How Casino Gaming Is Shaping the Design and Development of Video Games

If you are a fan of video games and enjoy the entertainment and immersion of online slots, Roulette, blackjack and other games of chance, we have a fantastic selection of casino-themed video games for you to enjoy.

 Video Games Often Feature ‘Gambling’

It is not uncommon for video game creators to increase the level of realism and immersion the player experiences by including gambling as an in-world mechanic. Here, I call it ‘in-game gambling’ and not just casino-themed gaming because the players win and lose the currency of the world they’re playing in – even if it isn’t real-world fiat money or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Some of the most well-known examples of gambling in computer games would be top-tier titles like Red Dead Redemption 2. In this incredibly detailed Wild West-themed game, you track outlaws, hunt game, and enjoy an evening at the poker tables where you can win or lose your hard-earned in-game stash playing Texas Hold’em.

Fans of the Grand Theft Auto video game series have made GTA 5 a global gaming titan. Since its launch in 2013, it has sold over 200 million copies worldwide and generated nearly $9 billion for developer Rock Star Games.

In 2019, Grand Theft Auto Online, notorious for its insane roleplaying capabilities, released an expansion that added the Diamond Casino and Resort to the world. Here, players could enjoy a host of slot, wheel of fortune games, and table games, including Blackjack, Roulette and 3 Card Poker.

Even Ubisoft's recently released Star Wars Outlaws game features a fast-paced two-card poker variant where you can match values or suits at cantina gaming tables in homage to the classic cantina scene from the original films. While the movie only featured a shoot-out, you get to test your card-playing skills instead.

Oddly enough, several high-profile releases that seemed primed for the inclusion of gambling games didn’t feature any at all – these include the dystopian sci-fi masterpiece Cyberpunk 2077 by software developer CD Projekt Red and space-themed RPG Starfield by Bethesda.

In our post, ‘Unexpected Video Games Where Gambling Meets Fun,' we cover several other exciting games that used gambling mechanics that slipped under the radar. These include pop culture icons like Pokemon, The Sims, and Stardew Valley.

Casino Game Influence on Video Game Design

While the games mentioned above deliver straight-up ‘in-game gambling’ within the context of a video game world, they encompass the popularity of online games of chance has begun to influence how some indie development teams design and develop new video games.

These games don’t offer ‘in-game gambling’; they use casino game mechanics or player engagement techniques to deliver unique gaming experiences.

Here are 6 indie games inspired by casino games:

✓ Balatro:

The developer, LocalThunk, describes Balatro as a “hypnotically satisfying deck-builder” inspired by online poker. Only here do you create what can only be described as “illegal poker hands” using Jokers and insane combos to score points. Each round of the game requires you to score a predetermined minimum number of points to progress.

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“Did you know: The creator of Balatro added a clause to his will stating that even after his death, the game cannot be converted to real money gambling nor can the IP be sold or licensed to a casino company.”

Released on 20 February 2024, Balatro has been a breakout success, having sold over 2 million copies and garnered over 41,000 ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews on the game retailing and rating site Steam.

✓ Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers:

This crazy blackjack-inspired roguelike adventure game dumps you into a seedy tavern where you need to play your way through the level in the card game of your life. Along the way, you will encounter a cast of fantastical characters ranging from dodgy businessmen to dragons.

Your mission is to outwit them all with a combination of savvy blackjack gaming and special cards, including tarot cards, business cards, and more. Build a powerful deck, get lucky with the right hand, and master the dungeon!

With a peak of nearly 38,000 concurrent players and more than 1200 ‘Mostly Positive’ reviews on Steam, this game is proving an incredible way to play blackjack, go dungeon diving, attack enemies, and gather treasures, all without gambling for real money.

✓ Bingle Bingle:

If you are a fan of Roulette and have always thought it would be fun to build your own wheel, then this is the video game for you. The developer Knitting Games describes their release as a ‘roulette builder’ where you “build your own roulette, changing numbers and colours to fit your strategy”.

Each round of the game has you facing off against bosses and requires you to secure increasingly more significant point scores. You achieve this by adding new slots to the roulette wheel, some just with a number that matches your strategy, while others may have special abilities. There is also the option to upgrade the ball and even create new types of bets to ensure you win the round.

Bingle Bingle is a simple yet engaging game with over 344 reviews on Steam and a ‘Very Positive’ rating. It is in early access, so players can look forward to the developer's ongoing additions and expansions.

✓ Buckshot Roulette:

If you are a fan of the macabre games released by NoLimit City, then Buckshot Roulette is right up your dark and scary alley. While in-game money is on the line, the real prize in this shotgun roulette game is your character’s life. The choice is yours as to whether you will double down when you win or see how long you can last in the nerve-wracking Double or Nothing mode.

The title has proven to be a fan favourite with players, garnering praise for its incredible aesthetic, creepy setting, and immersive gameplay. The sound engineering is also top-notch, with amazingly well-designed ambient sounds, on-screen interactions, and OST.

Buckshot Roulette was released in April 2024 and has received over 28,000 ‘Very Positive’ reviews on Steam with an all-time peak of 9067 concurrent players. Best of all, this game will run on very low-spec systems, making it accessible to everyone.

✓ ELECTROBASIS:

Life sims and management games are incredibly popular, and ELECTROBASIS is here to scratch that itch. Take a break from gambling in this “3d dialogue-driven game, sprinkled with platforming and puzzle quests” to help the crazy characters running a dilapidated otherworldly casino.

In this unique world, the end of days has come and gone, and angels walk the earth. However, they have fallen to humanity’s level rather than raising them to theirs. You are one such fallen angel tasked with revamping a Las Vegas casino to make it irresistible to your peers – for fun and profit.

The game boasts a casino and hotel to explore, tons of lore and expositions, a “2010s dance party ending”, and the promise that you will meet at least one rat. Its unique premise and tongue-in-cheek humour are why it garnered a ‘Very Positive’ rating.

✓ Luck Be A Landlord:

Luck Be A Landlord is a surprisingly engaging slot-themed video game. The premise is simple and a direct contradiction to every safer gambling program in the world. The round starts with your landlord emailing you to remind you that your rent is due, and you hit the slots to win the money to pay.

However, like the other games we have covered, you get to build your own reel set by adding symbols that work together to deliver bonuses and special effects. By building complementary symbol sets, you can ensure that each spin delivers some return, so you won't go homeless no matter how high your rent gets.

Luck Be A Landlord is a funny, action-packed, roguelike deck builder that is easy to learn but takes time to master, as evidenced by its nearly 8,700 ‘Very Positive’ reviews. With the number of different symbol sets and their possible combinations, it also invites multiple back-to-back replays.

Discover Video Game Themed Slots

If you prefer your gaming to deliver real-money wins, not just engaging gameplay, why not take a look at our collection of online and mobile slots based on video games?

Here, you will find a world of entertaining slots featuring well-known gaming IP's like Pong, Tomb Raider, Street Fighter 2, Bejeweled and Hitman. These titles can be played at your favourite online casino for fiat money or crypto.