In the last couple of years, both gaming and online gambling have grown incredibly, finding themselves in 2024 more interconnected than ever. What was initially two separate forms of entertainment has increasingly become an interdisciplinary ecosystem in which video games, online casinos and eSports blend effortlessly. With the rise of game-inspired slots, the growing popularity of eSports betting and the influence strategy and fantasy games have on gambling platforms, these two worlds have never converged in such a variety of exciting ways.
This article explores how gaming culture is shaping the online gambling scene and why this new intersection is becoming an intrinsic part of both industries.
The Growing Popularity of eSports and Online Gambling
What was once a niche segment of the gaming industry has grown into a global phenomenon. From millions of fans watching live, big tournaments and competitions down to a multi-billion-dollar industry, eSports will see its market grow above $1.5 billion worldwide by the end of 2024, at a growth driven by exponential growth in viewership through tournaments and sponsorship deals. As such, what was once confined to a select group of gamers has now grown to mean a cultural force that reached international proportions. It has also led to the development of another highly lucrative online betting avenue: eSports.
This has made wagering on eSports tournament outcomes a pretty popular type of betting, appealing to hard-core gamblers and devoted fans alike. According to Newzoo, the total eSports audience will reach over 500 million people by the end of 2024, a considerable share of which actively bet on different types of wagering disciplines. Major franchises such as League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive have headlined scores of competitions and drawn large-scale betting markets.
In countries like South Africa, this has also been a period of significant growth for the eSports betting market, driven by a younger, tech-savvy demographic.
The growth of eSports and the involvement of South Africa in international competitions, created a niche for gambling and online casinos south Africa within esports. With more mergers between eSports and online gambling, fans will be expecting to see even more varied betting opportunities tied to their favorite games and players.
Game-Inspired Slots: A New Trend in Online Gambling
Of the most exciting developments in online casinos, today is the emergence of game-inspired slots. These are slots that have been created with their inspiration taken from video games, thereby including familiar characters, themes and settings.
These slots tap into the nostalgia and excitement of popular video games to attract an audience of many varied backgrounds, including gamers who like a little thrill from gambling. The influence of popular video games such as Street Fighter, Tomb Raider, The Witcher and Fortnite has created a wave of online slot machines. Their essence is captured in a series of game-themed slots that show immersive graphics and identical game mechanics to the original titles of the video games.
Favorite characters and settings pop up in these slots, which makes the interaction very exciting and engaging, combining the worlds of video gaming with online gambling.
The appeal of game-inspired slots is particularly notable in regions like South Africa, where online gambling has been expanding rapidly in recent years. It’s for this reason that South African online casinos have taken up these newer-style slot games, offering a range of video game-themed slots that really appeal to the home-based crowd. The familiarity, along with the excitement in this regard, is something especially appealing to the younger generation who grew up with video gaming. Online casinos tap into the growing popularity of video gaming to reach more people while improving their overall gaming experience.
From Console to Casino: How Video Games Influence Gambling Platforms
This relationship does not end with themed slots. Several online casinos are now increasingly offering video game-inspired mechanics and modes of play. The inclusion of skill-based elements, competitive gameplay and narrative-driven experiences has made online gambling ever more dynamic, engaging and interactive.
One example is the integration of loot box mechanics, which have long been a staple of video games. Loot boxes are rewards that players can get through playing their way to, or buying their way to. The mechanic, popularized by the likes of Overwatch and FIFA, has found its way to online casinos where players can buy “loot boxes” that randomly contain rewards or prizes.
This blending of gambling and gaming mechanics in the design is done to appeal to players who enjoy the excitement of random rewards, a feature so common to both the video game and gambling experiences.
The influence of video games on gambling platforms, therefore, is huge in the growth of skill-based gambling. Conventionally, online casino games, like poker and blackjack, are games of chance.
But large casino video slots have nevertheless included in themselves more and more elements of skills: players can use some strategies to influence the results of the game. Thus, such games as Spin Poker and Skill Poker allow players to make use of their knowledge to achieve a favorable outcome for them.
The new mechanic in such slots is really appealing to the younger audience because it allows players to feel a more significant presence of strategic gaming as they are accustomed to with video games. With the inclusion of such features as ladders and leaderboards from video gaming, online casinos create a more interactive experience, even rivaling the interactivity and depth offered by video gaming.
As this trend is still developing, gambling platforms will most likely continue to evolve, implementing even more elements from the gaming world.
The Role of Fantasy and Strategy Games in Online Gambling
Fantasy and strategy have always been the genres known for complexity and depth. Most of these video games, including but not limited to Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering and The Elder Scrolls, require players to resort to strategic thinking, planning and problem-solving skills to reach success.
These have since then inspired a range of casino games online, enabling gamblers to experience an interaction much closer to reality. In addition, online casinos nowadays also have a number of strategic depths, the same as seen in strategy and fantasy computer video games. In order for gamblers to engage themselves with specific casino games that have reached the height of being purely luck-based, then one would require making tactical choices within such gameplay.
Examples involve the use of skill-based game activities, like Strategy Blackjack or Casino War, wherein gamers should be able to devise the proper way of arriving at a meaningful conclusion for a better result. The game also attracts gamblers who enjoy the strategic elements of fantasy and role-playing games, which provide more complex and rewarding experiences.
The influence of strategy games can also be seen in a new generation of “betting strategy games” that meld old-school gambling with tactical gameplay. Players of these games must think through their bets and approach the game with a well-considered strategy that will maximize their chances of winning.
Much as in a fantasy or strategy video game, those who take the time to understand the mechanics and build a plan are more likely to succeed. These games are not only entertaining for their players but also attract individuals who enjoy the immersive storylines that come with fantastic video gaming. Online casinos create a world where gambling and gaming come together, offering more than just winning money but a mentally riveting entertainment experience.
The fact that the dividing line between video gaming and online gambling is increasingly blurred should tell one thing: gaming culture is very much the driving force in how the future of the gambling industry is shaped.
This can be seen in the rise of eSports betting, the popularity of slots inspired by games and the integration of strategy-based mechanics. Both companies are changing with the times and it is in these times of convergence that both gamers and gamblers alike will witness some really great new options for players who look for either entertainment, skill testing, or the rush of a random reward. This is what the future looks like for online gambling: further integrations of gaming culture with casino gameplay, creating a completely new set of experiences for gamers and bettors.