iGaming experts dive deeper into the future of the slot machine industry particularly on the innovation within real-money slot features in the coming year.

Slot Machine Innovation

According to Julian Jarvis, CEO of Pragmatic Play, “we’re approaching a new age” in the slot industry, when “many players will place a premium on time spent on the device and producing entertainment during play.” In addition, I believe there will be a greater emphasis on metagame’ aspects in addition to the standard slot action. This will contain tournaments, reward drops, achievements, and races, among other things. Essentially, they are items that keep players engaged and entertained but are not related to each spin or their balance at the bottom of the screen.

This gamification of slot play will be critical, as evidenced by its popularity in other domains such as console gaming or in-app gaming. Typically, the sole indicator used to determine a player’s success during their time on the spot is the balance, but I believe this will change.

Mads Jrgensen, CEO and founder of Lady Luck Games: Players, particularly streamers, have an excellent desire for games that allow them to jump immediately into the action without having to wait for a bonus feature to happen.

Of course, suppliers are occasionally confronted with rules and regulations prohibiting these ‘bypass’ features. However, I believe that several studios will devise novel ways to circumvent the bonus round without actually using the buy option while still satisfying regulators.

I believe we’ll also witness the introduction of new mechanics and features that enhance the excitement and resemblance of slots to video games. Players increasingly expect slot elements to be integrated into the game’s storyline, advancing the tale and providing a sense of accomplishment and growth. It is no longer sufficient to offer a free spins bonus and call it a day.

Vladimir Malakchi, Chief Commercial Officer at Evoplay: In the world of entertainment, it’s always about gamification in its various forms, as players want an all-encompassing gaming encounter contained within a single title.

Modern players are no longer shocked by basic free spins or symbol pairings; instead, they seek out games with many features that allow them to see the slot’s return and opportunities for involvement, rather than simply clicking the spin button and visiting the same screen. Thus, gamification techniques such as tournaments, leaderboards, and competitions, in which users compete for prizes outside of the game, are a viable answer.

Arcangelo Lonoce, head of business development at Habanero: In 2022, we can anticipate a few changes in the industry, mainly due to new legislation governing responsible gaming. Global regulatory requirements facilitate a natural transition toward slots operating differently from their predecessors.

Investing in the peripherals of slot goods, such as storytelling and community features that encourage player interaction, such as leader boards and tournaments, frequently results in developing a sustainable business model capable of retaining a healthy audience.

Mark Claxton, iSoftBet’s head of games: With new games being published every week, providers are looking for new ways to compete and capture a larger piece of the market.

There will always be a core group of players who favor more traditional games with well-known, popular themes and features, making it an appealing proposition to build on existing genres slightly. There is always room for novel concepts and innovations, and I believe we will see plenty of them in the coming year, including some exciting variations on established principles.