What Impact Has Slingo Had on the Biggest iGaming Trends?

"Slingo" (CC BY-ND 2.0) by MeLY3o

When it comes to gaming, it’s easy to focus on the main brands such as Sony and Nintendo because they have been around for decades pushing the envelope. However, in recent years, it’s been online casinos, otherwise known as iGaming, that have been innovating. And not just for the sake of it.  

The creations the sector has developed are currently affecting iGaming in a significant way. You might not realize it by peering at the surface, but if you look closely enough, you’ll find the scale of the impact of digital wagering establishments, particularly Slingos.  

Genres Working Together  

Rivals tend not to work in harmony because they want the glory for themselves. Recently, though, this has changed, with some of the most successful developments in iGaming stemming from a combination of features. For instance, online casinos have huge libraries, yet slot machines and bingo still stand out as their main money-makers.  

This is because you don’t need to choose between the two any longer since developers took the idea and posed a question – why can’t we just have bingo and slots? After all, they dovetail perfectly because they provide rapid-fire fun and an enjoyable twist on the classic bingo editions. Plus, they can be played in between 90-ball and 75-ball sessions, meaning they don’t get in the way as they fill gaps when players are waiting for rooms to reopen. Lastly, Slingos have a similar setup to most bingo games, with only a few subtle differences, making them easy to play whether you’re an avid fan or a newbie.  

Gaming developers have seen this and ran with the concept. Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG) are currently some of the most in-demand releases on the market, with downloads and sales in the hundreds of millions. They have carved a new lane by combining action and shooter genres with a multiplayer mode that allows gaming communities to interact while indulging in their favorite hobby. Augmented reality software takes this a step further by combining the real world with a virtual one, like in Pokémon Go where users must venture out into their local environments to catch them all.  

Developers Reinventing Libraries  

Reinventing libraries is like reinventing the wheel – why do it when the strategy already works well? The answer is that consumers are no longer content to sit and wait for developers to release their latest installments. They expect large volumes of titles available at the click of a button, and Slingos are the reason why.  

When players land on a gambling website or app, they instantly get access to hundreds, sometimes thousands of offerings, most of which are slot machine-related. Slingos are going even further because industry giants are linking up to add more excitement to their platforms. Gaming Realms and NetEnt, two of the leading lights in the industry, have already negotiated a deal that will see the former recreate NetEnt’s titles in Slingo form.  

With this level of choice, the online casino industry’s competitors can’t sit on their hands and hope for the best. As a result, they are fighting back by taking successful popular culture brands and transforming them into releases that are sure to garner interest. Some of the most iconic examples include The Simpson’s, Spider-Man, and Batman and Robin.  

Consoles Reacting to Change  

There's no doubt that consoles are the king of gaming thanks to their long history of dominance. However, the crown sits a little uneasy on the head now that online casinos have morphed into a global billion-dollar industry and now stand as an equal in the entertainment industry.

The problem is that the likes of Slingos are accessible 24-hours a day regardless of a person’s location. They can be at home or on the train on the way to work, but it doesn’t matter as long as gamers have a mobile device and internet connection. There are more smartphones on the planet than people, so that’s not an issue, and 5G technology means that games are faster and don’t lag.  

Due to this, the manufacturers have had to respond, with Microsoft releasing the xCloud that enables users to pick up where they left off through an app on their handsets. Does Sony have plans to follow suit? Not yet, but if the sector continues to grow at pace, the company will have no choice.  

Essentially, Slingos have had a considerable impact on some of the most significant iGaming trends in recent years as they are essential components of an industry that is innovating and making its rivals very nervous.