When Videogames Meet Gambling: iGaming’s Biggest Crossovers

Video games and casino titles have a long history together. Starting with Tomb Raider in 2004, they are still going strong today.

Look through an online casino today, and you will see a host of licensed slot games. From those bearing the names of sportstars, to movie ties in, the list is endless. Yet video games pioneered this concept, and ever since, the titles have become more alike. But what have been the most important crossovers in the history of iGaming, and where could they go next?

Tomb Raider: The First Licensed Slot Game

Log onto any of the major global brand casinos these days, and it is hard to see slots without video game licenses. An example can be found in Casino Betway, which has a wide range of slots, both with licensed properties and unlicensed ones. These range from simple titles that let people try games out to more complex ones with sprawling bonus rounds and mechanics.

Many people do not realise that the first online branded slot was actually derived from a video game. Developer Microgaming, a casino software brand based in the United Kingdom, signed the deal way back in 2004 with Eidos Interactive. This was for a Tomb Raider title, and was at the peak of Lara Croft’s popularity, when online slots were just coming into mainstream popularity. The game was an instant smash hit, and follow-ups were created with mobile functionality specifically in mind.

Tomb Raider has had several iGaming iterations since then, in many different guises. Lara Croft: Secret of the Sword was the immediate follow-up, and there have even been smaller mini games. These are mini tasks embedded within bigger games such as bingo, adding an extra layer of depth and excitement.

Recently, the license has been used with smaller independent studios under Microgaming’s gaze. This has led to innovative titles like Tomb of the Sun and ones where it is possible to enter into huge progressive jackpots.

Combining with Retro Classics

In recent years, it has been the retro classics that have really stood out in the iGaming pantheon. One of the most iconic is the Space Invaders slot game. Its brash style features all the symbols you know and love, such as the aliens, jellyfish, and that defining arcade-style logo. These titles are not all just reskins of existing games, either. The Space Invaders title gives you a unique bonus round, where you can end up with a selection of free spins and modifiers based on the game.

Many classics also hugely influence the mechanics and play of casino games. Take the ‘Street Fighter II: The World Warrior’ slot as an example. While Street Fighter is in its sixth iteration with multiple spin-offs, this slot goes right back to the nineties title. You can choose one of the eight world warriors, featuring well-known characters like Ryu and Chun Li.

Instead of playing an ongoing slot, the game has linear level progression. You face off against an opponent, and the more you win, the more you beat them. Achieve a certain amount, and you emerge victorious and move on to the next stage. Amongst this is a ‘beat the boss’ feature. This is a free spins bonus round, and new multipliers come with each level attained. There is even a reenactment of the famous car-smashing mini game from the original title.

Future Proofing Videogames and iGaming

Surprisingly, in two of iGaming’s most forward-thinking developments, video game licenses have not yet made their mark, though it is inevitable. The first of these is the live casino game sector. Originally, this was a title that streamed hosts and croupiers to players, giving an element of interaction. Yet it has now evolved past that, and there are whole interactive game shows.

These already use existing licenses. Monopoly has several, and even real game shows like ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” have lent their names to them. The next obvious iteration is one that utilizes favourite licenses, perhaps from more casual gaming genres.

Second is the crash gaming genre. Pioneered by the seminal Aviator, the idea is to guess how long the trajectory of a plane will stay in flight. The longer people stay in, the more the multiplier increases their wager. However, if they don’t cash out before the crash, they lose their money.

Crash gaming now encompasses a range of themes, linked by casual play with social elements. Some already borrow heavily from simple video games of the past. For example, there are already ones that lift the concept of Atari classics like Frogger. Think how much more impact they would have with retro gaming licenses.

The fusion of casino and video gaming is far from over. In the future, more games will see this as a way to increase revenue. With more emerging gambling markets, we can expect to see more video game-themed casino titles.