If you enjoy slot machines, you may have been wondering if you should play online slots in the UK, or if live slots might be a better choice for you. We unpack everything you need to know about online vs live slots so that you can find the right gambling experience for you.

Online slots

The spinning reels and alluring sounds of slot machines are enjoyed by casino goers all around the world. These games of chance offer players very simple but very enthralling gameplay, with people only needing to place a bet and hit a simple spin button to find out if they are lucky enough to win a cash prize. They offer players the chance to gamble in a variety of settings, such as ancient civilisations or dangerous jungles, or even with mythical gods and beasts, and come with a variety of their own special symbols and bonus games.?

Unlike their older mechanical predecessors, all slots use digital RNGs (random number generators) to produce the results that you see on screen. These RNG systems are constantly generating random values which are then used to display a result on a slot machine’s display. The RNG’s algorithms used by slot machines at licensed casinos are thoroughly audited by third parties to ensure they offer players a fair experience.

But what about online slots? How different are they from a slot machine that you’d find in a casino? Not that different at all actually. Online slots are simply the digital online counterparts of offline slots that you can play via the internet, with many offering an almost identical experience to what you’d find in a regular casino.

How do online slots work?

If you’re wondering “How do online slots work?”, they’re actually very similar to their offline counterparts. However, there are two differences. Where players would use cash or a card to make a wager at a traditional slot in a casino, online slots require you to make a deposit at the online casino you’ve registered at, and then make a bet using the money you’ve deposited. The other difference is that you interact with the game using a device like a mobile phone, tablet or laptop computer, instead of sitting down to play on a dedicated machine.

Apart from this, the gameplay remains the same. Make a bet, spin the reels and see whether you’ve landed a winning combo!

What online slots have to offer

With offline and online slots offering identical gameplay, the biggest benefit you’ll get from choosing to spin the reels in cyberspace is the convenience of being able to play from virtually any location with an internet connection. That’s right; whether you’re riding the bus, enjoying a break at work, or relaxing in the tub, you can fire up an online slot to play on your mobile device.

There are also many other benefits to choosing to play online. When you log on to a virtual casino, you’ll have access to a library of dozens, if not hundreds, of online slot titles, all right at your fingertips. Online casinos also offer more regular bonuses and promotions to players, so you can often get more bang for your buck when playing slots online.?

Live slots

The first thing that will likely come to mind when you think of “live slots” is a dealer interacting with a slot machine in a live dealer game. But that’s not actually what live slots are, or should we say, what the one and only live slot is. Live slots are actually closer to a lottery wheel game, with a live dealer spinning a wheel to see what prize you land on.?

Contrary to the name, live slots have very little to do with real slots. These games are actually closer to lottery games than classic slot machines, or even their online counterparts.

If this still sounds exciting to you, the bad news is there only ever was one live slot game in existence. This game was Mermaid’s Fortune, and it was released by Evolution in 2010. That being said, if you are a fan of Wheel of Fortune-style games, you may enjoy this game.?

How do live slots work?

When playing live slots, you must first place a bet. After you’ve confirmed your wager, the dealer will spin the wheel. The wheel is divided into different sections, some of which contain rewards. If the wheel stops spinning and the arrow or indicator above the wheel is pointing to a prize, you win! However, if you aren’t lucky enough for the wheel to stop on a winning section, the round is over.?

You must then decide if you want to place a new wager, or if you want the dealer to spin the wheel again using the amount you previously bet.

What live slots have to offer

Live slots offer players a more interactive experience because they can interact with the dealer. Just like many other live dealer games, this makes online gambling more social and may feel more like playing at an actual casino to many players.?

You also don’t interact directly with a game but use digital tools to interact with a live stream of the game that’s being broadcast from a studio or casino itself. Again, this is similar to what you might experience at a brick-and-mortar casino, where you place a bet and watch while a game host spins a lottery wheel.

Spin the reels at The Phone Casino

If you’re ready to spin some slot reels online, you can find the perfect online slot machine to play at The Phone Casino. We offer an exciting range of online slots that cover a variety of themes including ancient civilisations, mythical beasts, supernatural beings and other thrilling genres. And if you want to try something new, you can also find other fun gambling games including blackjack, roulette, video poker and more!

Register at The Phone Casino to play all these exciting gambling games and to find out what luck has in store for you.