The humble slot machine has gone through many changes over the last hundred years. As we improve in technology, some cannot help but think what changes we can expect for the one-armed bandit in the coming year.

It was only in 1994 when Microgaming changed the world of slots machines. Now, more than 20 years later, these games have evolved in a way that many did not anticipate. There are now thousands of titles, and they have become a staple of any gamer.

Today, let us talk about some trends and the possible improvements in how we are going to play new casino slots in 2020.

Virtual Reality Slots

Virtual reality is a new technology that gives the user a life-like simulation. In the case of slot machines, you will feel like you are in a real casino pressing those buttons or pulling the arm.

This technology already exists, but is still at its infancy. NetEnt, a leading new slot games 2020 developer, already tested out its first VR slot from one of its popular slot titles, Jack and the Beanstalk. Recently, the company announced that it would develop its first real-money virtual reality slot machine, and the company will use its award-winning game, Gonzo’s Quest.

You need a VR headset to be able to play this. And you also need a powerful computer that can render the 3D virtual reality games. The computers need so much power as they would render the 3D environment in real-time.

As of now, the system requirements that you need are:

• 8GB of RAM;
• A powerful graphics card that was made for gaming; think of NVIDIA;
• At least an iCore 5 from Intel as a processor or something better.

You need a bio-sensing data glove. It is a glove that allows you to “touch” things in the virtual world. This glove is connected to the VR headset and the PC, and all these three devices will make it possible for you to move around the VR worlds and take control.

In a virtual reality world, you have the capability to move in a computer environment, much like you move in the real world. You can walk, back off, and then interact with objects.

If you think about it, you will be able to walk inside a casino, like as if you are in a land-based one, and then interact with machines and play games. If you have any experience playing RPG, or role-playing game, like Skyrim or Assassin’s Creed, the experience is going to be the same.

Crypto-Currency Slots

It was only in 2019 that some casinos started accepting crypto-currencies. The thing is, these currencies are currently being converted into cash, and you will withdraw them as cash too.

By 2020, we can expect that more and more casinos will start accepting bitcoins and other blockchains, but it can move further than that.

Since crypto-currencies are coins in their own rights, we will not be surprised if slot machines will now take crypto-currencies are gaming coins. What we mean by this is instead of converting the bitcoin deposit into dollars of pounds, the bitcoin itself is going to be the currency.

Here are the benefits of doing this:

• More players can access the slots; if their credit cards are blocked from gambling, they can buy crypto-currencies and use that to play.
• No more conversion; players will spin the reels with crypto-currency and win crypto-currency; it is up to the player to decide when to withdraw it to his crypto-wallet and convert it to cash.
• Privacy – since cryptocurrency is not regulated, the players have no fear being monitored for their gambling activities.
• Faster transactions – there will no longer be wait times to find deposits and withdrawals; players would love this as it is easier to replenish their casino balances.

It is not only the players who will benefit from crypto-currency slot machines. Casinos also have so much to gain. For one, there is no licensing involved in operating a Bitcoin casino. Also, the default principle of crypto-currency is that if you deposit it, you paid for it.

With credit cards, it is not unusual for players to make a deposit, lose their money on gambling, and then file for a chargeback fraud. With bitcoin, players cannot do this, and casinos will save a ton of money from paying employees who handle these cases.

Innovative Slots

People are tired of wilds and scatters, and there will always be a demand for new additions to the slot world. While there are already 3D slots in the market, players are looking for something better.

Here are the innovations that we can look forward to in 2020:

• Cluster slots – this slots type is not new, but we can look forward to more titles that use this format. In a clutter slot, there is no such thing as a pay line. What you need to win is to form a cluster of at least five same symbols. If you do, you get rewarded a prize.
  Because of the nature of the game, it is much easier to win, and it is much more exciting to watch the symbols tumble as the winning clusters disappear.
• Access to multiple progressives – as it stands today, very few slot machines offer more than one progressive jackpot. These are usually called mini, minor, major, and grand. Slots that offer multiple jackpots require that you meet a minimum bet.

In 2020, developers and online developers can change this by making everyone eligible for these progressive jackpots regardless of the bet size. Now, to be fair to the high-rollers, the progressive jackpot must also automatically change in amount the smaller your bet size is, the smaller the jackpot.

Cross-Platform Slots

What if you can play your favourite slot machine in multiple platforms?

Today, you can only access slot machine on mobile, tablet, and PC. 2020 should open new doors where you can access your slot machines on your smartwatch, or your gaming console like Playstation and Xbox.

The game developers may even consider using Smart TVs as a platform. Many television sets today now have browsers that can access the internet, and the logical step is for game developers to make slot machines that will work on these TVs.

Slot machines are now available on the smartwatch like the Apple Watch, Samsung Gear 2, and Pebble. This is only a small step compared to how far the slot machines can go.

And since the slots are ready to move to gaming platforms, it is also high-time for game developers to add a little element of skill. There really is not much use for slot machines on gaming consoles if the players cannot use the controllers to influence the game.

Summary

The coming year is exciting. As technology improves, the gaming industry is certainly at the forefront of these changes. Players are the catalyst to this change, as players are always thirsty for a new gaming experience.

As the years go by, more and more companies are venturing into game development. The competition is becoming tougher, and this should put all companies on their toes. With competition on the rise, there certainly is a company that will introduce new slots online to set it apart from the other providers.