80% of 19-34 Year-Olds Prefer Online Slots – What Makes Them So Popular?
In a study completed just two years ago, it was revealed that the youngest demographic of casino gamblers here in Canada overwhelmingly prefer to play real money slots over any other table game. That includes the likes of blackjack, roulette and the ever popular poker.
The most popular explanation for this is the lazy stereotype that younger people have lower attention spans than older generations, but the enduring popularity of slots since they were first created at the end of the 19th century seems to put paid to this argument.
So, what are the reasons for the incredible popularity of slot games with gamers aged 19-34 here in Canada? Read on to find out.
The Thing With Stereotypes Is…
That they are normally based on a kernel of truth – if they aren’t, they fall into the realm of being pure conspiracy theories. Whilst it’s too much of a generalisation to say that ‘kids these days have no attention spans’, the data does suggest that there’s an element of truth in this assertion.
At the turn of the millennium, a scientific study found that the average attention span of an adult human was 12 seconds, which was roughly 3 seconds more than goldfish. In 2025, a similar study was repeated and it was found that attentions spans had dropped to 8.25 seconds.
Amongst younger demographics, it was also found that the average attentions span of users of social media sites was as low as 1.7 seconds. The stereotype goes on to infer that younger generations have shorter attention spans because of some perceived moral failing, or lack of intelligence. That’s simply not true.
Younger generations have shorter attention spans because of the way that they have been conditioned. Social media platforms, in particular TikTok and Instagram, and the abundance of interactive media has naturally reduced the attentions spans of those most exposed to them – younger generations.
How TikTok, Instagram and Attention Relate to Slots
Whether in a bricks and mortar casino or on the online variant, there is no game more similar to the modern entertainment environment than slots. They are fast-paced and rapidly changing games that almost perfectly mirror platforms like TikTok.
They are also similar in the way that they reward players/users. Every social media site has been specifically designed to administer the perfect amount of dopamine to users to keep them scrolling for longer.
Slot machines are no different. Unlike other games that are strategy heavy, slots offer regular and frequent rewards to all skill levels. Whether it’s your first time spinning the reels or your ten thousandth time, you’re just as likely to win. So playing a game with solid returns is recommended, tested 19,800+ real money slots, the majority have 97%+ RTP rate, meaning the average return on a slot per $1 bet. For instance, if a game has an RTP of 97%, an average of $0.97 per $1 is returned.
Accessibility
It’s not just 19-34 year olds that love slot machines. The 2023 study also showed that:
- 77% of 35-44 year olds prefer slots
- 70% of 45-54 year olds prefer slots
- 53% of 55-64 year olds prefer slots
- 45% of 65 and above year-olds prefer slots
Those are strong numbers. Numbers that demonstrate the popularity of slots across all age demographics. What makes them so popular with all ages of gamblers is twofold. Firstly it is the previously alluded to accessibility of themed slots that means you can plug in and play with no previous experience and no deep understanding of strategies or probabilities.
Then of course comes availability in another sense. If you were, for example, to walk through the doors of any Las Vegas casinos you would find that slot machine terminals outnumber table games at a minimum ratio of 10 to 1.
If you were to go into a gas station in Australia, you’d most likely find a slot machine standing in the corner. You certainly wouldn’t see a dealer hosting games of baccarat.
Online too, slot machines are more readily accessible and available than almost any other table game. So accessibility has a lot to answer for when it comes to the popularity of slot games.
In Summary
The overriding point that the data demonstrates is: slots are popular!
They are just ever so slightly popular with younger demographics than those over 35 and all the way up to the age of 54. Why? Because they always have been, ever since they were first put onto the market in the late 19th century.