Slots are the most common type of game you will see in an online casino. They are also the most popular to play, especially in emerging markets like Canada, where online gambling has only recently been legalized and there are lots of novices exploring the virtual casino floor for the first time.
Yet slots can be divisive, too. Some casino players refuse to play anything else, while others sneer at them as a cash cow for the casino that is quick to burn out your bankroll but slow to give anything in return. Can they both be right? Let’s take an even-handed look at the pros and cons of playing casino slots.
Slots are simple
A big part of the attraction for those new players in Canada is that there might be 100 different slot games on offer, but they are all easy to play. Press the button to set the reels in motion and see what happens! That’s great as far as it goes, but it can be a con as well as a pro. Some players soon get bored by the bright lights and sound effects and prefer a game where there are some strategic decisions to make, such as blackjack or poker.
Bonus offers
Casino bonuses abound online, with every provider trying to outdo the next with the size and generosity of its free offers. If you are among those new casino players in Canada, or indeed elsewhere, you will probably spend some time finding the best online casino bonus. When you go to use it, it will invariably send you to one slot game or another to cash in your free spins – most welcome offers can only be used with certain slot games.
Huge jackpots
A slot game might have a jackpot prize of 10,000 times your stake. Progressive jackpot slots, where there is a separate jackpot shared across multiple games, can pay out in the millions. True, the probability of them doing so is astronomically low, but like the big Lotto draws, these things do happen, and the outside chance of a life-changing win is compelling. That just doesn’t happen in a game like blackjack, where the best you can do is a 3/2 return for a natural.
High volatility
The downside to those potential wins is that slot games can often run dry for a long time. If this happens, you can be tempted to think your luck is due to change and throw good money after bad. To stay safe playing slots, it is vital that you manage your bankroll responsibly and stick to your plan. If you crash and burn in 20 short minutes, come back wiser another day, perhaps luck will shine on you then. Alternatively, when you play a game like baccarat or you place even money bets like red/black at the roulette wheel, you’re far less likely to have a catastrophically bad run, and most of the time you will win almost as much as you lose.
