When the first slot machine became an American cultural revelation in the latter stages of the 19th century, nobody could have envisaged just how far it would go as a money-spinning invention.
It’s fair to say that slot machines have facilitated trillions of dollars’ worth of transactions over the last 100 years, and a significant part of this recent success for the sector has stemmed from the successful implementation of the latest, cutting-edge technology.
Although our deep dive today will focus on how this sector has grown in Canada, the success of the Canadian slot machine sector shares many characteristics with the broader international model.
The sector is going through a real golden period, and considering online slots are global and continue to showcase their appeal across growing iGaming markets—including the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand—there’s a lot of crossover appeal, regardless of the country you play slots in.
For instance, the best online casino in Nova Scotia will share many variables that make other provinces’ casinos stick out as highly rated ones. Likewise, the best Nova Scotia casinos will share similarities with the top casinos in the UK or states in the US where gambling is permitted.
Free spins & online slot machine promotions
Online slot machines don’t just make up a considerable chunk of the Canadian casino industry, they also make up a sizeable portion of the marketing campaigns that online platforms undertake to maximize their potential customer base.
Traditional adverts are almost certainly on the road to extinction, and online casinos have expanded so well over the last twenty years because they have understood this changing attitude and cultural shift and have adjusted their marketing strategies accordingly.
Instead of advertising on the TV or radio, slot machine companies focus on traditional digital media, which could come via a newsletter, a mailing list, or a competition on social media where you have to like and share a post for a chance to win win a cash prize.
Free spins come in many shapes and sizes, and it’s essential to understand what constitutes a good free spins marketing strategy, as well as to recongnize those that may be cutting corners to get you to register for their site. Here are some of the key elements to familiarize yourself with
- When does the bonus expire?
- Do the free spins only count for one game?
- Is there a low max spin amount (usually anything less than $0.10)?
- What are the wagering requirements? Are they higher than 40x? This means you must play through 40 times your initial deposit before withdrawing it as actual funds.
Categories of slot games
Slot games fall into dozens of different categories, and millions of online slot games are spread throughout the Internet. Many of these are available in Canadian provinces, and while we’re not going to list them all exhaustively, here are some of the variants you can expect to come across
- Video slots —these are based on classic reels, usually 3×3 grids, fruit symbols, and matching symbol prizes.
- Cascading games—these usually do not rely on traditional bonus features like free spins, instead opting for matching cluster symbols that disappear and make way for more symbols that can cascade into a higher, winning combination.
- Progressive jackpot slots—these feature a large max prize that can be won across all the machines; the jackpot is usually displayed at the top of the game. They can also be localized to that machine.
- Multi-pay line—while most slots can have anywhere between 5 and 20 paylines, specific titles like Megaways will provide thousands of different winning ways.
Genres
Canadian slot machine gamers benefit from the broader global movement toward tolerated online casino gaming. The UK and certain parts of the US have allowed online slot gaming for years; it is regulated, taxed, and operates within a rigid framework.
Although it would be naive to think that Canadian casino gamers haven’t been using some of these same sites, the power to regulate online casinos wasn’t devolved to the provincial level until the last few years. This has meant that software companies and slot machine designers have been able to refine their skills in markets like the UK for over 20 years.
Once Canada embraced the idea of regulated online slot machine gaming, it meant they could immediately access these games. There was no trial-and-error process to determine what games worked and what didn’t—they immediately had access to games that had been on the market since the early 2000s.
Some of the highest-rated slot machine games range right across an extremely broad spectrum, including, but not limited to
- Ancient Mythology—Norse, Greek, Irish, Egyptian, and Roman
- Candy
- Classic/Fruit theme
- Cartoon
- TV/Film
- Gemstones
Responsible gambling
One area of casino gaming that is identical right throughout the international market is the importance of responsible gambling. You should only ever play slot games with money you can afford to lose, and you must remember that they are a form of entertainment, not a form of income, and should never be viewed as such.
Always ensure you read up on how to play a game before you sign up for any slot game site, and make sure to understand how paylines and stakes work so that you can operate within your budget.
The new regulatory Canadian landscape has meant that sites operating in the country must have clear directions to their problem gambling charities and allow you to set suitable time and deposit limits for whenever you play. For instance, Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission has updated its standards relating to sports and event wagering standards.
If you believe you or somebody close to you is beginning to develop an issue with their gambling, charities like Gamblers Anonymous can provide further details about available support groups that aim to help people who exhibit an issue with their gambling.
Conclusion
Slot machines have transformed the wider casino industry for a few different reasons, like their accessibility and the sheer scope of themes and categories. While Canadian slots don’t differ in this regard from those of other countries, the new legislative landscape has meant that casino gaming software companies and slot designers are more open to launching their businesses and ideas in the Great White North and catching up to those countries who have been regulated for a while.