Slots have evolved dramatically over the years, a clear example are The Phone Casino’s hottest selection of online slots in the UK, from simple machines with a few spinning reels to electronic devices powered by electricity, and then to the online games with incredible graphics and bonus features that we enjoy today. But what lies ahead for these exciting online casino games? Let’s find out. 

Greater choice

In the past, the design of slots was so uniform that they were known to many people as “fruit machines” or “poker machines.” Some slots were known as fruit machines because of the fruit symbols that were displayed on their reels, while earlier slot machines used playing-card symbols and dished out wins based on winning poker hands.

Today, the variety of titles on offer has grown far beyond these two original designs. Players can enjoy casino slots based on themes such as Ancient Egypt, space, South American jungles, wild African animals, great musicians, film franchises, sports, and much more.

As time passes, we’re bound to see even more games, covering an ever-growing variety of themes and game mechanics to grab players’ attention.

 Increased paylines

The very first slot machines only had one payline, and while some modern slot games have kept this tradition, many have added multiple paylines as a way to keep players engaged. Some of these titles have hundreds or even thousands of paylines (or “ways to win”), and it’s possible that slot developers will push things even further to attract players to their games.

A more social experience

Slots are known for being a relatively solitary experience. Unlike casino games such as poker, blackjack, or even roulette – which play out around a table and have space for multiple people to play and watch – people tend to play online slots on their own.

However, it’s possible that you may be able to enjoy a more social experience playing regular and mobile slots at an online casino in the future. Whether it’s simple cross-platform chat integration so that you can talk to your friends while you play slots online, slots-focused chat rooms that are accessible when you play, or slots that somehow include multiple players, it’s possible that developers will look for ways to improve the social aspect of virtual slots.

Better graphics and sound

There’s no question that casino game graphics and sound have improved over the years, with ever more engaging visual and audio experiences being offered to players. Graphics have improved in resolution, design, and appeal, while audio design has reached almost Hollywood standards of production for some games. It’s likely that slot designers will continue to push graphics and sound to the next level to stand out from the competition.

More skill-based gameplay

One of the major reasons people like online slot games is because they’re so simple to play – place a bet, hit the spin or play button, and hope for the best. However, there are many players who enjoy learning how a game works, particularly if they can use that knowledge to improve their chances of winning, just as thousands of players already do with games like online blackjack.

It’s unlikely that slot developers will change the core gameplay to include skill-based play, but it’s entirely possible that bonus features and mini-games will be included to appeal to this specific demographic in the future. For example, you might see free spins, lucky wheels, or other bonus features replaced by puzzles, timing games, or other more “video game-like” features. This will undoubtedly find a home with certain players – imagine how exciting it would be, knowing you could complete a puzzle to boost your multiplier or even win a cash prize!

Even more payment methods

Online casino operators are constantly trying to ensure that their players have a variety of safe and convenient ways to manage their bankrolls, and one way for them to do this is by increasing the options players have for making deposits. Players already have access to credit cards, online payment services, and other methods, with cryptocurrency being the latest form of payment that some virtual casinos are willing to accept.

Cryptocurrencies are not only very secure compared to many traditional payment methods but also provide the user with a high degree of anonymity, which may be important to some individuals, and allow for faster withdrawals since they bypass the slow processing and verification systems at a bank.

Virtual reality slot games

Virtual reality has been around for decades, but the headsets available to the public were prohibitively expensive or were simply out of date by modern gaming standards.

This all changed with the release of the Oculus Rift in 2016. It was launched at a price of $599 (£410) at the time, and while this wasn’t pocket change, it was lower than the price of a brand-new video game console or gaming PC. The Oculus Rift also offered a relatively good graphical experience, which was unsurprising, considering it needed a fairly fast gaming computer to run it.

As time passed, the price of VR tech has come down, with the recently released Oculus Quest 2, a completely stand-alone unit that doesn’t need to be connected to a PC, coming in at just over £200, half the price of the original Oculus headset.

The increasing affordability of these devices means it’s likely that more people will start to buy them. This means casino fans may soon be able to leave behind the 2D world of casino gaming on their computers or mobile devices and enter a completely virtual 3D world, complete with VR equivalents of their favourite PC and mobile slot games.

Imagine being able to sit next to your friend and enjoy a game of slots, even though you’re thousands of miles apart!

Start spinning the reels at The Phone Casino

The future of online casino slots looks exciting, but thankfully you can already have a great time playing the best online slots in the UK at The Phone Casino. Not only do we offer hundreds of great titles for you to play online, you can also enjoy these mobile slots with no deposit! That’s right, when you take a few moments to register at The Phone Casino, you get to enjoy 100 free spins on our exclusive games.

And if you’re in the mood for other exciting virtual casino games, you’ll be spoilt for choice because you can enjoy other great experiences like online roulette, online scratch cards, and much more here at one of the best mobile casinos in the UK!