Entertainment
The growth of online slots
Gambling has transformed significantly in recent decades, with the rise of online slots and virtual casinos, allowing players to gamble from home or on the go. This shift raises questions about the growing popularity of online slots compared to traditional casinos. In this article, we’ll examine the growth of online slots, the impact of bonuses on participation in online gambling, and their comparison to traditional casinos.
The evolution of online slots
Online slots have grown rapidly since the launch of the first virtual casino in the mid-1990s. Early online slot games were simple, two-dimensional versions of traditional machines, lacking the excitement and immersion of real-world counterparts.
Advancements in technology soon revolutionised online slots, which now feature high-definition graphics, engaging soundtracks, and interactive bonus features that often rival or surpass physical casinos.
Game developers have introduced diverse themes, from ancient mythology to blockbuster movies, enhancing entertainment and appealing to a wide range of players.
The growth of mobile gaming has further boosted online slots. With the widespread availability of smartphones and tablets, players can enjoy their favourite slots anytime, anywhere, without visiting a physical casino. This convenience has been a major factor in making online slots more accessible to a broader audience.
The role of bonuses and promotions
A major factor behind the popularity of online slots is the use of bonuses to attract new players and retain existing ones. You can find the best casino bonuses reviewed and recommended to help you choose the right offers.
As competition grows, online casinos offer lucrative promotions to draw players away from traditional casinos. Popular promotions, such as welcome bonuses, free spins, and deposit matches, provide players with extra funds to gamble.
These bonuses differ greatly from traditional casinos, where upfront incentives are rare. Land-based casinos typically offer loyalty programmes with perks like free meals or hotel stays, but these rewards usually require substantial spending, making them less accessible to the average player compared to the more immediate bonuses available online.
The regularity of these online promotions has played a significant role in boosting participation in online gambling. The ease and transparency of accessing bonuses make it simpler for new players to try online slots, leading to increased involvement and further enhancing the popularity of virtual casinos.
Are online slots more popular than traditional casinos?
The rise of online slots has led to a shift in consumer preferences, with many finding the convenience of gambling from home more appealing than visiting traditional casinos. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated this trend, as lockdowns closed physical casinos, driving more people to online platforms for entertainment.
Statistics back up this shift. According to the UK Gambling Commission, the online gambling market now accounts for a significant portion of total gambling revenue. In 2023, online gambling, driven largely by slot machines, hit a record £15.01 billion for the year ending March 2023.
A key factor behind the popularity of online slots is the vast range of games available. Traditional casinos are limited by space and can only offer a set number of machines, while online casinos can host thousands of slot games. Additionally, online slots often provide higher payout rates, making them more attractive to players looking for better odds.
The future of online slots
The future of online slots looks bright, with innovations set to enhance the player experience even further. Online slots have arguably become more popular than traditional casinos due to their convenience, variety, and the appeal of bonuses and promotions. While physical casinos still offer a unique, social experience, the continued rise of online gaming platforms suggests that virtual slots are firmly on the rise.
Entertainment
One Night in Dublin returns to the Torch with a brand-new show
ONE NIGHT IN DUBLIN is heading back to the stage at the Torch Theatre with a lively new production fronted by renowned Irish singer Danny Muldoon.
Tickets are already selling fast for the feel-good celebration of Irish music, which promises two hours of songs, stories and plenty of craic.
Backed by an award-winning five-piece band, Muldoon leads audiences through a packed set of sing-along favourites including Galway Girl, Tell Me Ma, The Irish Rover, Dirty Old Town, Whiskey in the Jar, The Wild Rover and The Galway Shawl, along with many more well-loved classics.
The show recreates the atmosphere of a bustling Dublin pub, complete with fiddle, whistle, guitars, banjo, bodhrán, accordion and driving drums, transporting the audience straight into “Murphy’s Tavern” for an unforgettable night of live entertainment.
Fans can also expect hits from Irish legends including The Pogues, The Saw Doctors, The Dubliners, The Fureys, Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys.
One Night in Dublin comes to the Torch Theatre on Thursday, March 26 at 7:30pm.
Tickets cost £26.50. Visit the theatre website or call the Box Office on (01646) 695267 to book.

Entertainment
New appeal in search for missing Manic Street Preachers musician
Family and charity issue fresh appeal for information about guitarist 31 years on
THIRTY-ONE years after the disappearance of Richey Edwards, a new public appeal has been issued urging anyone with information to come forward.
Edwards, guitarist and lyricist with Manic Street Preachers, vanished on January 31, 1995, in a case that has become one of the most enduring mysteries in British music history.

The then 27-year-old was last seen at the Embassy Hotel Bayswater in west London, where he had been staying ahead of a promotional trip to the United States. He checked out of room 561 but never reached his destination.
Despite numerous reported sightings over the years, none have ever been confirmed. Edwards was officially declared presumed dead in 2008, though his family continue to mark the anniversary of his disappearance and keep hope alive that answers may still emerge.
Anniversary appeal
The charity Missing People has released a statement in collaboration with Edwards’ sister Rachel, asking the public to remember the case.
In a social media post, the organisation said: “It is 31 years since Richard went missing, please keep his family in your thoughts.”
They also repeated key identifying details from the time he vanished. Edwards was described as white, around 5ft 7in tall, slim, with brown eyes and a shaved head. He had several distinctive tattoos, including a rose with the words ‘Useless Generation’, the phrase ‘I’ll surf this beach’, and a scar on his lower left arm where he had scratched the words ‘4 REAL’.
Unanswered questions
His car was later found near the Severn Bridge services, close to the Welsh border, prompting widespread searches but yielding no firm clues about what happened next.
At the time of his disappearance, the band were on the brink of international success. Edwards’ intense, literate songwriting and striking image had already made him a defining figure in Welsh rock music. More than three decades later, fans still hold vigils, create murals and share tributes across Wales and beyond.
Police say the case remains open.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police Service on 101 or use their online reporting service, quoting reference CONNECT REF 01/764429/24. Missing People also operates a free, confidential helpline on 116 000.
Entertainment
Turner and Constable brought to life on the big screen at the Torch Theatre
ART lovers in Pembrokeshire will have the chance to experience the lives and rivalries of two of Britain’s greatest painters when a new documentary, EOS: Turner & Constable, arrives at the Torch Theatre this March.
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of their births, the film explores the intertwined stories and enduring legacies of J.M.W. Turner and John Constable alongside Tate Britain’s major new exhibition. Exhibition on Screen has been granted exclusive behind-the-scenes access, bringing their extraordinary art and personal histories vividly to the cinema screen.
Born just a year apart, Turner and Constable helped redefine landscape painting in Britain – and were fierce competitors. Both captured a nation in transition, yet their styles could not have been more different. Turner’s dramatic skies, blazing sunsets and atmospheric scenes from his travels contrasted sharply with Constable’s gentle, nostalgic portrayals of the English countryside and familiar rural life.
Their opposing visions divided critics and audiences alike, famously described at the time as a clash of “fire and water”.
The documentary offers rare, intimate access to sketchbooks, letters and personal artefacts, alongside insights from leading curators and art historians. It also ties in with Tate Britain’s landmark exhibition, running in London from November 2025 to April 2026, which reunites the two masters’ works side-by-side.
This cinematic event gives audiences the chance to see their masterpieces in stunning detail and discover unexpected sides to two artists whose rivalry shaped British art history.
Turner and Constable will be screened at the Torch Theatre on Sunday, March 15 at 4:30pm.
Tickets are £13. For bookings, visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01646 695267.
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