Why Do Gamers Love Playing Online Slots?

Over a century of keeping people entertained – slot machines must be doing something right. Speed forward to the early 1990s, and the invention of online slot games allowed more people to enter the world of play. And now, the population is divided into people who know and love slot games and those who ask – why are online slot games so popular?

Those in camp two, settle in, you've come to the right place. If you haven't spun a reel at Virgin Games yet and found the answer first-hand, read on to find out more.

Why Do People Play Slot Machines?

Online Slots Are Easy to Play

Scorecards, complex strategies, competitive streaks – feel free to check these at the door when spinning slots. Many gamers love to play slots because they are, in their most basic format, simple.

Don't get us mixed up, things have got creative in the online slot space over the last decade, with entire worlds imagined for players to explore. Then there are the expansive bonus features and jackpots – but we'll get to all that. 

The classic slot game – built with a 3x3 reel set – is easy to play and follow. Unlike other popular casino games – think Poker or Blackjack – slots don't have a long set of rules to memorise.

While (spoiler alert) we have a mammoth variety of online slot games that players also love, 3x3 slots are classic for a reason. They're straightforward, and an ideal entry point for newcomers to get to grips with the mechanics. Take 7’s Deluxe. Here, you can spin the reels reminiscent of your typical pub fruit machines, with symbols commonly associated with slots, such as cherries, lemons and 7s. If you match three Blazing 7’s symbols on a payline, you’ll land a nice win. No homework needed. 

Unlike casino games (where you can consider placing side bets, spreading your wagers, and learning strategies) the player's role in playing slots is pretty simple. Once you’ve chosen your bet size, (which can be as low as 1p if you opt for games like Cleopatra) pressing 'spin' is all you need to do. You can then watch the reels turn, and hopefully, you’ll see some matching symbols.

Slots Are Entertaining

Ask slot players and they might give you endless variations of where, when and why they play slot games. But we think the elements of fun and excitement bring all this together. As with all variants, – digital or real-world, solo or group, free to play or wager required – gaming can be a hobby, a way to relax, an opportunity to socialise, and a source of entertainment in your downtime. 

But, especially with online slot and other gambling games, fun should always be the aim of the game. When this isn't the case, it's time to check in with your motivations. 

Slot games must be played responsibly, and we have a range of tools available on-site, from session reminders to deposit limits and more, making sure that you’re safe when playing online slots. If you keep this in mind, then you’ll be able to enjoy slot machines just as they were intended to be.

Online Slots Are Packed with Bonus Features

Cut to the good stuff – who doesn't love the word 'bonus'? As slots have evolved, more and more bonus rounds have become available to online users. Your average player will be familiar with the classics (looking at you, Free Spins and Re-spins) but when you play online slots, there are many more ways to complete winning combinations.

For example, you could trigger a Wild Reel in some games. This will turn an entire reel (wait for it) Wild, and as a result, these Wilds can substitute for other regular symbols in the play area, potentially leading to more wins.

Or maybe Cascading Reels will be your new favourite bonus feature. This leads to winning symbols being removed after they have been evaluated. New symbols will then drop down to replace them, and the reels are then re-evaluated. If new winning combinations have been formed, then you are paid once again, and the process will repeat until no more wins remain. Who wouldn’t love racking up several wins off just a single spin?

Keen to know more? Check out our blog on the brilliant bonus rounds available when you play online slots with us to learn more.

The Variety of Slot Games Are (Almost) Endless

If you’re new to online slots - and if you are, then it’s good to have you here - it’s not a bad idea to try out a range of games before devising a slot-playing strategy. The good news you’re spoilt for choice at Virgin Games.

We have over 900 online slot games available, from big-name franchises such as Rainbow Riches and Fishin' Frenzy to more niche favourites and even our own range of Daily Free Games**. Plus, we add new games for players to spin regularly just to keep things fresh. What we're saying is, boredom isn't an option here.

Let's take Megaways slots as an example. Players can find up to eight symbols on each reel in these games, and you can see how many paylines are in play on each spin via the Megaways mechanic. In Beetlejuice Megaways, there could be as many as 248,832 paylines active; the more paylines there are, the more potential you have to land some slot wins. This is just one example of how our selection of games keeps things interesting for players.

Let's Not Forget the Range of Jackpots

Big wins are all part of the fun, and gamers have the chance to land just that when they play jackpot slots at Virgin Games. With progressive jackpots up for grabs every day, it’s clear why these games have added to the popularity of online slots.

You might think you need to bet big to win big – and you'd be mistaken. 

It's a common misconception, but don’t worry, many jackpot prizes can be won no matter the stake.

Interested? Your first port of call should be our Daily Jackpot slots. Here, two progressive jackpots can be won every single day, alongside the Quick Hit Jackpot, which can be won several times on any given week. To win one of these prizes, you would need to land three Jackpot symbols on a spin in any of the linked games, which includes Mega Dragon and Persian Fortune.

Jackpots aren’t just confined to specific types of online slots, with some of our other games offering them too. You could win the Grand Jackpot worth 2,000x your wager in Crazy Jokers, and this is awarded if you fill the reels with symbols during the Hold & Re-spin feature.

There's a Social Side to Playing Slots

For some players, spinning the reels on their favourite slots is a good chance to socialise, and that is another reason why these machines are so popular. Make the most of our free-to-use chat service, where you can interact with other players and discuss the games you love, or maybe even find out about their slot strategies. Keep an eye out for the special bonus games (where real-money prizes are up for grabs) run by our chat hosts, too. Now that's our kind of socialising. 

And what is socialising without a little competition.... ever wanted to go head-to-head with other slot players? Enter our Slot Masters tournaments to compete directly with other Virgin Games players, with a range of weapons available to help you win. There is a sword that can steal half of your opponent’s balance, or you could lock their reels with the freeze option. If you find your name at the top of the leader board, then you may be awarded free spins or cash prizes. If you’re competitive, then this is the perfect game for you.

From the simplicity of the game to the social element it provides (not to mention the generous prizes up for grabs) it's no wonder so many gamers love playing online slots.

Want to find out more for yourself? Sign up to become a part of the Virgin Games community.