Blackjack and slot machines are at the top of the casino food chain. The former is the most-popular table game in many countries, while slots rule land-based and online casinos.
When it comes down to overall popularity, though, far more gamblers play slots. Case in point: slot machines greatly outnumber blackjack seats in casinos.
Again, slots and blackjack are both very popular games. But why is it that slot machines draw far more players? Here are 7 reasons why more people spin the reels than sit down to blackjack tables.
1 – Slots Are Easy to Dive Into
You don’t need to be a master gambler to play a slot machine. All you really need to do is insert your money and locate the spin button.
Of course, you should familiarize yourself with the betting options before playing. After all, you don’t want to risk more than you’re comfortable with on a single spin.
You might also navigate to the help screen to check out information on features and any special rules. But then again, you don’t even need to do this if you just want to dive right into a game.
Slots offer one of the most-basic gameplay models in the casino. Provided you know how to change the betting options, you should be set to play just about any slot.
Blackjack differs greatly in this regard. In fact, you may be too intimidated to sit at a blackjack table as a new gambler.
Blackjack rules aren’t incredibly hard to decipher in the overall scheme of things. However, they’re much more complex than what’s seen with slot machines.
You always have the option to hit or stand in blackjack. But you may struggle with knowing when the option to double down and split are available.
Some casinos feature restrictions on doubling down and re-splitting. Others don’t, which adds to the confusion of learning the rules.
You also need to understand casino etiquette with this game. Most notably, you’re not supposed to touch the cards at any point.
Blackjack is definitely a fun game once you get into it. However, you’ll find the transition from slots to blackjack to be rough—especially when using a land-based casino as your training grounds.
2 – No Complicated Strategy Involved
Slot machines are the least-strategic games in the casino. Other than bankroll management, you can’t do much influence your slots odds.
This aspect is both a good and bad thing depending upon what type of gambler you are. If you’re somebody who loves the challenge of using in-depth strategy, then you may not like slots. Assuming you don’t want to overthink every decision, though, then you’ll appreciate slot machines.
Blackjack is definitely one of the most-strategic casino games. Every decision you make has the potential to impact the house advantage.
Of course, you can cut down on the confusion by quickly finding a blackjack strategy chart. But if you didn’t even know that these charts existed, you’d struggle greatly to pick up strategy in the beginning.
3 – Slots Graphics & Animations Look Great
Slots developers have done a good job of keeping up with modern gaming technology. They’ve transitioned slots from the classic three-reel, one-payline machines with fruit symbols to games that offer numerous lines/ways.
They’ve also incorporated high-quality graphics and animations into the fold. Now, you can look forward to many slots with 3D graphics and movielike animations.
When you play a slot today, you’re not just getting a bland gaming experience. Instead, you can look forward to a visual spectacle.
Real money blackjack is much different than slot machines in this regard. It’s a classic game that’s been around in some form or another since the 15th century.
That said, most casinos retain blackjack’s classic qualities. They don’t add fancy graphics to online games or reinvent the wheel with land-based tables.
Some gamblers enjoy this traditional experience. Others, however, are more entertained by the visual displays that slots offer.
4 – More Features Than Ever Today
Classic slot machines used to be enough to keep the gamblers happy. People were fine with spinning three reels just to get the thrill of gambling.
However, players are no longer happy with just having the chance to win big prizes. They also want to be entertained along the way.
Slots developers have solved this dilemma by introducing more and more features. Now, you can look forward to several bonuses in any slot you play.
Here are examples of the many features you’ll find in slot machines:
- Cascading reels
- Clusters pays
- Expanding wilds
- Infinity reels
- Megaways
- Pick’em rounds
- Random wilds
- Second-screen bonuses
Blackjack, in contrast, has never been about revolutionary features and bonuses. Instead, it’s a strategic game that pits you against the dealer.
As mentioned before, some people embrace this strategy. But other gamblers simply want to unlock features and win big payouts relative to their bets.
5 – Numerous Slots Themes
Casinos have made attempts to spice up blackjack and appeal to a different customer base. For example, some gambling establishments offer party pits and poolside games.
A party pit features loud music and, in some cases, girls dancing on nearby polls. Poolside games have seats that are slightly submerged in water.
Even with these attempts, though, blackjack can’t match the number of themes that are available in slot machines. A slots developer has no shortage of options when it comes to programming a theme.
Here are some of the different themes that are available in the slots world:
- Adventure
- Aliens
- Bank heists
- Gems
- Historical figures
- Outer space
- Racing
- Rock ‘n’ roll
- Sports
- Treasure hunting
- Wild animals
The list of slot machine themes goes on. That said, you have many chances to visit different places and enjoy unique atmospheres with these games.
6 – Online Slots Bonuses Clear Quicker
Deposit bonuses are very common in the online gaming world. A deposit bonus offers a match percentage on your deposit amount worth up to certain amount.
Here’s an example:
- A gaming site offers a match deposit bonus worth 100% up to $250.
- You deposit $125.
- You now have the opportunity to earn up to a $125 bonus.
Of course, no casino lets you withdraw a bonus right away. You instead need to clear the funds by meeting terms and conditions.
Playthrough (a.k.a. rollover) is one of the most-important terms. It refers to how much you must wager before cashing the bonus out.
Here’s an example of rollover:
- You qualify for a $200 bonus.
- Playthrough is 35x.
- 200 x 35 = $7,000
Slot machines provide a much easier path towards clearing a bonus right away. Most slots rollover ranges from 20x to 40x.
Meanwhile, blackjack and other table games force you to wager a lot more. You might need to satisfy anywhere from 60x to 200x rollover.
The reason for the larger wagering requirements is simply that blackjack features higher RTP than slots. The average online blackjack game offers around 99.5% RTP, while the typical slot delivers 96% RTP.
Casinos compensate for higher blackjack payback by upping the wagering requirements. Therefore, you can’t just choose blackjack to clear your bonus the cheapest way possible.
7 – Nonstop Action
Slot machines offer fast action and quick play. You could potentially spin the reels 500 or 600 times per hour.
Nothing in the casino plays faster than a slot. That said, these games are perfect for when you want as much action as possible.
Blackjack also offers plenty of action under the right circumstances. A land-based casino could see over 100 hands per hour depending upon the dealer’s speed and how many people are at the table.
Online blackjack can also move at a quick pace. You just have to be in the mood to make quick decisions and play hand after hand.
On average, though, blackjack just isn’t as fast as slot machines. This is especially true when several people are sitting at a land-based table.
Conclusion
You can’t go wrong when choosing either blackjack or slots. Both games have their individual strengths and appeal to different crowds.
However, the slots crowd is much larger for several reasons. Beginners especially like starting with slot machines due to the basic gameplay.
Others enjoy slots due to the lack of strategy. One can let their mind wander and simply be entertained by the graphics and animations without stressing over decisions.
In summary, nothing is wrong with choosing blackjack over slots. You might even split time in between both games.
But as casino numbers show, slot machines are certainly the more popular overall. Therefore, you might consider joining the crowd and spinning the reels.
Michael Stevens
Michael Stevens has been researching and writing topics involving the gambling industry for well over a decade now and is considered an expert on all things casino and sports betting. Michael has been writing for GamblingSites.org since early 2016. …