Times the Gaming and Gambling World Have Collided

The world of gambling has become much more innovative and creative in the way it makes money over recent years, thanks to the influx of new technology at its disposal. From new technologies in mobile gaming to creative features that encourage players to spend more, here are some of the ways gambling and gaming have come together in unique ways.

Konami Pachinko Machines

Pachinko is a Japanese game which is the equivalent of the slot machines you’ll find lining the walls of traditional casinos. It might not be as popular in the west just yet but in Japan, punters are wagering as much as $203 billion each year on pachinko and slot machines, which more than swamps the revenues of similar machines in Singapore, Macau and Nevada. Video game company Konami has moved away from the industry in terms of standard gaming to refocus its efforts into mobile gaming and the gambling aspects of the business, with pachinko machines at its core, often angering the fans of its traditional games, such as when they remastered Metal Gear Solid 3 as a Pachinko only game.

Loot boxes

Loot boxes have become a popular talking point of late and with good reason – more and more games are including this style of gambling into their features, with some people saying they should be regulated like other online gambling provides such as the likes of Paddy Power. For example, the game Overwatch gives players the chance to buy loot boxes in randomized bundles for different prices, starting at £1.50 and reaching as much as £30. But with each loot box, players don’t know what they’ll receive and could ultimately wind up paying for features that don’t serve them in the game. Because the probability of winning something of value isn’t shown, players don’t know what their odds are of winning. The thrill of potentially winning something useful for the game, such as additional features for their character or new weapons, has made microtransactions such as loot boxes a popular feature and one that can quickly become addictive to players.

Casino Video Games

Casino video games are a different type of skill-based game that feels and looks more like a classic console video game, such as racing games or shooters. One of the reasons for the increase in these types of games is that poker and slot apps on mobiles aren’t considered gambling as players can’t wager with or win real cash. Also known as social casino games, these games are designed to simulate real-life wagering to keep users playing and sharing real money to purchase in-game currency such as expansions, gifts or extra credits. Like social games such as Words with Friends, Angry Birds or Candy crush, these casino video games work to expand through social networks, encouraging players to invite their contacts to play.

Video Poker

Mobile casino sites have made playing games such as poker incredibly easy and accessible. In the digital version, players receive a hand of five cards on their screen which they can then opt to exchange one or all of – to win, their final hand needs to contain a pair of jacks or higher. For many, these types of games are more akin to traditional gambling than casino video games or loot boxes but because the connotations can range considerably, any game where winning is a game of chance, such as poker, can be considered gambling.