This week I spent a couple of days at the Indian Gaming Conference in San Diego, Calif. It was my second year attending, and I’ve quickly grown to love this conference because it tends to be a more relaxed vibe compared to the Global Gaming Expo in the fall.
There’s a lot of activity, and great participation among the various companies that support casinos, but it seems like the various game makers have a bit more flexibility to spend some time with us and share what’s coming up.
On our Facebook and Instagram pages we will soon be showcasing clips from the conference, but here’s a round-up of thoughts from our visit.
The New Monopoly Slot is Here
Aristocrat Gaming picked up the license to make slots based on Monopoly, and their first effort is launching at Yaamava’ Resort Casino in California in a couple of weeks.
Monopoly Big Board Bucks leverages some mechanics familiar to fans of Aristocrat games, but some unique twists add to the occasion to ensure the game has its own feel. You get to choose the piece you play with, just like on the Monopoly board game, and features a mix of the classic and more modern tokens, leveraging some of the things learned from their NFL slots where you can pick a team.
The Monopoly board is front and center during the bonus, with the ability to collect properties, including special features like Go and Free Parking. Multiple upgrades can enhance the game with extra spins and symbols.
Players who enjoy Monopoly will certainly find a lot to like here, as it leverages the recognizable Monopoly themes thoroughly.
Konami is On a Roll
Konami has long been a familiar brand on the casino floor, but recently they’ve been firing on all cylinders. With a new cabinet that casinos have been adding to their floors quickly, and hot new games like Money in the Bank and Bomberman.
Their IGA showcase included an update to the Fortune Bags series which has been popular, as well as Unwooly Super Riches. But they also had new themes like Diggin Bros., and with that line-up on the way it seems like their recent momentum will continue.
Interblock Continues to Disrupt
The AMUSE line from Interblock continues to be something to watch. We have shared details about this here on the site, but they had even more new games to showcase, including an update to Free Fall Roulette that includes the chances for higher multipliers, and an entirely new game that has you attempting to sink ships with a limited number of missiles in a unique format that will break form compared to what’s on casino floors today.
They also showcased a new Class II (bingo machine) format for Craps which follows their launch of Class II Roulette last year. They have been working with Class II-focused Eclipse Gaming to accomplish these milestones, and for players who can’t access table games in tribal gaming markets, these releases continue to be game changing.
Smaller Providers Are Upping Their Game
Speaking of Eclipse, they’ve shown some incredible progress in the past year, making gains in a variety of ways to bring something new to the market. One slot was inspired by how cats knock things off shelves, and turned into an impressively themed and designed slot that will be sure to draw in players.
Gaming Arts, who Brian Christopher worked with to release branded slots such as Brian Christopher’s World Cruise, continue to release increasingly beautiful cabinets and game launches that mix new IP with online slot formats that have brand appeal and bringing them to the in-casino audience.
Bigger Providers Are Leaning Into the Familiar
The biggest players are taking elements of games that players understand and like already and carrying them forward. Sometimes, it’s an incremental step, while other times it takes on a broader transformation.
For instance, at IGT we saw Wheel of Fortune Cash on Reels, which leverages familiar elements from the Tiger and Dragon family while introducing a few new twists, and Magic Rockets, which commingles elements from both Magic Treasures and Rising Rockets into a fun slot that stands on its own.
Similarly, at Light & Wonder we saw Hot Hot Flaming Pots, which adds an upgrade element to bigger multipliers, similar to how Huff N’ Even More Puff added a second wheel, but also Ultimate Fire Link Blazing Dragon, which added some entirely new elements (with two distinct themes with its own elements) along with the addition of a wheel that can vary up the bonus elements.
Takeaway
The gaming industry continues to evolve, and with it, so do the games that appear on the casino floor. Keep an eye on our social media accounts for videos from the conference, and let us know what you want to know more about by submitting your questions!
