Christmas Themed Slots
The present gambling scene has seen a diverse range of themes made available for players to choose from. There is no denying that some remain popular throughout and have regular releases made during the year. However, it is slightly different with Christmas slots. There is massive traffic of these slots during the Christmas period in December. Many players crave a mood to enlighten them and bring a smile as they spend time with their families. While the slots do not change the weather, they will get the Christmas mood on, and what’s more, some presents/gifts will be at stake!
Despite most Christmas slots cropping up during the festivity period, slot lovers can play them at any time of the year. They boast loads of colorful symbols and features and have joyful storylines to set an exciting mood for every person. Even with each slot unique, there are common symbols one can expect, including Santa, elves, Christmas trees, gifts, deer, and some of the traditional delicacies such as turkey.
Additionally, unlike other themes with several sub-themes, there are no loads of sub-themes to expect on Christmas slots. This is because many developers borrow the traditions from the West, including Europe, the UK, and North America, that are similar. However, some developers have introduced a twist on the slots. Not all slots are about happy memories and nostalgic times. Others add a creepy aspect, with some ghosts appearing as symbols.
Brief History of the Genre
Christmas has an immense religious significance to many people globally. During this period, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and it is always the perfect time for friends and family to come together, have fun, and celebrate. It is also a period of gifting each other. The first Christmas celebrated was in the 3rd century, and to date, Christians still celebrate Christmas in December. As part of having fun, movie producers create Christmas-themed movies and films, music producers/artists create Christmas carols, and gaming developers are not left behind. They also have a collection of Christmas-themed slots they make for players to spin the reels. Remember, this is one of the rarest times in the year that many people are free from work and have all the time for themselves.
As it stands, no exact date/year exists of when the first Christmas slot came into existence. However, going by how long the festive period has been celebrated over the years, it is safe to conclude that the first slot came many years ago. The highlight is that you are likely to find at least one Christmas slot from all the top leading software developers. And as advancements in the gaming scene go on, there are improvements on these slots, including unique storylines, sophisticated bonus features, and improved gameplay besides reels and paylines. As stated, many Christmas slots come up in December, or days leading to Christmas day. Keep an eye on the latest releases and play for free or real money for prizes/gifts!
What Defines Christmas Themed Slots
Besides new releases and traffic appearing in December, there is more that defines Christmas slots. We have highlighted some of them, but a recap would do. Firstly, Christmas slots have their inspiration from the festive period. This explains why you will come across Christmas symbols, including elves, deers, Santa Claus, bells, wreaths, candles, winter theme, star, Christmas trees, Christmas boots, decorations, snowmen, gifts, etc.
The next aspect defining Christmas slots is the storyline/plots. Most slots feature fun and joyful storylines to set the mood. Many players opt for this. However, some providers go beyond the normal to add twists on their slots’ storylines. Some provide creepy and scary plots, and for how diverse the players are, others opt for such slots. Additionally, the soundtracks behind the games distinguish a Christmas slot. They will feature Christmas carols in the background, with some having a ho ho ho audio effect from Santa on a winning bet!
Finally, Christmas slots focus on keeping the joyful vibe going on, and while it is the period of giving, they look to award handsome bonuses.
Christmas Slot Machine Providers
Christmas is arguably the most famous festival globally, explaining why many providers jump onto the theme. And even so, only a few providers have successfully captured the exact essence of Christmas. They include the following:
- Microgaming: The leading provider is known for its vast slots created in diverse themes, including Christmas. Microgaming uses the latest industry technology, including HTML5 for mobile compatibility, and scores highly for the top-notch graphics, soundtracks, and bonus features, including progressive jackpots. Secret Santa is one of its Christmas products.
- NetEnt: NetEnt is another top-rated provider with a huge library of slots, including Christmas slots. Like Microgaming, many opt for NetEnt products for their high-quality graphics, animations, storylines, and bonus features. The company dives into the Winter period and has several Christmas slots, including Secrets of Christmas.
