Skill-Based Slots Era Upon Us

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Wednesday, June 14th, 2017 | Written by Lucy Brown

The days of the classic slot machine may be soon be numbered, as a variety of futuristic and innovative products have become commonplace on casino gaming floors with both casinos and developers alike over the past year. Casinos are slow to change, so the seismic shift won’t happen right away; but in the future, this might be regarded as the time when casinos really crossed over to modern gameplay.

Slots Through History

Slots have evolved in terms of functionality and appearance over time. In the 1960s, for instance, machines used electromechanical components; in the 1970s video slot machines were introduced; while in the 1990s online slot machines became popular. No matter what the decade, though, the basic premise of slot machines remained the same, and all slot gamers had the same goal in mind, namely to catch a break in the hope of scoring a large payout.

In this decade, however, classic-style slots are changing over to arcade-style games that come with more decision-making options for the player. Although these type skill-based games have been around for some time, they never quite felt ready to attract a mainstream audience. That all subsequently changed in 2016, when skill-based games began showing up as trials on the casinos’ game room floor. Soon, skill-based games debuted, and machines such as ones created by GameCo appeared in a number of reputable casinos.

Times are Changing

GameCo began with one of its most hardcore games called Danger Arena in which a first-person shooter used a remote control reminiscent of a video game. Since its launch, GameCo has added other games with a more wide-reaching appeal that are not housed inside of traditionally used cabinets, but are instead interactive, futuristic-looking games that could easily intimidate some gamers. This begs the question: should a gaming company attempt to appeal to gamers and millennials, who are often thought of as the customers of the future, or foster a gaming experience that exhibits a wider reach?

It appears that the appeal of the skill-based games is neither here nor there, as these games tend to attract people dependent on the title. For instance, Danger Arena seems to attract gamers who are male and on average under 40 years of age, while Pharaoh’s Secret Temple has an appeal to casual gamers who tend to be older women. Skill based games are not solely intended to bring in millennials, though, and are also intended to bring in gamers from all walks of life. So far, it seems to be working.

While making a switch from traditional games to newer models may seem like it could alienate an audience, it does not appear to have done so yet with both millennials and older gamers alike currently enjoying these machines. It doesn’t matter whether they are playing on multiplayer tables, touch screens or arcade style games–there is plenty of room for everyone to jump on board with the new style of games.

Now in Atlantic City

In the meantime, Las Vegas and Atlantic City have already seen a number of GameCo produced skill-based slot machines introduced into its casinos last year, while last week Scientific Games Corp manufactured machines also made their way into gambling venues in New Jersey owned by Caesars Entertainment Corp, Harrah’s and Bally’s.

The latest machines to hit Atlantic City are based upon the classic 1978 arcade game called Space Invaders, with the game’s bonus round featuring a laser cannon that allows the player to “shoot down rows of descending aliens, [while] collecting credits, advancing levels and vying for one of the multilevel jackpot pools”. Nevertheless, Atlantic City is just the first stop on it expansion across North America, and as Derik Mooberry, Scientific Games group chief executive for gaming, explains:

“Our development team worked diligently to ensure that our first skill-based game featured authentic Space Invaders game play, complete with its familiar alien symbols and correlative music, and we are certain that players are going to be captivated with this compelling new game.”