Slots are the backbone of the online gambling industry. Visit pretty much any online casino, and you’ll see that the vast majority of the games available are slot machine games. There are thousands upon thousands of them available to play, and there are new ones constantly getting released. Online casino game developers continue to create slot machines because they know this type of game is always popular with casino players. One of the largest developers of slots is WMS, whose slots you can check out at Williams slots online - this company was launched back in 1934 and focused on physical slot machines. It branched out into the online market in 2010 and has continued to satisfy player demand by releasing many high-quality online slot games. Here’s a look at what it is about slots that make them so appealing to players.


The Themes

Have a look at any online casino slot collection, and you’ll see that they come in a huge variety of themes, including ancient Egypt, Norse mythology, African wildlife, under the sea, all things Irish, fairytale creatures, outer space and Chinese culture. There are also a growing number of games themed after popular IPs, including successful films, TV shows and musical acts. Among the most popular IP-based ones are Game of Thrones, Ted, Jumanji, Guns n’ Roses, Terminator II and Playboy. No matter what your tastes or preferences, you’re sure to find plenty of titles with a theme that appeals to you.


The Immersion

The technical quality of slots has come a long way over the last few years. Modern video slots tend to be very advanced in terms of both the standard of the graphics and the sound effects. These games aren’t just created to be casino games; they’re created to be immersive gaming experiences set in detailed worlds with rich storylines and lifelike characters. There are also 3D slots that add an extra level of immersion to the gaming experience. You’ll even find a growing number of virtual reality casinos that set the standard for immersive gaming experiences eve higher. The slot machines at virtual reality casinos can be played using a virtual reality headset and are designed to play just like the slots found in land-based casinos.


The Gameplay

Lots of card games, such as blackjack and poker, require a level of skill, strategy and decision-making from the player. You have to think carefully and make sensible decisions if you’re going to stand a decent chance of winning. With slots, it’s mostly just a matter of luck. The basic premise of a slot is that you click to spin the reels, and if you land enough matching symbols in the right places, you’ll win. Gameplay is a lot more straightforward than it is with card games because you don’t really have to do much at all. Some slots are more advanced than others, with regard to their bonus features, though generally speaking, they’re still pretty easy to get your head around. The fact that they’re so easy to master makes them appealing, especially those who are new to casino games.


The Bonus Features

The typical video slot of today is considerably more advanced than what slots started off as. Quite a few decades ago, the first slot games were launched: they were physical gaming machines with a large drum with the reels on it and a lever you would pull to spin the reels. These three reel slot machines had no bonus features and often just a single payline. Nowadays, slots can be a whole lot more complicated. Not only do they have more reels and paylines, they also have a wide variety of bonus features to help you land wins, as well as different types of symbol, e.g. wilds, scatters and bonus symbols. Some even have mini-games that are played on a separate screen and involve things like shooting targets and picking.


The Cash Prizes

For many players, the cash prizes are what makes slots particularly appealing. Most of them have what is known as a fixed jackpot. What this means is that the maximum amount of money you can win is a fixed amount, i.e., you can’t possibly win anymore. A growing number of slots have a progressive jackpot; this is a jackpot that doesn’t have a fixed upper limit and can keep on growing higher and higher. Many of the biggest progressive jackpots pay out cash prizes as high as six or even seven figures, though of course to win one you have to be extremely lucky indeed. One of the biggest progressive jackpots is Microgaming’s Mega Moolah - it’s made quite a few millionaires and is regarded as the hottest and most popular in the world.

Slots are very appealing to a broad range of players because they come in all sorts of themes, have immersive graphics and sound effects, are easy to play, have exciting bonus features and can offer some pretty big cash prizes. Since they’re so incredibly diverse in their themes and gameplay features, it’s easy to see why they appeal to so many players.