How Some Games Rely Completely on Money Rewards

Some games rely on story, others on breathtaking visuals or outstanding gameplay. Others – it’s all about that money.

There’s a definite thrill from playing something – responsibly – where there’s a bit of a risk. That might be losing face on the quiz machine down the pub, a game with permanent deaths or, yes, the occasional gamble.

The last one tends to be entirely built around the thrill of winning or losing. The joy isn’t so much in the doing, but in the potential – in the chance to win a bigger and bigger prize.

Money on the Table

Slots is arguably the game that generates the most money, and it’s not because they are expensive to play. There are sites out there that allow you to play 2,500+ slot games for free for however long you want. But slots without the small chance of huge winnings just isn’t close to as thrilling.

That’s true for many games. Whether you’re playing chess, Call of Duty or poker, a cash prize can make the playing all the more enjoyable.

It can also bring out the biggest players – which thankfully isn’t a problem when it comes to slots.

If you take away the flashing lights, sometimes familiar characters and the cash prize, it seems unlikely slots would have lasted as long as they have.

They have been a staple around the world since the late 19th century, but the base gameplay loop is a little dry. Barrels go round and maybe some of them match.

It sounds like a game to help babies learn their shapes.

But when you add in those flashing lights, those bright characters and the chance to win a penny or two, it stops being an infant’s education tool and starts being a proper game.

Cashing Out

It’s not just slots that benefits from this. Other games of luck, rather than skill, are made all the more entertaining by their use of real money.

Blackjack is just demonstrating your ability to count to 21, unless there’s something on the line to make you go higher than you’re comfortable with.

And this is even making the jump to traditional gaming. Would anybody pay real money for an Overwatch lootbox if there wasn’t a little risk involved? Obviously you can’t straight up lose money in Overwatch, but you can very easily end up with duplicates.

It’s that small thrill of “have I won?” Only it’s condensed down to an almost riskless level…

…Until you get onto the conversation of whales and rogue children with credit cards, but that’s a different story for a different day.

Conclusion

There are some games where it’s just better to have the opportunity to win a little cash.

It’s not always a big possibility, and when it is you’re never going to be able to retire.

But it’s about hope and potential. It’s about that brief second where anything is possible.

Gambling responsibly keeps games like slots alive, and no doubt they’ll continue to be popular for generations to come.