If you walked down almost any UK high street in the 1980s or 1990s, you’d find at least one arcade, a couple of amusement machines outside the newsagent’s stands, and probably a grabber claw in the food court of a shopping centre.
That love of flashing lights and a flutter never really went away. It’s just moved online, as millions of British consumers today play jackpot games from their phones and laptops, chasing the same type of buzz they once got from a pocket full of 10p coins.
A long and proud history
The relationship with games of chance in Britain dates back to the high street itself. Early arcades and seaside amusement parks were core parts of the early 20th century. Paying a small amount for the thrill of a possibly massive win has been part of British leisure culture for over a century.
Amusement arcades were a core part of UK retail after the Second World War. All seaside towns had at least one, and inland high streets often had them as well. The arcade was a place to go with friends and compete on fruit machines and video game cabinets.
The arcade hit its cultural peak during the 1970s and 1980s, as Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Street Fighter II added to the existing fruit machines and amusement slots.
The decline of the classic arcade
A combination of factors led to the mass decline of British arcades in the 2000s. The internet was the biggest disruptor as broadband became widespread. Home gaming consoles were another reason, as people could stay at home to play their favourite games without having to go to expensive arcades.
There was also more pressure on high street establishments due to rising rents, changing consumer habits, and increased online spending. Many of the big arcade chains started disappearing, and it was soon only the seaside arcades that remained.
These once staple parts of British retail leisure were almost extinct by the mid-2010s.
Enter online jackpots
The online casino industry has grown steadily since the late 1990s. However, the emergence of smartphones really unlocked its true potential. There was no barrier to entry, like not having a desktop computer or having to visit a specific website. Online jackpot slots in particular became a key feature, as people continued to chase those big wins from relatively small outlays.
Progressive jackpot networks work by pooling together a small part of every bet placed across a networked game. The jackpot keeps growing until someone wins it, and sometimes this can mean many millions.
The core appeal of the lights, sounds, anticipation of a spin, and the possibility of a win remains when comparing online slots to the old arcades. It’s just the graphics and the venue for playing them which has changed.
This isn’t an accident, as developers of online slots have designed their titles with this in mind. Even the audio design of online slots is deliberately reminiscent of an arcade, with its coins, bells, and exciting tones when you have a win.
What comes next
The high street has seen a little boom in experiential retail, which is why arcade bars, competitive social venues, and gaming lounges are returning to shopping centres and city centres. However, the everyday gamer will continue to use their at-home devices to enjoy their favourite pastime.
Anyone playing jackpot slots has never had more choice, and the games themselves are more immersive than ever before. Britons have always had a desire to have a flutter, and this experience is likely to evolve further as the years go by.
