Why Sports-Themed Slots Are Getting More Popular
Figure 1 Slots have always been popular but modern sports titles can offer more complex gameplay – Source: Unsplash
When it comes to slots, there are some familiar themes that come to mind. Ancient Egypt, the luck of the Irish, and TV shows are some of the favorites and always seem to go down well with fans of slots. Then there are the classic fruits and bells games that pull on the nostalgia strings, even if the modern versions are far more complex than the old one-arm bandits.
It is curious, then, that the world of sports is not one that is immediately thought of. It is not as though there have never been high-profile sports-related titles – it is just that they have not always been the most popular on a consistent basis. Sports, after all, is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with the sportsbooks featured at Online Sports Betting only the latest example of how much interest there is. Sports betting has exploded in the US in recent years and now sports-themed slots seem set to have their own time in the spotlight.
Slots fans will always return to some of the classic themes – even if the gameplay is much the same as some of the classics. This article will attempt to show that sports-themed slots are just as popular these days – and that there may be even better times ahead for sports titles.
There was a time when all slots were fairly straightforward – spin for matching symbols and win a prize. But, as technology has advanced, slots are now much more like complex video games in the ways money and prizes can be won. There has been a definite shift to incorporating a storyline to slots titles too. Sports, maybe more than many other themes, has been perfect for this next step.
Sports is one of the great unifiers in almost all societies. No matter what your job is – or where your family is from – you can support the local team, wear the jersey or cap, and be one of the crowd. With the ever-growing sports media landscape helping along the way, it is not an overstatement to suggest that sports are the biggest thing in many people’s lives. It is hardly surprising that slots developers have been keen to get in on the action.
Football is the most popular sport in the US but it is soccer that enjoys a bigger global fan base and that is why most of the biggest sports-themed slots titles have featured the “world’s favorite game”. Team-specific slots have been produced in the past, but the huge popularity of international tournaments, like the FIFA World Cup, are obvious candidates for new titles. Soccer fans can feel as though they are part of the action, playing a game while their heroes play theirs.
It is not just soccer that inspires slots titles developers, however. Fishing has always been a popular backdrop for games, possibly because of the “chance” and “luck” factors inherent in that pursuit. But others, such as boxing, track and field, and horse racing have all been well represented. These developers have always been keen to exploit the interests of their customers and focus on popular cultural pastimes.
These themed slots can use the rules and features of the sports in question to provide gamers with a more-rounded experience. As much as traditional slots players enjoy the basics, sports like soccer can easily provide bonus rounds based on penalty shoot-outs and other features of the actual game. Using recognizable audio commentary and crowd noises also enhances the experience for gamers. These are just some of the ways that gamers can feel the authenticity of the slots.
Another reason why sports-themed slots might be enjoying a surge in popularity right now is that it is far easier to play these games these days. There is no need to enter an arcade or bar – just log on to an online account and make your choice from a hundreds, if not thousands, of slots on offer. As sports is so popular in wider society, it only follows that this new generation of gamers will be attracted to slots that use familiar themes.
Figure 2 Being able to play slots anywhere has greatly improved their popularity – Source: Unsplash
One area where sports-themed slots sometimes fall down is that they do not always have the licenses to use actual athletes, teams, and events. This was shown to be a major reason why the FIFA video game won the battle for paying customers with Pro Evolution Soccer – even though the latter was generally accepted to be a better game. Gamers want to feel they are enjoying an authentic experience and that means playing sports games with real names. It may seem like a trivial point, but the acceptance of gaming and betting by organizations, leagues, and teams in the sports industry means that we are likely to see even more “official” slots in the years to come.
So, what can slots fans expect from sports-themed titles in the future? As with the wider gaming and betting industries, greater fan engagement and more immersive experiences are high on the list. The potential for a more social element is also there, as developers look to grow stronger ties with teams and leagues and produce authentic, official slots. The rise of augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) will surely also play a part in creating a more intense experience. The worlds of sports and slots have always been close – but there is likely to be even greater crossover in the future.