- Playtech: The experienced provider also thrives on its customer-oriented approach to its products, where players can expect diverse themes, impressive graphics, and captivating soundtracks. The provider has slots such as Santa Surprise in its collection to bring merry and jolly moments to slot lovers.
- Play’n Go: With a rich portfolio of products, Play’n Go is another leading provider. The company offers advanced slots with unique themes, storylines, gameplay, and great graphics. Its collection has several Christmas slots, including Merry Xmas.
The Most Popular Christmas Themed Slots
While there are loads of Christmas slots in circulation, some stand out of the crowd for various aspects. For example, some may attract massive traffic from jackpots, high RTP, and unique bonus features, while others may attract players based on the bet sizes, payouts, and general gameplay. Our list of the most popular Christmas slots entails:
- Secret Santa: The slot from Microgaming features five (5) reels and 1,024 paylines. With the high number of paylines, it becomes easy to earn a payout. It is a feature-packed slot, allowing players to activate features, including wilds, scatters, free spins, and increasing multipliers. The slot has an RTP rate of 96.32%.
- Secrets of Christmas: The slot from NetEnt features five (5) reels, 25 paylines, and has a betting range of between 25p and £125. Players will love the heavy Christmas theme on the slot with symbols such as bells, toys, Santa, gingerbread houses, milk, and cookies on board. While at it, they can activate several bonus features such as extra wilds, free spins, and multipliers. The slot has an RTP rate of 96.7%.
- Santa Surprise: The slot from Playtech features five (5) reels, 20 paylines, and has a bet size of between 0.01 and 500. The Christmas theme is well on board with rich red colors, and the Christmas soundtracks make the experience even better. Players can activate several features, including a jackpot, gamble, free spins, multipliers, and bonus rounds. It is a high RTP slot at 97.05%.
- Scrooge: The slot from Microgaming features five (5) reels, 50 paylines, and has a betting range of between 1p and £250. Players will have loads of features to activate, including scatters, wilds, bonus rounds, free spins, multipliers, and a jackpot. The slot has an RTP rate of 96.74%.
In-Game Features
Most Christmas slots are video slots (5-reels) and have loads of features for users as they spin. While each slot may have distinct features, some of the features are recurrent on most slots. As always, the more the bonus features, the more the payouts for users. Here are the common in-game features on the Christmas slots:
- Free Spins
- Multipliers
- Bonus Rounds
- Gamble
Return to Player
Today, most software providers publish their slots’ return to player (RTP) percentage. It is easy to project the payout one can garner on a winning bet through the RTP rate. While every slot provides different RTPs, most Christmas slots have high RTP. There is no industry standard value of a ‘high’ RTP, but many slot lovers class slots with 95%+ RTP as high RTP slots. The rule of thumb for any slot lover is the higher the RTP rate, the higher the payout value.
Are Christmas Themed Online Slots Available for Mobile Devices?
One highlight of gaming in the modern world is how convenient it is. The software providers optimize their games through HTML5 technology, allowing playability on mobile devices. Players only need well-updated mobile browsers to have an immersive gaming experience at the palm of their hands without additional downloads. This works for users with iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems. Therefore, playability is possible through Chrome, Opera Mini, Safari, Edge, and Linux browsers.
Why Are Christmas Slot Machines So Popular?
Despite hundreds of themes existing, several aspects make Christmas slots among the preferred. And what’s more, users do not need to wait until December to enjoy the games since they are a spin away at any time of the year. Find the reasons why Christmas slot machines are popular:
- Christmas carries a huge religious significance: While not every religion celebrates Christmas, Christians globally hold Christmas dear. It is usually a time for celebrations and gifting each other as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
- They are colorful and have fun storylines: Most Christmas slots follow joyful and fun storylines and are colorful from the red and white colors on the reels. This is in contrast to some slots that have creepy themes and dark, dull colors.
- Most top providers create Christmas slots: The likes of Microgaming, NetEnt, and Playtech are some of the reputable providers creating Christmas-themed slots. They bring the reliability aspect and guarantee slot lovers of a captivating gaming experience.
