In the online gambling space, it has been said, and we know this to be true, that innovation is king. The internet by its very nature is a highly innovative space that moves along related industries at a far faster pace than most other channels of manufacturing, sales and development. During 2012 – as has been the case throughout most of the short history of Internet gambling – a many and varied number of innovations have taken place. Some of the most state-of-the-art advancements have been made in 3D and animated online slots games offerings, as well as RTP (Return to Player) systems.

Online gamblers are more savvy than ever before, they have become a sophisticated lot of connoisseurs who know what they want from an online casino as a product overall. Bearing this in mind these businesses can no longer rest on their laurels, they have to come to the party in a big way and make the grade. Software developments and technological progress is therefore made at such a fast pace, that it often seems impossible for us writers to keep up with everything; but, keep up we must.

The year 2012 has seen any software developer who is any-one entering the business of providing 3D and Animated casino slots games. While some developers are definitely more advanced and particular about design than others, there seems to be a place for most of the big names to find a good fit with their fans. Not all gamers want the frills and thrills that say for example Net Entertainment provides. But if you are seeking an excellent 3D and animated slots experience, then Net Entertainment are the games to play. They are followed in our opinion by Microgaming, Wagerworks, Playtech, and Betsoft, with various others trailing behind.

Complex animated online slots are the name of the game, and these most often feature numerous interactive bonus rounds, which play more like skill games. New releases from Net Entertainment include; Jack and the Beanstalk, which is nothing short of excellence personified, and do check out the brand new “Evolution”; from Microgaming this would be the Batman-themed Dark Knight, and Playtech’s new release Viking Mania.

Return to player features have made many advances too with every online casino worth its salt offering VIP programmes that come together with bonus and winnings tracker systems. These help the player see what time they have left to spend bonus funds, how they are progressing with wagering requirements, what true winnings are based on the amount of funds wagered, and various other financial factors.

Bonus, winning and wagering factors have become enormously critical, especially to regular players, who are in the first instance often gambling online because it is a good value for money type of entertainment. Because it is good value for money, regular players are well aware of all the benefits involved, so, keeping track of these benefits also becomes vitally important to them.

As much as we hate to admit to this, one of our favourite casino games is definitely the slots. If we walk into a casino, we do not head for blackjack or roulette, we head for the nearest seat at our favourite slot game. The same applies to online gambling, and now let us think… hmmm… think some more…Nope. Never played any other game online but bingo and the slots!

Microgaming is one of the biggest and best of all slots designers, although they also design software for craps, poker, blackjack, casino poker, video poker, baccarat, pontoon, rummy… you name it… any virtual gambling game, and this brand is on the floor. One of the latest and greatest innovations in online slot design came when the marriage of the slot and movie genre met. Who innovated this first, we are not sure, it was either Microgaming or Playtech, and they did this through negotiating with the makers of trend-setting movies, and attaching these licenses to their games.

One of the latest marriages in this genre is the popular Dark Knight Slot. Recently launched in August, the last two months have been very busy for this game, and have spawned a whole slew of winners. It has already become one of the most prolifically played slots of the year, and has already given us three rather large progressive jackpot winners. There are four progressive bonus games up for grabs, and the highest starts at one million. Worth playing for? You bet your ass it is!

In the Dark Knight Mega Jackpot Slot game, the Mega Progressive prize starts at 1 000 000.00, the Major Progressive prize starts at 10 000.00, with the Minor Progressive at 100.00, and the Mini at 10.00. We also have to bear in mind, that each of these prizes grow as the game is played. So, there are winners in the base game, and of the progressive prizes.

Dark Knight Winners so far have seen two from Royal Vegas Casino where one lucky player from down under managed to bag AUS$ 22,895.78. Player two won a very impressive €32,823.79 prize, and the third winner, also from down under, won AUS $39,704.23 at Vegas Palms.

If this gives you even more incentive to play it should!

In the free spins bonus round there are 4,000,000 coins to be earned, and these are won apart from the PJP’s. This massive prize is generated by the fact that the free spins round offers a fifteen free spins and growing multiplier. What does that mean to you the player? It means that the sky is quite literally the proverbial limit.

The Joker character Feature can Award even more wins. These appear on the screen at any time they are triggered. Players are then rewarded with random bonuses, and there’s more. The fun just doesn’t seem to end when playing Dark Knight, despite the dark nature of the theme of the slot. Do make sure and join in the entertainment, because the winning just doesn’t stop too.