What Are Some of the Top Sci-Fi Games Offered by Australian Casinos?

Science fiction is a very specific and interesting movie genre. It is usually set in a future or alternative universe where incredible technological or mental/magical capabilities are available to the characters. This allows writers to naturally up the stakes of any story and make it bigger than life. High stakes make scenes more gripping and stories intense. This is why gambling is also used in stories and scripts.

Gambling is also a common hobby, so to make this fictional setting more believable, writers develop unique games of luck that rely on cards or game pieces like dice. Similarly, casino game developers love to use Sci-Fi themes to make their content more appealing. The following article will give you an overview of gaming preferences in Australia and some top Sci-Fi casino games that are available there. 

Australian Gambling Preferences

When it comes to casino games, Aussies really love to play pokies or slots. They have access to both local casinos and offshore gambling sites, so there are lots of options available when it comes to slots. Of course, they take their time picking an operator, as it’s in their best interest to play on reputable websites. They often pick one of the highest paying online casino platforms available because they are interested in different promotions. Alternatively, they gamble in land-based entertainment hubs with poker rooms and sports betting options.

Land-based arcades often have unique machines that aren’t like traditional slots. They offer a more gamified gambling experience. A lot of these arcades do resemble Sci-Fi movies, and we will likely see more innovation on this front. It’s even possible for them to become available online at some point.

Top Sci-Fi Casino Games

Regarding online casinos, the only Sci-Fi games Aussies play are slots. That being said, it doesn't mean that all of these have the same game mechanics and different themes. Nowadays, there are different versions of slots with more refined scoring systems and symbol interactions. These unique symbol interactions and bonus rounds are features that game developers use to make a slot that references the original IP.

Some of the highly acclaimed Sci-Fi slots are typically themed after popular franchises:

• Battlestar Galactica by Microgaming
• Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan by Betsoft Gaming
• Star Wars: Spinout - These are no longer available as Disney has now acquired the franchise.

Although online casinos have limited options, the same cannot be said for their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Gambling arcades offer plenty of Sci-Fi games modified so you can wager money on them.  This isn’t too surprising since it was speculated for years that casinos would add video games. They want to make their offer more appealing to young adults who grew up playing video games and watching these Sci-Fi movies.

The Relationship Between Sci-Fi and Gambling

Gambling is very prevalent in Sci-Fi movies. In some cases, it is even at the core of the plotline. A good example would be “Hunger Games”. A dystopian society where people fight like gladiators in an annual event. They even get evaluated, and odds of victory are assigned to them. Later the competitors try to impress bettors to improve their odds and get more sponsors. It’s kind of similar to sports teams we have today, which also want to land more sponsorship deals and continue to grow.

Another movie, “In Time”, uses lifespan as currency for everything, so people often gamble there, hoping to increase their life expectancy. As stated, gambling is a great writing tool to create intense and high-stakes situations that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Other cases include Star Wars and the game Sabacc which is an excellent little detail for world-building. Moreover, in Episode I, Qui-Gon Jinn managed to free Anakin from Tatooine by betting on a race. This way, they turned this annual racing event into a destiny-defining moment.

Over-the-top action and storylines are staples in Sci-Fi movies. To have epic moments of joy and triumph, characters must undergo trials and prevail in high-stakes situations. This is why gambling fits naturally into these stories. It’s also an excellent tool for building characters, as writers want to have a diverse group. A shifty risk-taker or an outlaw is a great archetype, so a gambling scene is used to introduce this character to the audience.

What Did the Research Find About Australian Gambling Preferences?

For young gamers, stories and characters are incredibly important for enjoying this entertainment. Of course, other core mechanics, challenging gameplay, and itemisation also play a central role. These are some of the main reasons why Sci-Fi settings are often used in video games. Additionally, many of these features are absent from traditional casino entertainment, so young gamers don’t gravitate toward that content very often.

In a study conducted in 2016, there was no significant correlation between playing video games and enjoying gambling. The only thing that study has uncovered is that age has a significant correlation with gaming addiction and with gambling frequency. This might be one of the reasons why casinos are banking on the theme of the pokies to attract young adults, but rather on how to turn popular Sci-Fi games into gambling content.

Lastly, Sci-Fi and epic fantasy worlds have their unique gambling content. Triad Cards from Battlestar Galactica, Sabacc from Star Wars, and Gwent from The Witchers are just some examples. It’s more likely for big casino brands to buy rights to some of these games and market them as their unique content.