In recent years, iGaming titles have become increasingly sophisticated and advanced. Many of their features have been borrowed from console, PC and arcade mechanics.
Finding yourself free for a short while, you open your phone and click on your apps. You open a brand new game, packed with leader boards and offers for in-game currencies. Yet this is not a battle royale shooter or an MMORPG you are playing. It is a humble slot title, known for its simple spinning reels and classic symbols. The world of online casino gaming is evolving rapidly and it is taking ideas from video gaming to do it.
The Rise of the In-Game Currency
The global market for online casino games has now reached a valuation of over $300 billion. The sector also employs over 2 million people worldwide. Countries that have developed regulated gambling often manage to benefit from these profits in taxation. Even larger developed economies are still adapting their laws, such as Canada. Here, 64.5% of citizens gamble in some form at least once a year. As these laws change, new concepts and ideas need to happen to attract players and put operators ahead in a competitive market.
Virtual in-game currency began to be conceptualized in the role-playing games of the eighties, like Zelda and Final Fantasy. With these titles, you could acquire gold and use it in the game to buy items, which could then aid you or change certain elements of the gameplay. In the modern era, virtual currency is almost a given, especially in large sandbox-style games. It allows you to buy everything from skins to weapons.
The difference is that now, these items often have real-world value. Developers began to realize this and increased the rarity of in-game items purchased with virtual currency, so they could build up a thriving ecosystem outside the game. Take the title Ruinscape, where a simple blue party hat to add to your character now changes hands for around $4,000.
When it comes to iGaming, developers have managed to blend the worlds of real currency and virtual seamlessly. Many players will encounter in-game currency as credit when they sign up for a casino bonus. While it may seem like simply cash, it is actually quite separate. This in-game currency usually has to be played through with a wagering requirement before it can be withdrawn and converted into actual funds in your account.
The In Game Bonus Bonanzas
These in-game bonuses have become a staple of the industry. In Canada, where laws are set at the federal level, many provinces are in a state of flux regarding their gambling laws. Websites like Casino Bonus Canada have stepped up to rank operators based on many factors, but primarily the generosity and transparency of bonuses. By doing so, players can immediately see which they will gain the most value from upon signing up.
There are even whole casinos that run on virtual currency without the use of fiat money at all. They come in the form of sweepstakes casinos and social casinos. Popular in the United States, they operate in areas where online casino gaming is illegal. Working using sweepstakes laws, they will provide players with in-game currencies given through daily log-ins and contests. This can then be used to play casino games. In the case of sweepstake casinos, rewards are given as larger sweep tokens, which can then be entered into prize draws.
Levelling up and Booming Bonus Stages
One of the main features borrowed from video games, and currently popular in the world of casino gaming, is the concept of levelling up. This involves being placed on a higher stage when reaching a certain milestone, such as a given number of wins. In slot games, these often come as staggered bonus rounds where the wins get progressively larger.
More advanced casinos will even track and keep this data for you. It may involve your biggest wins, when your longest winning streaks occurred, or even challenges that get completed in games. These can take the form of rewards and badges that are added to profiles. The psychological impact of this is a sense of achievement, as players begin to feel motivated and stretched in their gaming endeavours.
In some instances, this can also be seen in bonuses. VIP schemes reward people based on the amount they deposit regularly. These will be staggered, often with bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels. The higher the level, the more awards are given, such as free credit, giveaways and invitations to VIP only games or tournaments.
When Video Games Get Their Own Casino Titles
One of the first licensed slot games was not themed on a movie or musician, but a video game. Back in 2004, Microgaming licensed Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider franchise from Eidos Interactive. Little did they know just how popular this move would be, with fans of the character flocking to play this new and varied iteration.
There have been video game slots that often seem more like the original game than a slot itself. Street Fighter II is a casino adaptation of the genre-defining beat ’em up. It was created by Evolution Gaming, which is a veteran software developer for the iGaming sector.
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You choose one of eight characters, all of whom feature in the original version of the game. As you spin the reels, the more cash you accumulate, and the more you win before defeating your opponent. You then move onto the next stage, and gradually progress until you encounter the ‘beat the boss’ bonus. It uses the four original bosses from the arcade titles. To help players win more, it even has a secret bonus round that involves the legendary car-smashing scene.
A Crash Course in Casual Casino Gaming
A few sectors in the casino link to video games as well as the crash gaming genre. In fact, it could be said that they are simply a form of casual video game that is bet on. In many ways, they have revolutionized the idea of what casino gaming is.
Crash games come in many shapes and forms now; however, they really gained popularity starting with the title Aviator. In this, players must make a wager on the path of an on-screen aircraft. As it takes off, it hits benchmarks which multiply the amount they have staked. They must cash out before the aircraft flies off the top of the screen, or in some variations, crashes. If this occurs, they lose their bet.
The concept struck a chord with players for several reasons. Firstly, it was easy to pick up and play straight away and it had a quick turnaround time. The next game started almost immediately after the last had finished. This appealed to a new demographic who wanted easy-to-play, quick games. This was different from titles like poker, which involved lengthy strategy and rules.
Secondly, and the real key to its success, was its social features. Players were placed in a lobby before the round took place. Here, they view leaderboards and can chat in interactive forums. In some cases, players can even pool their bets. As everyone is wagering on the same event, it becomes a shared experience, almost like watching a sports game.
Created by Spribe Studios, the developers noted that “We created Aviator with a simple yet engaging mechanic, inspired by provably fair crash games, but adapted it for regulated markets. The game’s multiplayer nature, live chat and interactive features made it an entirely new experience, fostering a community-driven gaming model. Players weren’t just playing against a machine; they were playing together.”
Aviator now has more than 12 million players a month across the world. Today, the concept has been adapted into multiple formats, with variations that even borrow themes from arcade classics like Frogger.
Pushing Thematic Boundaries to Their Limits
Gone are the days when slot games were fruit and bar symbols alone. They now have hundreds of themes, many with well-known and loved franchises. Just like you can log onto Steam and see games as varied as Goat Simulator to Red Dead Redemption, slots follow suit with beloved classic themes of fishing and mythology.
Yet the sector is not resting on its laurels and is going even further in its pursuit of unique titles. NoLimit City embody this ethos more than most developers. Based in Malta, the studio has now been acquired by Evolution and acts as their arm for unique, off-the-wall titles, such as Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. It has witty dialogue, changing mechanics and even features a few gags about flatulence. One of their titles, Brute Force, is even a homage to the days of nineties 8-bit gaming, blending an alien shooter with a slot system against a chiptune soundtrack. It has levelling up, power-ups and the character selections can even influence the bonus rounds you encounter.
There are now 4,792 global online casino operators. Competition is fierce, and these new mechanics and concepts borrowed from video games are essential as the sector moves into new markets. South Africa and the Philippines are predicted to be high-growth countries, and capturing these emerging markets needs innovation. As gaming evolves, what a casino is and can be is in new and uncharted territory.
