Video games and gambling seem like they would go together like chicken and waffles; while one evokes a slightly different feeling than the other, people look to both to satisfy their needs. More specifically, the need to be entertained. And with the advent of eSports and its rise to popularity, we’re finally seeing opportunities to bet on high-level play not only online, but at physical casinos as well. This is a far cry from the casino games we had growing up, which was pretty much limited to poker titles with the odd blackjack and “casino games” bundle here and there. And it hasn’t stopped there.
Gambling on gaming has taken a step in a different direction as well with the first skill-based machines making their debut across the country. And they’re making these games from classics such as Frogger and Space Invaders – staples in gaming and recognized across generations of players. It’s no wonder why casino games have a higher addiction to the player than video games, especially at this point when the two mediums are closer than ever. Not only that but casino sites like Guts.com often offer other forms of entertainment as well, like sports betting, with sites like bonus insider providing you with detailed information about the latest betting bonuses so you can make an informed choice of a particular website based on the potential value that it may offer you.
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However, these skill-based games are still quite new to the scene and far from being what gamers would consider a viable form of entertainment, at least in comparison to the online games they’re already playing. For example, most of these skill-based machines only offer said gameplay during bonus levels, so a player could conceivably play a full round and not get to these bonus rounds. And even when a player does reach the bonus round, it’s typically a timed round that only last 10 to 20 seconds. It’s understandable for casinos to be making small steps, especially into a realm that takes control away from chaos and gives it to the player, but we have a few suggestions to make the transition smoother.
Firstly, if casino were to implement arcade versions of shooters like Unreal Tournament, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Halo, they could hold rounds of each game where the players would bet on themselves. First place quadruples their money and the casino takes the rest. This is a system that relies solely on skill but is still guaranteed to benefit the house. If you make ranked leagues like in online games, you can increase the buy in but also the profit for winning, an incentive that again benefits both parties.
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Second, allow onlookers to be in on the action. Just like any sport, being able to gather intel on the competition and bet on who you believe has the best shot builds interest on both sides of the experience. When you have people who believe they are the best and then have people betting on that belief, you’re able to build a following, something that wouldn’t be terribly difficult given the fact that eSports have become so popular.
Lastly, make sure to have the proper space to house all of this. At first, casinos will most likely only have room for a few machines but, as the scene grows, the locations will need to do the same. This doesn’t seem like too much to ask considering the popularity of bar-cades in recent years, but it would be an absolute must if the movement starts to get traction. After all, shooters won’t be the only skill-based machines they would have. Many existing video games could make for great games to bet on if they were tweaked in just the right places.
If casinos play their cards right and give enough special attention to this craze, they could have a whole new industry on their hands, an industry that blends two insanely popular forms of entertainment; it’s just all about execution at this point.
