The beauty of slot games has always been their simplicity. The allure is that you might get lucky. Fate will look down upon you and bestow you with wealth. You have been the chosen one. Yay!

At least, that’s how it used to work. All slots were completely random. The major thing about them was their RNG, which gave everyone a non-calculable probability of winning. Because, you know? It’s totally random, right? Well… not anymore, kind of.

Nowadays, a new trend has emerged, where modern-day slot games give you some level of control over the result. What’s even more curious is that a good chunk of these are inspired or resemble arcade games of yonder.

At first sight, they might appear to be the same as your average slot, but if you try the latest casino games, you’ll see that it’s in the bonus rounds where you can make the difference, and let your skills shine. Add to this the possibility to win a progressive jackpot, and it all sounds even more enticing.

Why Are These Games on Offer?

Why are casinos letting skill play a factor? Surely, they don’t want people getting so good that they’ll win regularly? Well, variety is always needed. Things get stale. The modern gambler has evolved past watching reels spin, he wants interactivity.

Another major reason is that you won’t find millennials among the demographics that play slots in land-based establishments. This is crucial on two points. Slots are casinos cash cows and the key demo in any business is young people 18-25, and people under 35.

Millennials have grown up with smartphones, Play Stations and Xbox, so it’s a bit hard for them to be entertained by a fairly simple and dull slot.

Why Arcade Classics?

It seems like a strange choice, as arcades were popular in the 80s and the early 90s. Most millennials have never played any of these games on a true machine, excluding computer emulators, flash and mobile versions. So why would this type of game be created with them as a target audience?

Well, developers have to create games that will be challenging enough, but not too difficult. And, arcade ones seemed like the best fit, as they provide simple controls, and can be tricky to beat.

Will the Games Further Evolve?

Eventually. With the average attention span being so low, it’s only a matter of time before newer generations grow tired of these straightforward games and crave something more complex and stimulating.

Some online casinos have already taken this step and provide first-person shooter games. While it’s fun to play an FPS for money, the graphics and gameplay cannot compete with their console-based equivalents. They simply can’t measure up to something like the Call of Duty series. Thus, their attractiveness is lowered.

This, however, doesn’t change the direction the industry is heading towards. Phones and browsers will become more powerful. However, perhaps social gaming is the wave of the future? Facebook games could captivate the same audience with their slot variations.