Though gambling has been around since the dawn of humanity, casinos have only been around since the 1600s. The first casino opened its doors in Venice, and it was a huge success. Of course, this prompted imitators all over Italy, and pretty soon, all around Europe.
Video games, on the other hand, are a relatively new industry. The first publically available games only began appearing in the late 20th century, and it wasn’t until the home entertainment systems like the Nintendo and SEGA Genesis that video games hit mainstream.
Yet, despite coming centuries apart, casinos and video games have quite a lot of crossover. Indeed, the two have managed to influence each other in many ways. In this article, we explore the influence that each industry has on the other.
Online Casino Games
One of the most obvious influences is the emergence of the online casino. iGaming is now one of the biggest online entertainment industries in the world, and the market would not have existed if casino operators did not take inspiration from video games.
Indeed, if you visit any online casino today, you will find a section marked “Specialty Games.” Here, you can play a whole slew of video-game inspired gambling games, that do not, and could not exist in a land-based casino. The best part is that they are getting a lot more popular, which means we may see more specialty games in the future.
Even without these specialty games, there is no doubt that video games have an effect on how online casinos like https://casinodays.com/en operate. More often than not, casino game developers are the same people who work on popular video games.
Gambling-based Video Games
For the opposite direction, we have to talk about the numerous gambling-inspired video games, that have been dominating the gaming market since its inception. Video games that let you play poker against various characters are nothing new. In fact, they’ve been around since the original home entertainment systems.
Possibly the most high-profile of these games is the World Series of Poker, which is a licensed game inspired by the actual World Series of Poker tournament, that takes place every year. The game has three installments, released between 2005 and 2008.
For a more modern spin on poker, Poker Night at the Inventory is probably the best option. This crossover game brings together characters from Team Fortress 2, Sam & Max, and the Penny Arcade web comic, as they all come together at the gaming inventory for a relaxing game of poker after a long day of work.
Slots Inspired by Video Games
Slot games are the most popular export of online casinos. Indeed, throughout the history of slots, they’ve dominated casinos, both online and land-based. The reason for their success is the fact that slots are incredibly easy to play. All the player has to do is pull a lever (land-based) or press a button (online), and just hope for the best.
While simple, slots can get a bit repetitive, which means some gamblers might get bored quick. So, in order to retain interest, online casino game developers have begun to create “themed” slots. To put it simply; these are slots that use the latest in CGI technology, all the while taking inspiration from popular trends in culture, to create an immersive world, if not immersive gameplay.
Since video games are the hot new entertainment form right now, many slot developers take inspiration from the big titles. It shouldn’t surprise you to find slot games inspired by Call of Duty, Elder Scrolls, Grand Theft Auto, etc. All of these games have had a profound influence on their own industry, as well as on the online gambling industry.
The Casino Aesthetic in Video Games
Casinos have always been known for a certain aesthetic and atmosphere. When the first casino was built, way back in the 17th century, the establishment was only open to the social elites. That means that the market had to appeal to a very specific demographic of rich, sophisticated, and high-class people.
Of course, this sort of classism and elitism has since disappeared from the gambling world. While some casinos may still have dress codes, they are not nearly as strict as they once were. Anyone could find themselves to a nice gambling establishment, and play their favorite games.
But, the casino atmosphere and aesthetic remains a key aspect of gambling. Though it has changed significantly since the original casinos, a trace of that remains, and it plays a key role in inspiring video games.
A lot of video games set their main story in a casino. The biggest example of this would be Fallout: New Vegas, which takes place in the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas (the remnants of Las Vegas). Naturally, there are plenty of casinos, and the main character must navigate all of them in order to accomplish his goals.
Final Fantasy 7, one of the most iconic JRPG titles of all time has the Gold Saucer casino, which offers players a small respite from the demanding task of saving the entire planet. Of course, the GTA franchise is full of casinos that you can visit and play at, most notable the Diamond Casino, which is a staple of the series.
The Future of Casinos and Video Games
A lot of people may be wondering what the future holds for casinos and video games. The improvements in tech has created a customer base that like convenience. Many are looking for games that match them perfectly, which is becoming harder to do in a world where both gaming and gambling are such a hit.
For example, the iGaming industry has had quite a bit of success with the introduction of specialty games. These video game-inspired casino options have elevated the industry to new heights. Of them, the most popular one right now are Fishing Games. However, if operators want to emulate their success, they might produce even more casino games based around popular video games.
On the other hand, it is highly unlikely that video game developers will stop taking inspiration from casinos, especially now that gambling has become a lot more mainstream. We may see more games centering around casinos, gambling, and maybe even heists.
