Flash Slots
Flash media allows instant or browser-based play on any device by accessing a gaming website over the Internet. This media is used by online casinos to provide users with games without the need for downloading software. Usually, the casinos offer both choices of either downloading the games or playing them on Flash media. There are a few new casinos that exclusively play Flash-based slot games, while the older casinos have incorporated the Flash option for their signature games. Any online casino that offers Flash slots, either exclusively or as an added option, is considered a Flash casino.
How to Play Slot Games Using Flash
Flash casinos are simply opened on a browser by clicking on the Flash option for the preferred game. The game may take a few seconds to load, after which the preferences and bet options show up as soft buttons. Most Flash casino interfaces are user-friendly and fast, but if you need assistance, look for a help menu that will be very useful to first-time casino users.
Flash Casino Requirements
Whether a Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system, the computer you use to access the Flash casino must meet some general requirements to install and run Flash player.
Windows:
- 2.33GHz or x86-compatible processor, Intel? Atom? 1.6GHz or faster processor for netbooks
- Microsoft? Windows? XP (32 bit), Windows Server 2008 (32 bit), Windows Vista? (32 bit), Windows 7 (32 bit and 64 bit), or Windows 8 (Classic and Modern)
- Internet Explorer 7.0 or later, Mozilla Firefox 17, Google Chrome, Safari 5.0 or later, or Opera 11
- 512MB of RAM (1GB of RAM recommended for netbooks); 128MB of graphics memory
Mac:
- Intel Core? Duo 1.83GHz or faster processor
- Mac OS X v10.6, v10.7 or v10.8
- Safari 5.0 or later, Mozilla Firefox 17, Google Chrome or Opera 11
- 512MB RAM; 128MB of graphics memory
Linux:
- 2.33GHz or faster x86-compatible processor, or Intel Atom 1.6GHz or faster processor for netbooks
- Red Hat? Enterprise Linux? (RHEL) 5.6 or later (32 bit and 64 bit), openSUSE? 11.3 or later (32 bit and 64 bit), or Ubuntu 10.04 or later (32 bit and 64 bit)
- Mozilla Firefox 17 or Google Chrome
- 512MB RAM; 128MB of graphics memory
Accessing the Free Flash Video Slots
Flash casinos often offer a demo version for players to practice. The slot machines have all the features that their real money versions have, the only difference being that no real money is wagered, won, or lost. The demo version is good for players who want to learn the software before betting real money or for players in countries where real money gambling is not yet allowed. Free Flash games are played against the computer and not against other online players. Most free Flash casinos offer a set amount of free casino credits that may or may not be re-filled once you have used them up.
Using Real Money Instead of Free Play Mode
To use real money on the casinos slot games, open a player account by registering with the site. Flash casinos do not require a download. After filling out your details and preferred payment method, check your email for account verification. This step only needs be done once to attain membership. An initial deposit will be required to start playing for real money and most casinos will offer a welcome bonus, so you can get started right away placing wagers in the Flash casino, once your deposit is complete.
Flash games played on mobile phones and tablets are virtually the same as those played on computers, with a few modifications to fit the mobile device’s screen. Many Flash slot casinos already offer modified slot games for Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone, and even Blackberry. Mobile Flash casinos now make it easier than ever to access your favourite online casino games from the most popular online casinos on the web. Log in wherever your mobile device gets service and play your favourite mobile casino games, anytime, anywhere.
The Bottom Line
Flash slots and mobile casinos offer all the same games as downloadable casino software applications and have the same capabilities as real money casinos. Flash casinos also save time because there is no need to download or install any software. This means that games can be quickly accessed and bets can be quickly placed while on break at work, while waiting for an appointment, or even while commuting. You will also save space on your hard drive that would otherwise be taken up by downloading the casino software. However, there is an increased demand on your machine's virtual memory and data charges will apply, so make sure you have an adequate data plan if using a mobile device. Flash media software also has to be updated regularly, and system requirements tend to change with the development of new technology. A fast Internet connection is also necessary, as is a competent computer or mobile device.
The Future of Flash Slots
It wasn’t so long ago that the entire internet seemed to run on Flash. Many web apps used Flash to power their interactive features and videos, and countless web-based games were built using the technology. But the times are changing, and lately, Flash has been falling out of favor, meaning it may not be long before we’re not seeing any Flash slot machines at all at online casinos.
According to data from Google, in 2014 there were 80% of desktop users browsing in Chrome who visited a site that used Flash every day. But by the summer of 2017, that number had dropped 17%, and it continues to fall month after month.
What happened? The introduction of a variety of faster, more efficient open web technologies started to replace Flash for a variety of different functions. One of the largest drivers of this change was the introduction of HTML5, which was published in October 2014. While that made plenty of structural changes to the way websites could be programmed, the biggest feature was the fact that it was designed to be efficient and accessible to low-powered devices.
That means that HTML5 was perfect for developers who wanted to create for both desktop and mobile users at the same time. No longer were special apps or secondary versions of websites necessary if users were going to visit from their phones or tablets. This was a big deal for developers across the board, but one of the industries more impacted was iGaming.
Years ago, when online casinos wanted to create games for their mobile casinos, they needed to take each individual Flash slot machine and remake it with mobile users in play. Today, most new games are created directly in HTML5 instead, allowing them to be released simultaneously for mobile and desktop play. This has led to an explosion in the number of mobile-friendly slots you’ll find at online casinos.
Of course, there are still plenty of legacy Flash games out there in the online gambling industry today, and a minority of software providers still make their games using this technology. But the days of Flash slots are likely coming to an end, mostly because Flash itself is on its way out the door. Adobe has already announced that they plan to stop supporting Flash at the end of 2020, and Google has said that they will remove it completely from their Chrome browser at some point in 2020 as well.
