In recent years, the worlds of gaming and gambling have grown quite close. Namely, the two have become so intertwined that the line between gaming and gambling has become somewhat blurred.
On one end of the spectrum, video games have started incorporating some of the core mechanics games of chance are based on. Furthermore, betting on eSports events is becoming increasingly more popular. Simultaneously, casino-style games are borrowing various aspects of video games in order to enhance their gameplay and appeal to a broader audience, targeting mostly millennials.
This ongoing relationship between the two industries benefits gamers and gamblers alike. Gamers now have the opportunity to spend the in-game currency or real money on enriching their gaming experience. Similarly, fans of games of chance can enjoy a variety of new games with unique features and thrilling twists.
Here are some of the most notable additions to both words, inspired by their unique dynamic:
Loot Boxes
The gambling aspects various video games have implemented mainly come in the form of loot boxes. These boxes (chests, crates, cases) hold various cosmetic items and in-game currency, or other boons, which help speed up your in-game progression or augments the gameplay in some way.
However, the fact that the rewards you get by opening these boxes are completely random has sparked heated debates. Since players typically pay real money to acquire and open loot boxes, it’s understandable why some people have defined this concept as gambling.
Underage gambling is illegal on a global scale, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the entire concept raised concerns. However, opening loot boxes in an online video game greatly differs from gambling due to the fact that you cannot win actual money from them. The contents of these boxes are strictly tied to the individual games themselves.
Due to the standard definition of gambling, both the wager and the prize must be quantified in terms of real-world currency. Hence, loot boxes remain in the gray zone, and the practice isn’t prohibited by law.
Whether you like these randomly generated in-game rewards or not, the fact is that more and more video games are adopting this model. So players looking to unlock new “skins” within their favorite game will have to rely on their luck and the Random Number Generator (RNG).
eSports Betting Websites
Another phenomenon that emerged from the convergence of gaming and gambling are eSports betting websites. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, seen as eSports have quickly become a billion dollar industry.
Game developers of the most popular titles regularly host tournaments, with prize pools often reaching tens of millions of dollars. These events attract fans all over the world, and tech companies have quickly picked up on the amount of exposure they’d get from sponsoring the tournaments.
However, they weren’t the only ones looking to profit from the rise of eSports. Bookmakers have also recognized the lucrative opportunity and have promptly added eSports events to their available range of bets.
This endeavor proved quite successful. So much so that hundreds of websites have sprouted dedicated solely to eSports betting. However, since they’re not licensed online casinos, they technically can’t allow you to wager real money on a professional Dota2 game, for instance. Witty as they are, these websites have found a loophole by allowing people to wager in-game items on their favorite eSports teams.
Some of these websites have gone a step further and allow you to gamble for a chance to win in-game items. One iteration of such websites lets you play “Roulette” against other players. Everyone puts their items into the pot, and depending on the value of these items, the algorithm calculates everyone’s odds of winning. Then, a Random Number Generator determines who claims the entire pot.
Finally, there are websites which allow you to deposit real currency and open the loot boxes we mentioned. This is gambling in its purest form, but since the prize isn’t cash, it still escapes the regulations online casinos must abide by.
The Evolution of Casino Games
The two industries mutually influence one another. Casino software providers are always looking to bring something new, fresh, and exciting to the players. At their core, games of chance are still games. So it’s logical their developers are looking to video games for inspiration and borrowing certain aspects and mechanics, which have proven successful among the players.
As a result, we’re witnessing an “evolution” of casino games. These changes and novelties are most apparent when we look at slots. They started out as simple 3-reel machines that featured fruit symbols, bells, and bars. Nowadays, modern 5 and 6-reel slots offer a variety of different themes, special features, and thrilling bonus rounds.
Some developers, like Betsoft, have pushed the changes to the point that they’ve completely altered the gameplay of one of their slots. Namely, the game Max Quest: Wrath of Ra functions exactly like a slot, yet there are no reels on the screen.
Instead, players take on the role of an explorer and can purchase a variety of weapons with which they can shoot mummies and scarabs. Each round is time-limited, and the “baddies” spawn randomly and offer rewards according to their tier. Of course, you need more powerful (and more expensive) weapons to defeat the bigger, meaner monsters that ‘drop’ bigger cash prizes.
There are plenty of other examples of how casino games evolved throughout the years. This doesn’t only happen in an online environment, however. Some games of chance take elements of several others and merge them into something new and unique.
One we must single out is Pachinko. You can play Pachinko online, as well as in various parlors in Japan. This Japanese gambling game combines elements of pinball and slots to create a fun arcade game that everyone can enjoy.
Will Gaming and Gambling Converge?
As you can see, it’s evident that gaming and gambling are growing and expanding in a similar direction. If you’re a fan of both, you’ll thoroughly enjoy exploring the various fusions these industries concoct.
On the other hand, there are quite a few people who’d prefer it if gaming and gambling stayed separate. So will the two converge into a single point and alter the worlds of gaming and gambling as we know them?
Highly unlikely. There are still quite a few major differences between the two. Although the dynamic between gaming and gambling gave birth to various unique games, they do not threaten the integrity of either world.
Just like cultures, gaming and gambling regularly borrow from one another and expand while staying true to their defining characteristics. So it’s quite a stretch to say that every video game will implement some gambling aspect in the near future. Likewise, casinos won’t remove classics like 3-reel slots, video poker, and table games to make room for these new games.
Overall, we would characterize the merging of gaming and gambling as positive. It offers something unique and interesting to those who enjoy both video games and games of chance. Simultaneously, the novelties aren’t forced on either players or gamblers. People who lean towards one side of the spectrum will still be able to enjoy their favorite games without the interference of the other industry.
