If online slots are your favourite game to play, you’re not alone. All across the globe, thousands of players log into their online casinos to spin the reels, feel the adrenaline rush, and hopefully see millions in jackpot winnings stream into their accounts. But why are slots still so enduringly popular year after year? Let’s take a look.

They’re easy to learn. All of us were beginner players at some point (perhaps you’re even a beginner right now). And when we were, it’s fair to say that we probably gravitated towards slots to start with. Why? Because there’s very little skill involved in playing online slots – and as a result, they’re not scary or intimidating, they’re fun and welcoming instead. Just spin the reels, watch the symbols, listen to the music, and you could be a winner in seconds. What’s not to love? Sure, if you were looking for more of a skills-based game, you might have eventually graduated to more challenging casino favourites like Blackjack, Roulette or Baccarat. But chances are you started where we all did – with slots. And a good time was had by all!

They’re everywhere. In every casino that is. And where you find one slot, you’ll find literally hundreds, from classic 3-reel slots to more sophisticated 5-reel video slots, and even 3D slots and progressive jackpots too. Online casinos know better than anyone just how popular slots are, and so every decent casino will make sure to have a huge range of them available, from old favourites to the latest and greatest games out there. What’s more, many online casino welcome bonuses are linked to certain slots as well, which means in order to claim your free bonus money, all you have to do is spin to win. So many slots to play, so little time!

They’re free. No, we’re not making it up. If you choose to play for free before opening a real money account, you’ll be able to play most of your casino’s slots games absolutely free! So if you’re new to online casino play, you’ll be able to test out as many slots (and other) games for as long as you like, to help you get a feel for the casino and what it’s like to gamble online. All risk-free, with no actual monetary investment on your part. Of course some games, like progressive jackpots, are only available in real money mode – but that’ll give you something to look forward to when you upgrade your account. Until then, play for free as often as you like, and find out first-hand what it feels like to be a winner!

They’re affordable. The first rule of online casino play is to protect your bankroll at all costs. Never play with more than you can afford to lose, and always keep an eye on your account balance at all times. Believe it or not, playing slots can help with this. While some card games require a fixed amount or buy-in in order to play, slots games allow you to manage your casino spend at all times, and take full control of your bankroll throughout. How? By giving you options. You’ll be able to activate as many paylines as you like, and bet as many coins on each line as you like – there’s no obligation to bet the maximum at any time. So if you’re low on funds, you’ll be able to bet the minimum, guard your bankroll and still have fun too. Remember though that you won’t be able to win the max jackpot unless you place the max bet – but it’s up to you to judge what you can afford and play accordingly. Now that’s real winning!

They’re lucrative. When it comes to payout odds, that is. Most slots games have payout odds of between 80% and 98%, which makes them a good bet if you’re looking for winnings. Bear in mind though that this doesn’t mean you’ll win up to 98% of your money back every time you play. Payout percentages are the rate at which the casino pays back its players over time, so don’t bet your entire bankroll in one go, thinking you’ll win it all back in an instant. Keep an eye on your account, play mindfully, and spin not just to win, but to have fun at the same time!

They’re life-changing. You know all the stories you read about online slots players hitting the jackpot? Most often it’s because they were playing progressive slots – the same as regular slots, except with huge six or seven-figure payouts. How do they work? Most progressive slots are connected via network – so if, for example, you’re playing Mega Moolah at your online casino, a slot offered by the Microgaming network, you’ll be playing against every other player in the world logged onto that same slot at the same time. So it’s not just you against the slot, it’s you against everyone else playing as well. The awesome news is that every time one of you places a bet, the jackpot rises – so the more people playing and the more bets placed, the bigger the jackpot will ultimately be. This is why progressives aren’t offered in free play mode, and why they’re some of the most exciting, and life-changing slots to play!

They’re convenient. Just like any other online game, online slots are hugely convenient to play. Log on anywhere, anytime, and you’ll have instant access to a huge range of thrilling games – no trip to an actual casino necessary. It’s this that’s most important when it comes to playing online slots, as during peak times at land-based casinos, popular slots can be almost impossible to play, with people either sitting for hours at the same machine, or queuing with no end to the line in sight. Luckily with online slots there’s no waiting and no queuing either. Every slot at your online casino is available for you to play 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just log on, and you’ll have a wealth of potential winnings at your fingertips every time. Small wonder then that online slots are so popular – and look set to stay that way for decades to come!

Happy Spinning 🙂