderboards and slots tournaments, lots of casino operators are now offering this to players. Providers such as Pragmatic Play and Play n’ GO also regularly run these competitions on their slots, providing prizes to players who rack up the highest wins over months or years.
Gamification in actual slots is a less widespread progression, but certain games are showing a move towards this story-led gameplay. For instance, Reactoonz from Play ‘n GO became hugely popular because it provided unlockable modifiers and evolving bonus mechanics, in addition to combo systems and chain reactions. Push Gaming went down the same route with Jammin’ Jars, building progression and anticipation, much like a game on a mobile or console.
Blockchain, metaverse, and cryptocurrency
Finally, we take a step into the metaverse and the world of blockchain, where slot gaming developers have begun to dip their toes. Through these technologies, players will begin to own digital casino assets, move between virtual world, and participate in decentralized gambling ecosystems. The benefits are many, including giving players more control and faster payments.
A few companies have begun to step into this field. Decentral Games became the first best-known example of metaverse gambling when it launched Decentraland in 2020. The virtual casino significantly expanded accessibility in April of last year when it launched on the Epic Games Store, Google Play, and Apple App Store. Through it, players can walk through a virtual casino as avatars, interacting with each other, and playing slots and table games while using cryptocurrency as stakes.
subsequently dropped off and struggled to maintain active user bases
In a similar fashion, FunFair Technologies focused on blockchain casino infrastructure. The company’s platform also offered decentralized gaming as well as fast crypto transactions. However, while metaverse casinos such as this generated a lot of attention during the crypto boom, they have subsequently dropped off and struggled to maintain active user bases.
On the crypto front, many online casino sites have now fully embraced crytpo as their main source of payment from players, including Duelbits, Stake, and Roobet. This has been amplified by famous streamers who use crypto as their main payment method. Trainwreckstv, Roshtein, and Xposed all gamble regularly with crypto while broadcasting to many thousands of viewers per stream.
