As competitive gaming continues growing more widespread, many well-known esports titles have been expanding into the casino industry. More and more game developers have been crafting really fun games that appeal to both committed gamers and regular casino-goers.
Experts are predicting that by the end of 2024, the whole esports scene will be generating over $2.39 billion in annual revenue. With millions of global viewers tuning in to esports events, casinos have recognized the potential of adapting these games into some of the best online slots and other gambling formats.
Their argument is that by adopting esports titles to casino format, more esports players will find a smooth shift to casino gaming. Three standout esports games that have successfully transitioned into the casino environment are Counter-Strike, League of Legends, and Call of Duty.
Counter-Strike
Slots based on the Counter-Strike franchise have really carved out their own niche in the gaming world by blending the tense tactical gameplay of CS with the thrills of casino games. These slots fully immerse you with spinning symbols like weapons, weapon crates, and bomb-defusing kits. Merging elements of CS strategy with slot reels really resonates with fans who love both video and casino gaming.
Nostalgia seems to be a big driving force behind popularity. CS online slots engage players with fun reminders of iconic in-game moments and battles they’ve had over the years. Studies have shown that CS slots see about 35% higher levels of player engagement than regular slots.
Beyond just cool visuals, the actual gameplay features dynamic elements like bonus rounds and free spins. These layers of extra excitement help mirror the strategic thinking required in CS. Players get to defuse bombs or unlock special weapons during spins virtually.
League of Legends
With a massive monthly player base exceeding 150 million in the video gaming realm, it’s hardly surprising that League of Legends (LoL) has ventured into the casino scene through a variety of themed slot games.
Featuring vibrant graphics and soundtracks directly inspired by the game itself, these slots truly elevate the gaming experience. Research even indicates that individuals are inclined to spend approximately 25% more time engaging with slots that tie into their beloved video games. With features that replicate champion battles and special abilities, fans can fully immerse themselves in a familiar world while taking a chance at winning some cash.
It’s quite clever to tap into the essence of what makes LoL so captivating—the gameplay and the strong sense of community. The successful integration of these beloved elements from the original game into casino games is truly remarkable. Undoubtedly, this strong connection plays a pivotal role in keeping players engaged and entertained.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was an absolute blockbuster when it launched in 2019, raking in over a billion dollars in its first three days alone. Is it any wonder that massive success-inspired branded slot machines resonated deeply with fans? These slots integrate iconic elements from the game, like weapons, maps, and characters, transporting that gaming experience to the casino floor.
Beyond just free spins and bonuses normally found in slots, these COD-themed games truly channel the nerve-on-edge action feel that made the franchise so beloved.
The features emulate missions through bonus rounds and progressive jackpots, where players infiltrate bases or defuse bombs on their way to big payouts. In fact, studies show these slots boasted almost double the typical retention rate at 60%: a clear sign that remaining faithful to the source engages fans.
For COD fans, these slot adaptations offer an opportunity to relive the raw excitement of Modern Warfare while enjoying casino games. Whether it’s intense firefights or stealth operations, the slots deliver both that adrenaline rush and a chance at substantial winnings.
Bottom Line
It’s so cool to see how esports and casinos are joining forces these days. Having big games like Counter-Strike, League of Legends, and Call of Duty show up in actual casinos lets fans engage with their favorite titles in a whole new light. Casinos are always coming up with new incentives to keep people entertained. Things like bonus spins plus special promotions go a long way. But blending the nerve-wracking fun of competitive gaming with chances to win real cash—that takes it to another level. These hybrid concepts offer experiences you just can’t find anywhere else
Out of the tens of thousands of casino games ever created, it’s natural that a few of them would share some similar features. Apart from the classic bell and cherry symbols common to so many of the ‘fruit machine’ slots, certain game features have managed to jump across themes and developers. Here are some of the most prolific features that you can find across slot libraries.
Megaways
There are few slot features out there quite as famous as Megaways. It has hopped between developers and themes, being applied to some of the biggest and most famous slot series. Enough people wanted to play the Temple Tumble slot or the Gonzo’s Quest slot that these became natural choices for extra entries in the series, and both of these classics were among the first to get a Megaways version.
The system essentially works by randomising how many symbols could appear on each reel with each spin, and removing any specific paylines. It means that on any particular spin, the number of winning lines can vary between a few hundred to over 100,000. It adds a huge amount of excitement for players as the higher amount of lines means there’s a much higher win potential on that spin.
Slingo
By comparison to Megaways, the Slingo mechanic is a far less flashy feature but has proven just as popular among players. It has been attached to a number of big slot series such as Money Train and Fire & Ice, bringing a touch of bingo gameplay to each one, and has even been used for major game show franchises like Deal or No Deal.
A game of Slingo essentially is a bingo card where instead of having a single number drawn each time, each space on the card spins like a slot reel and gets marked off if the number matches. The player gets a set number of spins at the start to try and fill as many lines on the card as possible, and can then buy some extra spins afterwards to try and mark off any remaining gaps.
