With the casino industry undergoing transformation, online casinos, the emergence of major hubs in Asia, and the issuance of gambling permits made slots increasingly popular

If you used to play slots twenty or thirty years ago, you surely know that players were looked down upon, and payouts and jackpots were far from generous. Slots enthusiasts did not qualify for the incentives and rewards offered to table players, be it free meals, room upgrades, or bonus points. Fortunately, the casino industry underwent major transformation and today, 70 to 80 percent of their revenue is generated by slot players. The industry has certainly changed for good, so read on to find how.

Online Casinos

With the advent of new technologies, now players can choose from thousands of online casinos and games, whether they are up for poker, blackjack, roulette, or slots. Some platforms operate just for fun and feature free demos while others offer the option to bet real money. Users need to open an account and deposit cash to buy spins or chips to play. Customers have the chance to win progressive and daily jackpots, along with free spins and other giveaways. Game slot online variations have become increasingly popular because of the generous sign up bonuses, flexible stakes, access to tournaments, and other incentives that customers can take advantage of.

East Asia

Macau and other parts of East Asia have become hot spots for casino players since the mid-2000s. In fact, experts note that more than 40 percent of Macau’s GDP comes from the gambling industry. Major casino operators here are Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment, and SJM Holdings, with revenues between $4.2 and $9.7 billion. Players are offered a wide selection of games, including slots, keno, Fan Tan, Sic Bo, boule, baccarat, blackjack, and roulette. Other forms of gambling are greyhound and horse racing. Casino operators also offer guests multiple amenities such as presidential suites, retail and convention space, restaurants, and even wave pools and artificial beaches.

Legalization

Nowadays many casinos hold licenses, which makes them a safe place to bet. Different countries around the world have established gambling commissions or authorities that issue licenses to operators that meet the criteria. Licenses are issued by authorities such as the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, Curacao e-Gaming Licensing Authority, and UK Gambling Commission. Regulations vary by country and in some places operators need separate licenses for different activities while in others they can apply for one license. The average time to obtain one also varies by jurisdiction and can be as short as 2 – 4 weeks and as long as 12 – 16 weeks. The range of permitted activities and legit operators may include remote gambling by phone and online, external lottery managers, gambling software developers, gaming machine providers, casinos, bingo, betting, and arcades. The list of permitted activities may also include games of skill, fantasy sports, and sports betting. Licenses can be issued to online and land-based operators.