Are Online Slots Better Than Land-Based Slots and Why?

Slots have come a long way since their inception in the late nineteenth century. The early days were marked by the three-reel Liberty Bell slot, which offered a single payline. Today they offer more variations, far better visuals, and a plethora of themes.

The development of the internet since the beginning of the century led to the rise of gaming technologies, creating high-quality and immersive online casino software. But, when it comes to slots, players essentially still have only two types they can enjoy: online and land-based slots.

Some prefer playing online, some like the traditional feel that only land-based slots can provide. But, which is better? That’s quite a difficult question, and today we’ll give our best to provide you with an answer.

Advantages of Online Slots

Playing slots from home, on your desktop or mobile device, definitely has its advantages. Mobile gaming is one of them, with the segment becoming more and more popular in recent years. Today, the vast majority of online slots can be played via mobile, regardless of the device and the operating system.

When gambling online, you have the chance to benefit from numerous promotions offered by online casinos. You can find them at every online gambling venue. There are generous welcome bonuses that don’t require any deposits to be made. These “no deposit bonuses” are offered to new customers, while in other cases, all you need to do is to place a deposit and you’ll be able to use a predetermined bonus. That’s something you won’t find at land-based casinos.

You can always play any online slot for free. You won’t be able to win anything, but you won’t spend a penny.

Another feature you won’t find at land-based casinos is a progressive jackpot. These prizes often reach six and seven-figure sums, while a couple of them have even made it to the Guinness Book of World Records. They are very popular among all types of players, with all of them hoping to become millionaires thanks to them.

Online slot machines have higher payout percentages when compared to their land-based counterparts. In general, online casinos offer more winnings for players.

An average Return to Player (RTP) for online slots is set at 96%, while land-based slots have an RTP of around 85%. Although that difference may not seem significant, in reality, is too high.

Online casinos also boast a much, much more extensive offering of games. Video slot machines at land-based venues take up a lot of space, with more massive gaming halls being able to offer only a couple of dozen of them. At the same time, the lineup of titles at online casinos includes hundreds, even thousands of releases. Also, to play online, you don’t have to wait for someone to finish, as there’s no limit to the number of punters that can play the same game simultaneously.

Advantages of Land-Based Slots

We can’t deny that land-based slots have certain advantages. After all, if there weren’t any, they wouldn’t be a part of the casino offer.

When playing slots at a land-based venue, you can claim your winnings as soon as you stop playing. You can cash your chips in, and go home. Again, this is something you won’t be able to do at an online casino.

If you hit the jackpot while playing an online slot, you will have to wait a bit before claiming the money. Depending on the payment method you’re using, that may take up to a couple of days.

This is not a significant disadvantage, but it’s certainly more convenient to get your money as soon as possible.

There’s also the atmosphere. Nothing can substitute for the feeling of pulling the handlebar and spinning the reels or holding a cup full of coins. Many players will say they come to land-based casinos only because of the unique atmosphere they offer.

Online casinos will never be able to replicate it.