Since online casinos emerged into the online entertainment mainstream, the evolution has continued with new and innovative features and game types filling the infinite space on the virtual gaming floor. Game play across the whole variety of games is maturing and becoming more interactive but the sharp-eyed online casino enthusiasts will notice that it is not only the game play that is maturing and evolving, but also the website platforms themselves.
Despite the revamping of all casino classics into a handy digital format, it is online slots that are leading the way on the virtual casino floor. Helped by advances made in game programming and design, online slots games have become more animated and interactive with a wider range of game mechanics.
One aspect in particular that has characterised online slots games is the bonus rounds produced. Due to the constant development of titles within this category, these bonus rounds are becoming increasingly more versatile with different types of interaction available with their own quirks, objectives, and dynamics.
Throughout the evolution of online slots, we have witnessed progressive jackpot rounds, the unique Megaways feature and the ability to buy bonus rounds implemented into online slots titles. As digital capabilities improve, the world of online slots is diversifying to introduce more variety to online casino platforms.
Breakaway Bonus Rounds
Within an online casino ecosystem, platforms are evolving at a rapid rate due to the increased competition triggered by new, emerging markets entering the industry. Suddenly, there is an added emphasis on creating something niche to stand out in an increasingly crowded online casino market.
This is one of the main reasons why modern-day platforms try to offer a wide selection of online casino games that allow players to go for jackpots, access the Megaways feature more regularly and play bonus buy games. And game developers have done their market research and extracted these popular features from the entire range of slots titles to create new categories for players to explore.
Megaways
It was in 2016 when Megaways premiered as its own standalone game. Like a character from a sitcom that gets his or her own series, Megaways went from an online slots feature to a star category in the online casino showroom. It is now common to find sections dedicated to Megaways slots games, such is the backing of the game by players worldwide.
Megaways slots introduce diverse, dynamic game mechanics compared to ordinary online slots games that mix up the number of symbols on each reel. Sometimes there could only be two symbols, sometimes there could be as many as six. What this does is increase the number of paylines and produces a game of lower volatility.
This means that there is a chance for more payouts, but they will be smaller. This version of online slots offers an alternative way to experience the classic casino game and is often adapted from already popular online slots titles.
Bonus Buy Games
Another feature to get its own spot in the limelight, bonus buy games are also commonly found on the majority of online casino platforms. The ability to buy bonus rounds and skip ordinary game play was originally a feature in online slots games before becoming outright games on their own. Bonus rounds tend to come with higher multipliers and the potential to claim free spins.
However, bonus buy games have also proved controversial in a few markets around the world that are against the dangers of spending more money to reach bonus rounds. The dangers of overspending and addiction are brought into question and is why markets such as the United Kingdom moved to ban bonus games in 2019. Since then, the Netherlands have done the same with Sweden looking to follow suit. Nevertheless, there are online casinos that house bonus buy games, but the abovementioned warnings do need to be heeded.
Online Casinos to Continue Evolving
From the previous features that have been adapted into games in their own right, we can see evidence of how the online casino industry is evolving. New niches are emerging, aided by the support provided by Artificial Intelligence to provide information on player’s preferences.
With game mechanics becoming more complex, we could see game developers isolate other parts of online casino games and diversify the offerings. For online slots enthusiasts, the virtual slots aisle is growing with jackpots, Megaways and bonus buy games all expanding their offerings to coexist on the same ecosystem.
