Did you know that slot machines are the most popular casino
game in any land based casino? It is a fact that the land based
slots games pay out more money to players than all of the table
games (blackjack, poker, roulette etc) added together. Knowing
that it should then not come as any surprise that online slots
have quickly become the most popular type of online gambling.
There are other similarities too, for example did you know
that a slot machine in a land based casino has a computer chip
in it? That's right even the land based 'classic
slot machines' have a chip in them, which has the program
hard coded onto it. The chips basically have a number generator
on them and some software which is the exact same way an online
slot works. The only difference is one controls actual spinning
wheels and flashing lights whilst the other generates images
of reels and flashing lights. But in this article I am meant
to be talking about the differences so here they are.
Payout's and odds
The chips we just spoke about that generate the numbers are
geared to payout at a certain rate, this is the same in both
land based slots and in online slots. The difference is that
the online slots are set to payout at a higher rate than there
land based ancestors.
There are two main reasons for the difference
in the payout rates of online slots compared to land based
slots.
The first is cost, an online casino does not have to pay for
dealers at the tables, nor does it have to pay for door men,
or waiters or free drinks, or cleaners or repairs to its slots
machines and seats to keep them looking good. These extra savings
that an online casino has over a land based casino can and are
passed on to you the player, just like ordering your car insurance
online, online casinos offer you a better rate.
The second is competition, online there are literally thousands
of online casinos all competing for your business. In most big
city's there are maybe one or two land based casinos (with the
exception of Las Vegas). Every good online casino knows that
if they don't keep you happy with a great deal and great service
that you are only a few clicks from there nearest competitor,
but land based casinos don't have that much worry if you want
to move to another slots game it will be one in there casino
or a long drive for you. Which leads me on nicely to the next
difference.
The Home Advantage
When you go to a 'Real Casino' there is often a dress code,
and many distractions, from flashing lights to free drinks (for
high rollers) to the peer pressure of the crowd.
Yet when you visit an online casino you do not have any of
these distractions, you can sit in your favorite armchair (or
even lay in bed if you want to) whilst you play your favorite
games.
Have you ever noticed how land based casinos never have a clock
in them? They want to do everything they can to get you totally
absorbed, forget the time just play and play. They often have
bright lighting to help make sure the players don't feel tired
(and remember the time) and some even pump pure oxygen into
the casino halls to further prevent against players wanting
to go home to bed.
Online casinos cannot control your environment, you can see
the clock on your pc anytime you want to and they don't mind
about that at all. If you decide you want to go make a phone
call to order in a pizza your online slot will wait for you
and no one else will have stolen your seat when you get back.
Loyalty Slots
Some slots games (both online and off) offer bonus loyalty
features. The idea being you collect points the longer you play
and once those points reach a certain level you are awarded
extra 'loyalty' winnings. This is of course a great idea to
keep you playing longer and give you an extra reward, however
in a land based casino you might get almost all the way to winning
one of these extra rewards and then run out of tokens. So off
you go to the cashiers desk to buy more and when you return
you find someone else has jumped on that exact machine and completed
the loyalty set you were working to complete.
With an online slot you don't have this problem the slot machine
you play on is yours, if you collect 2 points and need 3 to
make a winning but decide to go to the toilet (or even to log
out and turn your pc off and go on a 6 week holiday) when you
return to play that game again you will have your 2 points waiting
for you. No one else can steel your seat. Two good examples
of this type of online loyalty slot game are Top
Hat Magic and Star
Catcher.
Bonuses and Comp points
In a land based casino if you sit and play all day you can
expect to earn comp points which will get you free things around
the casino or hotel.
In an online casino they offer the same kind of thing but they
give you cash rewards or holidays or points towards luxury items.
In addition to this the online casino market is so competitive
that they also offer welcome bonuses.
Can you imagine walking into a land based casino and having
someone saying, "hello sir (or Madam) here is a bucket
full of free chips for you to play with"? Its almost unthinkable
isn't it? However, at many online casinos that is exact what
happens, if they are not offering you free money with no catch
they are offering you more free money in the form of a Match
bonuses (the most simple of which is you deposit $100 and the
online casino gives you another $100 to play with). So you have
double the money and double the fun.
Safety and Privacy
There are many Safe
Online Casinos in fact the majority of the online casinos
are safe. Those that are not do not tend to last very long as
they get very quickly exposed and it is very easy to get independent
information about any online casino whilst your online.
As a result of this fast and easy transfer of information the
internet has allowed amongst players the online casinos have
had to ensure they use the very best encryption method to ensure
any data transfer is safe and that both the players money and
personal details are safe and secure.
On this site we only list safe online casinos and as part of
our criteria
for an online casino being classed as safe is that it has encryption
procedures to protect the players personal details.
Online Casinos will not have cameras watching your every move
or looking to see who you came in with, nor will they ask you
to leave for wearing the wrong type of clothes, or even for
winning too much. The online casino industry is so competitive
that to survive online casinos have to be very professional
and treat there players well, because if they don't they will
very quickly be exposed.
Availability and Range of Games
A Big Las Vegas Casino may have 100 or maybe even 200 slot
machines, but what is the actual variety like? Maybe 10 or 20
of some games and 1 or 2 of others and an actually variety total
of maybe 40 or 50 different games.
At an online casino the availability is endless, as you can
be playing your favorite slot game and it can be duplicated
an infinite number of times so no matter how many people are
playing that same game at that same online casino you will never
lose your seat.
Not just that but because physical space is not a problem for
online slots games the online casinos can offer a massive range
of slot games, for example at the time of writing this 7
Sultans Online Casino has 144 different slots games for
you to choose from.
Try before you buy
Most online casinos have a free
play option so you can play any of their games with pretend
or play money and get a feel for the games you like
before you risk any of your hard earned cash. This gives you
a chance to learn the rules and figure out any strategies
you might like to employ. Can you even imagine a land based
casino doing that?
You might also find these pages helpful FAQs
and Jargon Buster.
