David Morey 
The truth is that casino games have yet to attract people because of their engaging gameplay. They have primarily done so due to their decent winning odds or enticing max win potential. Yes, a specific set of individuals prefers immersive visuals and bonus rounds. But for the most part, regular gamblers have been primarily satisfied with table options that boast quality reward chances. That is, until recently, as online gambling has now attained sizeable popularity, and new demographics have poured into this pastime, ones that have grown up getting used to experiencing a specific degree of interactivity.
The digital gaming sphere has evolved drastically over the past decade and a half, continuously investing in new gameplay mechanics that try to get gamblers more involved in the entertainment they provide. That has spilled over to the land-based sector, where operators have also attempted to introduce more skill-based elements to their machines, something established in legal regulation in New Jersey and Nevada in 2015. That move allowed the creation of companies like GameCo, Gamblit, and Next Gaming, which focused on manufacturing titles with more of a video game vibe. GameCo’s Danger Arena is a prime example of this.
That trend was birthed by younger players needing to find old-school slots and table options interesting enough. Hence, the industry tried to pivot and revolutionize how it approached gambling fun, infusing skill challenges and progression systems to fashion a hybrid gaming experience for Millennials and Gen Z members.
What Is the Appeal of Video Game Gameplay?
First off, it is something that many people have come to expect when playing any game on a device, be it a desktop computer or smartphone. Video games have captured people’s minds for generations due to their immersive and interactive nature. That refers to the fact that they have kept players entertained by actively forcing them to make decisions that determine how well they will do in a round. The ability to keep testing their skill en route to achieving in-game success gets them invested for longer periods.
That type of mental stimulation is what many individuals born after 1990 desire and what game providers look to offer them through dynamic gameplay that incentivizes continuous play via reward systems and progression/achievement mechanics. Online casinos that accept prepaid cards and other novel payment methods have housed such products for a while, boasting a sizeable variety to entice different groups of gamblers.
The problem in Internet gaming is that virtually no regulators have ironed out the legalities of allowing skill to affect results in their titles. Consequently, their skill-based games only give out an illusion of control, that expertise can sizably influence round outcomes when that is not the case. In the best-case scenario, it can only slightly improve a gaming product’s return-to-player percentage.
The Rise of Shooter Titles
These gaming devices feature pool-sized table screens, usually available in arcade parlors in the US and China. However, their legality has come into question in multiple regions.
Since the original entries in this category involved players shooting at different types of aquatic creatures, they bear the name fish tables. Interested parties can find Internet versions of these at most US-centric online casinos, with titles like Fish Catch by Realtime Gaming and KA Gaming’s Dragon Boom making sizeable waves with Internet game-of-chance aficionados.
Without argument, shooting-style gaming picks have found more success on the World Wide Web than at brick-and-mortar casinos, where gambling games with video game elements have failed to thrive.
Why Video Game-Like Games Underperform at Casinos
Gambling cabinet providers thought they understood the psychology of new-age gamblers and built what they thought were creations that would entice Millennials. Yet, despite initial excitement, most of these products have not managed to generate revenues and have wound up getting removed from gaming floors. Their gameplay primarily hinged on concepts like virtual pots and reel strips.
According to some analysts, the problem with these games is that providers did not grasp that younger people who like to gamble do not necessarily seek the same things from their gambling games as their everyday video ones that only supply entertainment value and no real money prizes. Most are averse to games that feel like work and require effort. They much rather enjoy standard slot action, where outcomes get left to chance.
Others have argued that there is nothing wrong with the games themselves. However, the casino setting is inappropriate for this type of gambling. They might be more at home at hotels or bars. Moreover, they should incorporate more multiplayer options while also effectively looking to leverage alternative distribution channels. The mentioned California-based company, Gamblit (shut down three years ago), saw some success doing this, positioning its creations next to bars.
Would It Benefit Casinos to Add More Video Game-Style Choices?
At the moment, interest seems low on this front, as straightforward slots and traditional table picks like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat still draw the lion’s share of operator profits, and most gamblers seem to be happy playing these. Only in the online section of the industry, live dealer games and presenter choices akin to TV game shows, in particular, have made some headway in competing with the classics.
