Gaming, one of the most popular forms of entertainment, has seamlessly blended with the gambling industry. Accordingly, the gambling industry even uses gaming as its interchangeable term.
This blending can be seen with video games adopting gambling mechanics, creating a controversial mix of entertainment and chance. However, the most popular evidence of the blending of gaming and gambling is the trend of bringing back classic gaming titles and incorporating them into casino games, reimagining them for the new generation.
Below, let us discover how these beloved PC games transitioned into casino favourites by exploring the blurred lines between gaming and gambling and their implications for the future of gambling.
Blurring the Lines of Gaming and Gambling
Gaming and gambling are increasingly overlapping, creating an exciting landscape where elements of chance, reward, and monetary stakes intertwine.
Evidence of this blurred line is the adoption of classic PC games as themes for various casino games. One great example is using Monopoly, a timeless board game, as a relatable theme for online pokies, the Australian version of online casino slots.
These mobile pokies for real money bear the classic symbols of Monopoly, such as the top hat, the thimble, Park Place, and even the Boardwalk, designed to engage players while invoking nostalgia. Some pokies variants even let players roll a dice during bonus rounds, making it an interactive experience, especially when used with vibrant graphics and sound effects reminiscent of the beloved board game.
Aside from Monopoly, Diablo, and Doom, these are also two of the most commonly used themes in most online pokies.
While Monopoly, Diablo, and Doom are the most popular poker game themes, Starcraft is another classic PC game that has turned into a casino favorite. This real-time strategy game has often been adopted as a theme in most card games and utilizing the different factions of the game—Terran, Zerg, or Protoss—as teams to compete against each other in poker or in blackjack. This engaging blend of familiar gameplay mechanics and themes keeps players invested, entertained, and possibly going for another round.
Another evidence of a blurred line between gaming and gambling, aside from incorporating PC games as themes, is incorporating mechanics that resemble gambling into modern PC games, such as loot boxes. These loot boxes give them the chance to win either in-game currency or various randomized rewards.
Implications for the Future of Gambling
As both the gaming and gambling industries continue to evolve, it is likely that these two industries will work together to create a balanced ecosystem where both can benefit from each other.
One of the first ways of showing cooperation between the two industries is the consistent growth of franchise-based games in the casino space. Aside from Monopoly and Starcraft, classic PC games might make a resurgence, such as Resident Evil, Dungeons & Dragons, or the Pac-Man game, as they are reimagined for online pokies and other casino games.
By leveraging popular characters and themes from these well-known PC games, both industries can benefit from it in a way that the gaming industry gets to attract casino gamers while the gambling industry gets to attract the dedicated fan base of a game. This synergy allows both industries to experience increased engagement and revenue, redefining the bounds of traditional gaming and gambling.
Another way of showing cooperation between two industries is the possibility of offering hybrid experiences where players get to enjoy their PC game-themed casino games while participating in competitive environments, such as live gaming.
This approach not only enhances user engagement but also attracts a broader audience that appreciates gaming and gambling in an exciting, live experience. Additionally, it also creates a hyper-realistic experience where players feel as if they are truly part of the action, making it seem as if they are competing with their peers within the properties in the game.
Final Thoughts
The integration of classic PC games such as Starcraft and Monopoly into the casino landscape represents a unique fusion of nostalgia and modern casino gaming.
By honouring the essence of these beloved PC games while giving them a whirl of chance, online casinos are thereby creating a gaming experience that draws in a diverse crowd of gamers and casino gaming enthusiasts alike.
As the lines between gaming and gambling continue to blur, we can definitely expect a future filled with innovative experiences bringing together the best elements of both worlds. Players will accordingly find themselves immersed in environments that not only challenge their skills but also test their luck on games of chance.