The internet is a marvellous invention that has literally put the knowledge of the world at our fingertips. However, it’s also a fiercely competitive place where brands constantly compete to sell products and services, and few industries are more competitive than that of online gambling.

There are literally hundreds of slot sites out there fighting for your attention. Ultimately, this leads slot sites to work even harder to make sure that you remember and choose them when you are wanting to play your favourite online slots.

So, how do they actually do this and manage to stand out amongst the huge volume and variety of online casinos? All of the trade secrets will be discussed here, so you can find out exactly what tactics they use in order to compete for your custom.

Welcome Bonuses

Of course, welcome bonuses are the first thing players look for when searching for a new slot site to play at. After all, they do offer more gameplay for your money, even if they do come with limitations or wagering requirements. There are many different types of bonuses and specific ones that cater for what you want.

Casino Bonuses

The great thing about casino bonuses is that they’ll give you more gameplay for your money without using up all of your existing budget. One of the most common casino bonuses includes giving a percentage of bonus up to a specific amount, such as a 100% bonus up to £200. Essentially, this means that if you deposit up £200, you’ll receive a 100% bonus on top giving you a total of £400 to play with.

Casino bonuses can usually be used on any game including online slots and table games – so you have more choice to select what you want to play. However, wagering requirements also usually apply and certain games may contribute differently to the overall amount wagered, so be sure to check the terms and conditions of the bonus.

Free Spins

Perhaps, the most well-known bonus amongst slot players is the free spins bonus as it’s arguably the easiest to understand. Free spins are often given upon first deposit at a new slot site, and it’s not uncommon for anything up to 100, 200, or even 300 free spins to be awarded. However, in some rare instances you can gain free spins without depositing, which is another strong tactic slot sites use to onboard new players. The conditions of no-deposit free spins are usually more restrictive though.

Free spins are often only playable on specific games predetermined by the slot site. Nevertheless, free spins are the perfect excuse to try out new games that you might not have thought to play otherwise and you may end up finding a new favourite from it.

Live Casino Bonuses

Many bonuses cover online slots, but they don’t always apply to live casino games. As the name suggests, live casino bonuses are designed specifically for use on live casino games such as live roulette and live blackjack. Some slot players also enjoy playing other games. Slot sites know this and so often host traditional casino games including table and card games as well as live casino games, and so will usually also have a bonus to suit them.

Cashback

Another form of bonus that slot sites promote is the cashback offer that gives you a chance to regain some of your losses. The cashback bonus is a percentage returned to the player based on any losses made within a certain time period. Some slot sites might offer 100% cashback up to a maximum amount, but it’s more common to see offers for 10% or 20% cashback on losses incurred.

Promotions

On top of the welcome bonuses, slot sites frequently have a variety of promotions to retain existing customers as well as attracting new ones. Slot site promotions can literally consist of anything from simple prize draws to slot tournaments and giveaways. Prizes include cash, bonuses, free spins, gifts, holidays, and even cars!

Many casinos run daily and weekly promotions such as daily bonus wheels and slot tournaments to keep players engaged and returning to the site regularly.

Recognisable Games

It’s no surprise that slot sites with recognisable games do better than those with unknown titles. Slot players come in all shapes and sizes and each has their own preferences in terms of slot type, theme and features.

However, most players recognise branded slots and popular slots such as Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest, and even world-famous jackpots such as Mega Moolah, and so if the slot site doesn’t have any such recognisable titles, players will be less inclined to sign up and play there. It’s only natural that slot sites with the best slots will appeal more to prospective players.

Customer Service

There is a higher demand in life with people expecting instant results in almost everything and the same applies to slot sites. If you are needing any sort of help, then you’ll want immediate assistance whether that’s a quick online chat service or a 24/7 helpline. Sites that have no dedicated customer service or long wait times receive poor reviews and earn a bad reputation.

Naturally, the same can be said for payouts as you expect to have your hard-earned cash instantaneously. Slot sites that process withdrawals instantly or within a satisfactory timeframe are more appealing than those that take days (or even weeks!).

This is why many slot sites will go to great efforts in their advertising campaigns to show players that they care, process withdrawals quickly, and have all the necessary support procedures in place including player safety and security.

Branding

Although the points above are incredibly vital pieces for slot sites to improve, a site will struggle to gain your custom without catching your attention. This is achieved through the branding of the slot site which needs to be recognisable and trustworthy – so you can instantly pick out an advert for that specific casino.

Paddy Power is famous for having witty campaigns and a tongue-in-cheek approach to advertising that is instantly identifiable. Players will gravitate towards slot sites that have a dedicated tone rather than one that’s generic, bland, or unprofessional.

User Experience

If a slot site is slow or confusing to navigate, or fails to load, then players will quickly get frustrated and move on somewhere else. The whole experience of playing online slots should be quick and exciting. This is why slot sites dedicate time and effort to ensuring their website and games can be used wherever you want, on any device. Nobody wants to spend time waiting for a game to load, or even worse, have it crash half-way through a winning session!

Safety and Fairness

The welfare of players should always be paramount. Deposit limits, loss limits and temporary breaks are just some of the tools players expect to be available should they need them.

Furthermore, players are no longer satisfied with overly restrictive T&Cs and sky-high wagering requirements, and instead are seeking out fairer slot sites to play at.

There’s nothing worse than winning an online slot and finding out that you didn’t meet a condition of a bonus hidden away in small print.