History of online slot machines
Beginnings of online slot machines in the Caribbean
The short history of online slot machines is directly linked to online casinos and their creation in 1994. This was when Antigue and Barbuda in the Caribbean changed the law to allow companies from all over the world to operate online casinos on the basis of free trade. The main reason of course was the gradual rise of software and the internet. The first casinos appeared only a year later; these were The Haming Club and InterCasino. This paved the way to online gambling. Today, online slot machines represent the main product of online casinos. There is a whole gambling portfolio, including for instance online versions of roulette, poker, videopoker, blackjack and other card games, dice games, scratch cards, bingo or keno.
“Endless” regulations
At present companies only need software, access to the internet and most importantly a license for operating online games. This license is a hot topic in the area of gambling regulations in every country. Regulations were first introduced in the US in 2006 when online gambling was made illegal. Similar regulations are also implemented in EU countries, when individual ministries decide if and under what conditions licenses for online gambling are granted.
Added value of online slot machines as opposed to classic machines
- You can enjoy this form of fun directly from the comfort of your home – and nobody will see you enter a casino. All you need is a computer, tablet or a mobile phone with internet access.
- You can try various types of online slot machines for free.
- The range of offered games is rich and varied.
- Higher pay-out – the average payout is over 95%, as opposed to the 85% for slot machines in brick-and-mortar casinos.
- A wide range of bonuses
- You can compare individual games based on several factors thanks to many available reviews
More reels, more bet lines
What makes online slot machine really different is the number of reels. While 3-reel machines usually offer only a few bet lines, for 5 and more reel slot machines the number of bet lines is much higher.
The best online casinos
1. Betsafe
Betsafe was created in 2006 and today is part of the well-respected Betsson Group, based in Sweden. Its focus is to target rather more experienced players. And it has plenty of things to capture your attention – but perhaps the greatest eye-catchers include a gigantic range of games (e.g., over 1000 online slot machines) and an emphasis on security and high-quality support.
2. Mr Green
The wide range of exciting casino games includes various versions of roulette and blackjack, including games with live croupiers, video poker, bingo and of course, an infinite number of slot machines.
3. CasinoEuro
European-licensed casino with a long history. One of the best-known and well-trusted casino portals in Europe.
