The technology used to develop slots games and their themes

When it comes to identifying success stories, you would find it extremely difficult to beat what the online gambling industry has achieved in recent years

Given that the sector has existed for less than three decades, it is astounding to think that it is expected to generate annual global revenues of more than $100 billion by 2026.

Games such as the Fishin’ Frenzy slot have been crucial to the industry’s success, bringing the thrills of Las Vegas and Monte Carlo directly to your chosen digital device.

Advancements in technology have undoubtedly been the key factor in helping the industry become one of the biggest boom sectors in the world.

From the development process through to games being launched on the internet, tech plays its part along every single step of the journey.

As online slots generate the biggest revenues for gambling operators, we take a closer look at the technology used to develop the games and their different themes.

Developing an online slot

The development of an online slot requires input from several different people including a project manager, game designers, graphic designers, animators, and web developers.

The team will start the process by discussing ideas for the game theme, which ultimately governs elements such as graphics, sound effects and gameplay experience.

A prototype version is created to iron out any initial issues before a primary version is made which moves forward to the final development phase.

Game testers undertake stringent testing over lengthy gameplay sessions to eradicate any bugs, and the slot is then made available to online casino operators.

Online slot mechanics

The earliest incarnations of slots were purely mechanical affairs, but this changed when video technology started to be utilised by developers.

These games were driven by random number generator (RNG) software, which determines the outcome of every spin on the game.

In simple terms. The RNG generates the number when the player presses the ‘spin’ or ‘start’ button and the result is linked to the symbols that subsequently appear on the pay lines.

Online slots also use RNG software, combining this with the return to player (RTP) percentage rate and volatility to power each individual game.

Creating the casino website

Having established how slots games such as Fishin’ Frenzy are made, we now need to assess how these end up on the World Wide Web.

Gambling operators generally use the services of external web specialists or in-house teams to build their online casino websites.

This process will include elements such as front-end design, along with the integration of the games, payment gateways, customer support software and chatroom facilities.

The site may also incorporate content management systems such as WordPress, which are generally used for marketing and advertising purposes.

Payment gateway integration

As we have just mentioned, the development process for the online casino website includes the integration of several additional elements including payment gateways.

These allow the site operator to facilitate deposits and withdrawals in a safe and secure manner across a wide range of digital devices.

The technology is this area has progressed massively in recent years, with debit and credit cards no longer the main payment method for most slots players.

Digital wallets such as PayPal are hugely popular, while open banking options like Trustly are becoming increasingly prevalent at online casinos.

Optimizing slots for mobile

One of the biggest challenges faced by the gambling industry in recent years has been the shift away from larger digital devices towards smartphones.

Developers are now tasked with taking online slots such as Fishin’ Frenzy and adapting them so they work without a hitch on mobile devices.

Most online slots sites are fully optimized to work via mobile browsers, making it easy for players to access their favorite games on the move.

Some casino operators have gone a step further by launching standalone apps, which take the mobile gameplay experience on slots to another level.

Artificial intelligence in slots

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly being used by online casino operators to better inform the development of slots games and their themes.

AI allows operators to maximize their return on investment by making recommendations based on the harnessing of invaluable player data.

This helps online casinos reduce player churn, predict future behavior and facilitate improvements in marketing and advertising activities.

Some AI analytical platforms are around 97% accurate, saving casino operators time on revenue forecasting, budgeting and more.

Slots tech in the future

We have highlighted the impact technology has on the development of slots games, but what does the future hold for this sector?

Many analysts have forecast that virtual reality (VR) technology will be the next big thing to impact the slots industry over the next few years.

Top developers Evolution Gaming have already made great strides in this area, creating a stunning VR game that blends live casinos and slots.

We anticipate that popular titles such as Fishin’ Frenzy could also be adapted for VR in the future, thus providing players with a more immersive gameplay experience.

The opportunity to win life-changing sums of money in stunning VR environments is undoubtedly a hugely exciting prospect for anyone who loves playing online slots.