Jackpot King
The Jackpot King network is a massive system connecting dozens of games across many different major casino sites. It is a progressive jackpot system where contributions to the jackpot are made by every player playing any linked game from anywhere in the world. This means that the prizes are always rising unless someone actually wins, and the top tier of jackpot, appropriately called Jackpot King, regularly reaches into the millions of pounds.
While the odds of winning one of the Jackpot King prizes are naturally lower than winning on the regular games themselves, adding it as a possibility on top of the existing slot adds a whole other level. More than a few big slot titles like Fishin’ Frenzy, Luck O’ The Irish and the slot adaption of the Ted movie have had the Jackpot King treatment already.
There are plenty more big brand mechanics out there to discover. Just remember though that if you see one of these big names attached to a game, then it’s a mark of quality for both that and the original.
Out of the thousands of slot games out there in the world, a good number have managed to become instantly memorable to players, but only a handful have managed to have real staying power. Slots that make a big impression tend to keep coming back for more, and today we’re looking at those series of slots which have become legendary amongst fans.
The ‘Dead’ Series
We’re starting with the biggest name in the industry, referred to as the ‘Dead’ series despite many of the more recent titles not featuring the name. It’s drawn from the original Egyptian-themed Book of Dead slot with lead character Rich Wilde, who either features in each slot in the series or has a relative in his place.
The original slot has proven enduringly popular, and many casino sites use it as one of their prime choices for bonuses and offers. If you log on to the online casino at Paddy Power Games or any other major site, you’re likely to see Rich Wilde featured somewhere with an offer. That popularity has led to more than a dozen entries in what is probably the most famous slot series ever.
The Age of the Gods Series
Sticking with the theme of ancient magics and treasures, the Age of the Gods series has become the go-to for slots connected to gods and mythology of all kinds. Originally starting out with the basics of Greek mythology, you can now find titles connected to all the most famous names like Zeus and Hades as well as series entries featuring Egyptian and Norse pantheons amongst others.
What has proven popular amongst players is that the series covers every type of slot out there, from low to high volatility, progressive jackpots, multiple free spin modes and a wide variety of maximum win limits. Essentially, no matter what mythology you’re looking for or what type of slot you want, there’s something here.
The Big Bass Bonanza Series
On the opposite end of the scale of grandeur and drama, our third famous slot series is all around a great outdoor pastime. The Big Bass Bonanza series is, as the name suggests, where the prizes come in the shape of fish of all kinds across 15 separate backgrounds from blizzards to secret missions to the hostile waters of the Amazon Rainforest. There are even a couple of Megaways options in the full lineup, which is a hallmark of a big series.
The popularity of the series comes from the unique free spins modes inside each edition. While the exact mechanics are a little different between each title, the core is always about cash collectors and building up a streak to get more spins and usually multipliers too. The fact that the developers, Pragmatic Play, have managed to find so many twists on that formula is nothing short of impressive.
With new slots being crafted all the time, it’s a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ we get the next huge series. Odds are though, the entries above are going to be in the mix for a long time as well.
Live casino games have become a huge part of the gambling industry in the last few years, introducing many new elements that have changed how we think about casino gameplay. The following are three of the most influential titles and how they’ve made a difference in the way we play.
Source: PxHere
Crazy Time Live Helped Introduce the Wheel Format
Evolution launched this game in 2020, although it only reached the American market in 2023. Crazy Time Live has proved to be one of the most influential casino games of recent years, as it helped to introduce the concept of a live human dealer spinning a wheel and potentially leading the player into one of several bonus games. Each segment has a different prize or feature marked on it, with players waiting to see where it stops spinning.
A look at a real-money live casino reveals several other games that have a similar format. Money Drop Live and Spin a Win Live are based on a “wheel of fortune” type of presentation with the different segments on the wheel each representing a win amount or a bonus game. Funky Time Live takes a similar idea but adds a fresh theme and some new features.
Deal or No Deal Live Is Based on a Much-Loved TV Brand
This popular TV franchise recently got taken off the TV schedules in the UK but has reached online casinos with a game split over several rounds. The game begins with a Qualifying Wheel and you’ll then see the host standing beside some briefcases where prize amounts are tucked away out of sight. It doesn’t follow the flow of the original show exactly, but there are enough similarities to make it feel like an interesting variation of what we’ve watched on the screen.
A growing number of other live games are based on big-brand games. Monopoly Live and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Live Roulette are a couple of good examples of how this works. These games have helped blur the lines between board games, TV games, and live casino games in a trend that we can expect to see continuing.
Boom City Adds Dice and a Virtual Wall of Symbols
The content creators at Pragmatic Play have taken an alternative approach with their Boom City game. While it shares the idea of a live human presenter with the other games we’ve looked at, it introduces a wall of symbols on a virtual grid that sits behind the presenter. The gameplay involves a couple of traditional dice and several bonus rounds.
A similar type of gameplay can also be seen in Snakes and Ladders Live or Big Bad Wolf Live. These games feature props such as dice and walls of symbols to create new ways of playing. With themes based on everything from classic board games to the most popular slot machines, there’s no sign of the creators of these games running out of inspiration any time soon.
Source: PxHere
The Way Ahead
These games reveal the diversity of the live casino sector right now. By adding different themes and features, this industry has moved in many different directions that add appeal for players with varying tastes and interests.