Online Slots and the 2018 FIFA World Cup Effect

The 2018 FIFA World Cup is currently underway and people across the globe are obsessed with the largest sports tournament in the world.

Set in Russia, from the 14th of June until the 15th of July 2018, 32 football teams will compete to claim the title and the trophy.

No matter where you find yourself, it's almost guaranteed that the FIFA World Cup will come up in conversation. Supporters root for their teams from the comfort of their homes while other argue about who will ultimately be the winner.

 Betting and Winning

Along the ability bet on your favourite sports team during the matches, online casinos are giving players so much more to enjoy during this football season of fun.

In fact, software providers, including some of the largest names in the industry, have been planning for this event for quite some time. As with any event that draws the attention of people, including holidays like Christmas and New Year, the FIFA World Cup deserves all the recognition it gets.

Online casino software creators such as Habanero, 1X2gaming, Play'n GO, and many more have all released slots to commemorate this exciting occasion that comes around only once every four years.

The key to creating casino games that truly capture the imagination of players is providing them with an experience. The ability to play online slots while also enjoying a game of football is the true aim, instead of drawing them away from the beautiful game.

“If the subject is on the minds of sportsbook customers and casino players, as we expect it to be over the course of the next month, then a football-themed slot becomes a natural pick during down-time in the games or between fixtures," said Daniel Long, Head of Asia at Habanero.

 Online Slots to Celebrate the World Cup

Let's take a look at four of the most recently released online slots that were created to celebrate the 2018 FIFA World Cup from the comfort of your home!

✓ Knockout Football by Habanero - Hear the cheer of the crowds and spin your way through the Knockout Football slot final! You'll feel as if you've been transported to the soccer field where players take aim and supporters cheer your name!

Set on 5 reels and designed with many ways to win, this online slot could be your key to experiencing the joy of winning the World Cup while simply enjoying the game before you.

✓ Football 3x3 by 1X2gaming - As one of the largest creators of football themed casino games, 1X2gaming knows how to take the virtual world of sports from fantasy to fun. Simple in design, but perfectly suited for soccer fans, the Football 3X3 slot is, without a doubt, different.

The screen before you is filled with 9 mini slots, each containing 3 football-themed symbols. You can choose whether to keep all 9 sets of symbols or deselect some of them to adjust your bet. Click the spin button and watch as all of the symbols spin for a chance to make you a winner!

✓ Hugo Goal by Play'n GO - The classic troll is back with a little football fun and he's brought both new and old friends along with him. Play across the green grass of the cartoonish fields and score big with each spin of the reels.

Your cartoon animals friends will cheer you on from the sidelines as you attempt to land the largest win possible. Keep an eye out for awesome bonus features including a penalty shoot out round and big multipliers!

✓ The Champions by Pragmatic Play - The whistle has blown and now is the time to choose your team and kick off the fun. Set within a football net, you can choose where to place the lucky goal kick for a chance at scoring big!

Set the spot where you predict the football will land on the reels and if you're correct, an exciting multiplier will climb and climb. Set your bet, score goals and you could make it all the way to claiming the Momentum Progressive Game jackpot.

“Themed slots can be a great conversion tool into other verticals, and there is a natural bridge that operators can take advantage of between video slots styled around a certain sport and betting opportunities on its real-life counterpart," said Pragmatic Play's Melissa Summerfield.

"The Champions ‘team select’ feature can be used by operators in their promotions to highlight certain important matches, before and as they are happening – allowing players to opt for the same teams that are playing live."

If you're searching for other fun and exciting football themed slots, try Bicicleta by Yggdrasil Gaming, Football: Champions Cup by NetEnt, and Soccer Safari by Microgaming.