Streamers are the rock stars of the online casino world, with thousands of fans subscribing to their channels in order to watch them play the most exciting slots games available - this guide to online slots streaming will help you achieve such legendary status.
Streamers like LetsGiveItASpin and NickSlots have amassed small armies of subscribers, and are proving that watching people play casino games is a hugely popular form of entertainment.
While these guys are the early pioneers of online casino streaming, they are only just scratching the surface of what is possible now and moving into the future.
There are numerous reasons to take a shot at streaming your online casino games. It is fun and creative, bringing a new dimension to your experience as a player. The thrill of sharing a big win with a community of fans really is hard to beat.
Equally, streaming may let you form relationships with casino companies, give you access to new titles ahead of the public or even see yourself invited to industry events.
Indeed, there’s never been a better time to become a slots streamer, and it is much easier to launch a channel than you might think.
How to Start Your Online Slots Streaming Channel
If you would like to set up your own slots stream but don’t know how to get started, don’t worry. Below, we take you through each step from the tech you need to handling trolls.
First Things First, the Basic Setup
There are three elements to streaming in terms of the process.
You need to record your voice
You need to film yourself as you play
You need to 'capture' video of the game you are playing (as you see it on screen)
The classic slot streaming view from the viewer’s perspective sees the gameplay itself take up most of the viewer’s screen, while a panel in the corner shows the streamer’s face.
That's important because streaming viewers come for the personality of the streamer as much as the game on show. They want to see you react to wins and losses, hear you share thoughts on your strategy and even interact with you live.
Popular streaming platforms often have text-based chat boxes that run alongside the video footage, letting users direct questions and feedback at the streamer in real-time. Remember, in streaming, community engagement is hugely important to success.
The Tech You'll Need to Get Started
Some of the most popular slots streamers use pretty savvy tech in order to take their video content to the next level and give it a more polished and professional appearance. But those starting out need just three things to get up and running.
These are:
A microphone
A video camera
Software to capture and edit footage
The first two are very easy to come by; you can use your computer’s built-in microphone and webcam, although it is recommended to purchase better quality equipment if you can.
There are many options available sold specifically for video game streamers that are entirely appropriate for slots streamers. Microphones used by podcasters are also a good option.
Generally, Blue brand microphones are very popular with streamers who also often favour Logitech webcams.
As for capturing footage, OBS Studio is a very popular choice. It is free, relatively easy to use and lets you capture various sources and arrange and organise them for broadcast.
You'll also want to make sure your computer is up to speed and boasts at least 8GB of RAM and an i5 processor or better. Check your computer’s specifications to see if it meets these requirements. Fortunately, that's a fairly ordinary laptop these days.
In addition to this, you will also need a desk on which to position your computer, microphone and webcam as well as other items such as a mouse, speakers, keyboard, etc.
We also recommend a good quality chair to sit at while streaming as broadcasts can last a couple of hours at a time.
This is what a standard slots streaming setup looks like:
If you enjoy playing online casino, you’ve got it in you to be a slots streamer - maybe even a very successful one. We encourage you to get out there, watch other successful slots streaming content and, most importantly, have fun creating your own.
Choose Where to Stream From
Once you have your setup in place, you can plan your first stream. In this regard, it is important to think about the casino you are going to stream from and the slots you will play.
If you are a UK player, you must play from an online casino that holds an active licence from the UK Gambling Commission.
You can find a list of UK-licensed casinos recommended by Find My Casino here.
In order to create this guide to online slots streaming, we have played at some of the best online casino sites and these are among our favourites for streaming:
In terms of the slots you will play, consider those that deliver the most exciting gameplay – Big Time Gaming’s titles are particular popular among the most established streamers.
This is because of their high volatility, which means that wins usually come less often but when they do the wins can be much larger.
Also look for games that have plenty of features such as free spins, multipliers, expanding wilds and bonus games as these all ramp up the anticipation, excitement and fun.
For your first few streams, it is best to play a casino you are familiar with and on slots that you have played a few times before.
Twitch is the Best Platform to Broadcast Your Stream
You can make the best slots video content in the world, but if you don't have a place to share it, it can all be for nothing.
There is currently only one real choice for online casino streaming and that is the devoted streaming platform Twitch, which – you guessed it – started out as a video games’ website.
These days, live streamed casino, gambling and betting content is not allowed on YouTube; though you can share pre-recorded content there.
That leaves Twitch, which will let people subscribe to your stream and give you tools to improve your broadcasts like the chat window mentioned earlier.
Success Comes Through Having Personality
While this guide to online slot streaming tells you everything you need to know to get started, to be successful you need to think about bringing personality to your stream.
Streaming viewers are there to see you as much as the games you play. That means you should be talkative, energetic and not hide your personality.
Being lively, playful or even silly will help you stand out, but you should also be informed and offer an expert voice and opinion.
Engage in live comments on Twitch as you stream and follow up as much as possible across social media to ensure you remain connected to your fans.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Online Streaming
Streaming can take your online casino play to the next level, but there are a few drawbacks that you must consider along the way.
While it is possible to monetise your stream by working with online casinos and game developers, you must not think of streaming as a way to make gambling more affordable.
Yes, streaming income may offset some of the money you deposit at an online casino, but it’s not the right motivation for a successful channel. Be in it for the viewers, and not to subsidise your gambling.
On that note, a classic rule of gambling generally applies. It may not be expensive to set up a slots stream, but that doesn’t mean gambling itself becomes any cheaper because of it.
Have a budget and stick to it. Big bets and big losses might attract viewers as much as epic wins from minimum stakes, but you should always be able to afford your bankroll.
And as a final word of advice; ‘don’t feed the trolls’.
If you succeed at building out a popular online casino stream, you will attract a vocal minority of unhappy, antagonistic or straight up unpleasant users trying to engage with you purely to be provocative.
They are often the one type of viewer it is best not to engage with. You should still help your genuine fans that may have taken issue with something from your stream, but they are very different from trolls.
And there you have it. This guide is just a friendly push in the right direction and a bit of gentle encouragement for those wanting to start a slots stream. So if that is you, what are you waiting for?
