The Success of Gas Station Slots in the UK

Although slot machines have been around since 1894, they started appearing in earnest in the UK around 1999. While they were available in the country before this, they weren’t nearly as popular, and their placement was limited.

As they grew in popularity, they began popping up in casinos, pubs, and even gas stations, which made them even more popular. Because of this, the country now has approximately more than 151,000 slots.

Of all the places punters can enjoy these slots, gas stations (also known as petrol or service stations) may be the strangest. These small convenience stores offer travellers a convenient spot to refuel, grab a bite to eat and a drink, and stretch their legs before continuing their journey.

However odd a slot machine in such a store may sound, they are incredibly successful. Let’s examine this phenomenon and unravel how slots have become a staple in almost all UK service stations. 

History of Gas Station Slots

Although the phenomenon of service station slots is undeniable throughout the UK, there is no official record of when it began. All that is known is that once the first few machines started growing in popularity, their volume grew exponentially as more petrol stations began installing them.

Since then, many companies focusing solely on slots for these locations have emerged. Inspired Entertainment is just one of these and actively supplies games like those developed by the famous studio Blueprint Gaming to nationwide service stations.

The Theory Behind Gas Station Slots

Although there is no hard evidence to support the theory, there is one reason that service stations install slots that are commonly agreed upon–to get passersby to spend more time at the location.

Gas stations deal with many people passing through their doors on their way to various locations. Typically, these visits are short. People stop, refuel if needed, use the restroom if required, and perhaps grab a snack and drink before continuing on their way.

Service station owners, looking for a way to keep people in their stores longer, decided that slots could be an excellent way to get them to spend more money. Besides giving punters a chance to win (which gives them more money to spend on refreshments and fuel), they also keep their feet in their stores longer.

The longer the amount of time that passersby are in a service station, the more likely they are to want another cup of coffee or feel hungry and purchase a snack. This leads to higher revenue for the station owner.

In addition, should a punter not strike it lucky, the revenue generated by the slot can also be taken by the service station–leading to more significant profits and better cashflows. Therefore, these slots are pivotal in additional revenue generation for service station owners. 

The Success of Gas Station Slots

Offering a simple mode of entertainment on a long journey and even a quick way to earn some extra cash, these slots are attractive to many players, especially considering 44% of Brits gamble regularly.

The number of gamblers in the country has fuelled the popularity of a quick wager while on the road and has helped service station slots become as successful as they are today. Since gambling is becoming more accepted internationally, and there are ever-increasing jackpots on offer, this success will likely continue.

However, the main success of these slots can be divided into two views–on the part of players and the part of service station owners.

Player Success

Because gas station slots operate in much the same way as those found in casinos, except for possible skill challenges added for legal reasons, they also offer the same chances of winning. As such, players stand a decent chance of winning a substantial prize while playing.

These slots may not offer the same incredible jackpots found in progressive slots at physical casinos. However, they can still grant winners a generous payout that, depending on the service station, can also lead a player to discover exclusive promotions held by the establishment, such as discounts and rewards.

Owner Success

As we mentioned earlier, the success of these slots has led to increased revenue and profitability for service station owners. However, this is not only from the losses that players experience. The additional sale of store items to passersby due to their extended visits leads to better business for the location.

In addition, should a player win big at a slot and the news travels to others–as it always does–a service station could see a considerable spike in visitors looking for their share of the luck. As expected, this also leads to higher sales and more significant revenue. 

Conclusion

While it is not clear who the first person to place a slot machine in a gas station was, there is no denying the genius behind the idea. Even other countries, such as the US, have looked at their legality and followed suit. Considering the benefits slots offer to service station customers and owners alike, there is no doubt that their success will continue long into the future.