Slot machines, or gaming machines, can often be found in public bars and pubs or in hotels to enhance the leisure experience for the paying customer. Traditionally, slot machines from the early days were of the one-armed bandit variety, operated manually with a lever. A line of single fruits or symbols would pay out a modest sum for a winning reel. However, with the proliferation of new advanced entertainment consoles and smartphones and the rise of the metaverse, the consumer demands more of an advanced interactive experience in the 21st century.
Current State of the Market
The hospitality sector has had to move with the tech-savvy modern world as it seeks to provide the Millennium slot machine player with their preferred experience. Given that the vast majority of customers have a smartphone with social media, the engagement between player and provider is far more dynamic than in the past. The leveraging of technology has come on leaps and bounds. For instance, players can now enrol with a casino loyalty program while they are sitting at the slot machine.
The challenge for land-based casinos is that they have very old technology which is a dinosaur in this modern world of fast solutions. These legacy systems still require a player to make their way to the desk and physically stand in line so that they can sign up to a program. This will be something that the industry will change further in the coming years as any time spent enrolling in a queue has already proved to have an impact on the playing time and the amount spend on the slot machines themselves. A streamlined mobile check-in process is imperative going forward.
The actual games themselves are offering more multiple reel wins than the once traditional single-line payout. Cash machine slot game is certainly attractive to customers as they have far more winning combinations. They provide the possibility of more random bonuses that could lead to prizes such as respins. The look and design of these games and the slick sonics also provide a narrative rather than just a game that stops and starts.
Interactivity the key
There’s an element of being present in a world of virtual reality as the spins increase and every game is a different journey. The software that powers these games can also be tweaked by the operators so that they are in line with their customers’ expectations, using player-recognized play mechanics to add real value to the gaming experience.
The way the hospitality industry is engaging with its customers is changing as fast as the gameplay. After the pandemic, there was a significant decline in the amount of customers visiting bricks and mortar land-based sites. With no physical visits possible, the increase in online activity and demand was then geared for future generations. A demographic of younger players are now increasing the demand for better interactive experiences. There is a demand for sports betting apps, and live streaming services to bring the product to full digital life.
What’s really increasing the interaction with the customer base is the rise of smart-room tablets which can can send special offers and promotions and live updates in real-time when guests are most engaged. When they receive these notifications, customers may then order food and drink while they continue to relax in the comfort of their own room. Everything at the touch of a button is what everybody ever wanted.
Unique Experiences brings consumers
Experiences will continue to be provide customization and comfort in the most futuristic ways as the technology advances. The increase in gaming lounges, which brings people out of their own territory for a shared experience in a social haven, have now really impacted hospitality. The sector has had to rewire their offering differently. Hotels and restaurants are now beginning to weave lounges into their buildings to incorporate this new market looking for physical interaction.
One of the most captivating advances of the new hospitality offering is to ensure that customers can enjoy both the physical and digital options in an uninterrupted manner as they move through the day. In fact, it is this intersection between leisure and gaming that is increasing.
As hospitality continues to gather data on their consumers, they can market their products with more focus. It’s not just a slot machine that players are enjoying now. The whole experience is a sonic and visual hit which brings them to another world. If hospitality can bring the seamless experience of moving from physical slots to digital slots so that players only have to think about spinning the reels, they will get ahead of the game itself.
