One of the most classic and rudimentary entertainment options that we can find in Spain are the slot machines.

These machines have been one of the most popular and most sought-after casino games on the Iberian Peninsula, at least before the turn of the century.

I am sure that a large part of the Hispanic population has at some time experienced the sensation of betting some money or inserting some coins in these machines. The sensation is so exciting that it has gradually become part of our daily lives, although it has now taken on a new dimension with the arrival of the online medium.

According to the Gaming Business Council, in 1985 the number of authorised slot machines in the country reached 323,000. However, since 2013 there has been a significant drop to 200,000, a number that has been maintained with some ups and downs.

All of this is set out by this institution in the Gaming in Spain Yearbook 2019, which indicates that the number of machines this year was 200,654.

Almost 79% of them are in bars and cafés, 19% in gambling halls and the remaining 2% in bingos. And the figures indicate that the number of machines in on-trade establishments has decreased.

The Prizes

It seems that slot machines are tending to become more and more common in gambling establishments, although the on-trade still has the majority of them.

A decline that also has to do with the proliferation of online slots and online casinos.

These offer a series of advantages that are hard to compete with in physical premises, such as the size of the prizes in special slots.

Finding a website with outstanding slots in its catalogue is not easy, and you have to watch them closely because they often have special prizes for players. There are more arguments in favour, but also some against, and it is important to know them all in order to know how to choose.

The RTP (Return to Player)

Making a profit depends on knowing how to choose the best slots to play. Also the type of slots to play.

And in this case it is necessary to look at a concept such as the RTP, which stands for “Return to Player” or percentage of return, which is nothing more than the return to the player that the slots give. In other words, the money that the slot machines allow the player to get back from what he or she pays into them.

Bar slots tend to be the lowest of all, followed by casino slots and then online slots.

Obviously, not all players are returned a prize, as not everyone can be a winner. In this case, online slots are the winner.

Convenience and Availability

Online casino slots also win in terms of convenience and availability.

Physical slots mean that you have to travel from home to an establishment, whereas with online slots you can play from home.

Moreover, you can do so at the time you prefer and for as long as you want. And you can also play your favourite slots, so you can easily try out a wider variety.

In an arcade you may have to wait for other customers to finish before you can get behind the controls of your favourite slot machine.

In an online format this does not happen, as well as offering the possibility of having a larger catalogue, as there is no limited space as in a regular gaming centre.

Ambience

One of the downsides of online slots is that the time we spend playing can be colder. By this we mean that the gaming environment we create while playing at home is not the same as that experienced in a land-based casino.

There you can discuss the game with other players, you observe other people who are in the same situation and enjoying the same entertainment, and that sometimes gives you wings to continue and stay firm in your purpose of obtaining profits.

There are customers for whom the atmosphere in which they gamble is very important, and it is clear that for others it is not so important. It all depends on what each player prioritises.

Betting limits

If you think that there might also be an advantage in limits, this is not really the case.

Online casinos have developed systems that allow players to self-impose time limits and spending limits on themselves, so the claim that you spend more online is nothing more than a myth.

The same is true of physical venues. Before you go there you can bring an exact amount of money, the amount you want to spend, and that is a way of setting limits for yourself.

As we said before, this depends on each person and how they behave when it comes to gambling.

Profitability

Finally, another trick to keep in mind is the profitability of each machine.

Physical slots are programmable, but they contain limits on how much you can win playing them. Online slots are more manageable and modifiable in this respect. Special bonus phases can be implemented in them in which to win more prizes, although their existence does not ensure that players will win more.

As with any game of chance, fortune plays a fundamental role that cannot be controlled, no matter which version it is.

As we can see, the best slots depend on our priorities and our experiences. There are no fixed parameters that indicate which ones are better, although with a few small clues it is always easier to make an assessment.