Online casinos and the iGaming industry have seen a marked rise in popularity in recent years.
There have been many mitigating factors, not least the closure of casinos worldwide. Here in the United States, COVID-19 devastated the economy, causing all manner of outlets to close and confined people to their homes. Casinos were one of the many industries hit hard, with no revenue coming in from customers.
One industry that reacted quickly was that of iGaming and online casinos. They could still operate and had a window where customers were forced to come to them over their physical counterparts. Revenue began to rise across the US as players tried playing at home, both for their casino fix and the social aspect. Some games put you in front of live dealers, meaning interaction that people otherwise couldn’t have had.
Online casinos haven’t just become more popular because of the pandemic. They’re also very agile and reactive in terms of their game offerings. They can quickly move with trends, develop new games, and trial them without fear of significant loss. It’s why you’ll find a multitude of game types in an online casino that you may not find in the establishments of Las Vegas or Atlantic City.
Not all of them will be widely familiar as they’re not common games. If you have stumbled upon the iGaming industry, but avoid anything that looks slightly different, then here’s your chance to branch out as we explore the online casino game terms you might not be familiar with.
Megaways
Megaways games are not as widespread as normal online slots, but they are as varied and developed under many themes. Fans of certain genres, such as Vikings, can find a game tailored to their tastes, making them as attractive as standard online slots. There’s a selection of Megaways games from Gala Spins, including Vikings Unleashed Megaways and Primal Megaways, which create an immersive experience themed around certain imagery. Creating these worlds means the games retain the feel and appeal of typical online slots. The difference with Megaways is that they offer more ways to win, perhaps making them more attractive. With multiple paylines and an ever-changing game board, they feel much like an online slot but with much more going on. There could be up to 117,000 ways to win on a classic game, so they deliver all the immersion of a standard online slot but with more ways to win.
Slingo
Slingo is a hybrid game developed by bringing online slots (SL) and bingo (INGO) together. Like Megaways, it uses the same imagery and themes to create games, but the method of winning is different. In Slingo, the reels spin to produce the numbers marked off on your bingo card, hence the hybrid. Numbers reveal certain characters and images, such as Viking axes and the like. Bingo is very popular in the US; the IB Times reveals that Americans spend $90m per week on bingo cards, so it’s easy to see how the game has gained traction with players. The games still feel as familiar as standard slots by retaining common branding, sometimes around game shows such as Deal or No Deal or popular themes such as Egypt and Vikings.
Jackpot Slots
This sounds obvious, surely? Don’t all slots have jackpots? They do, but it’s not that simple, so you need this guide! All slots have a jackpot you can win, but jackpot slots have what’s called a progressive jackpot, which goes up the more you play. Think of it like this; a regular online slot might pay out a set figure per line with a ceiling prize. A progressive jackpot accumulates a prize pot as more people play, meaning it is likely different depending on when you play. Some have jackpots to be won hourly; others go up to six or seven figures and can be won by anyone. Once you have a winner, the jackpot resets, and everything starts again.
