Online Gambling

Predictions for the Future of iGaming

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

For any industry, being able to spot trends and plan for the future is an essential part of success. Large organizations pay huge sums of money to analyze and predict consumer behavior to inform their upcoming business strategy. The iGaming industry is no different, and each year people make predictions as to what the upcoming year may bring.

2020 was a strange year for iGaming and the world as a whole as a pandemic gripped the world and many countries enforced shutdowns. This led to the postponement of sports and the closure of retail casinos, affecting both sports betting and brick and mortar casino gaming. On the other hand, online casinos saw their profits increase as more people than ever signed up to play.

While it’s impossible to know what the future holds for 2021, we can make some educated predictions as to what the year may hold based on current trends and recent events. Below are some of the top predictions from industry experts relating to the iGaming industry in 2021.

Industry Growth

The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people choosing to gamble online, and it’s expected for this to continue to grow. 2020 saw the emergence of the COVID virus which has meant that non-essential businesses have had to close their doors, including many sportsbooks and casinos. This has led to a growing number of gamblers signing up for online sites, and this growth will no doubt continue into 2021 as lockdowns persist across the world.

The online gambling industry has been predicted to grow at a CAGR of 11.5%, reaching a $127.3 billion value by 2027. This growth is partly thanks to the increasing number of gambling brands that are moving online as well as the availability of mobile gaming. In 20202, around 3 billion people had access to a smartphone, and a large percentage of those regularly used their phones to play games. With more gambling sites optimizing for mobile use, 2021 will no doubt see an increase in the number of people signing up to play and bet from their phones or tablets.

New Payment Methods Including Adoption of Cryptocurrency

Making payments at online gambling sites is often a significant barrier of entry for a lot of potential players. While most sites try to make the payment process as simple as possible, there are often still a lot of hoops that the customer needs to jump through to make a deposit. On top of security concerns, this often puts off a lot of would-be online gamblers, leading to lower revenues.

The iGaming industry is always looking for ways to improve the payment process, and as a result, we predict that 2021 will see several changes in how payments can be made. Services like Trustly offer a more secure method for online payments and provide peace of mind to consumers as well as making the payment process much simpler. As these services grow in popularity, we expect to see more online casinos and sportsbooks accepting them as payment methods.

Cryptocurrency had a great year in 2020 as coins such as Bitcoin surged in popularity and significantly increased in value. This rise in value was partly thanks to PayPal now allowing cryptocurrencies to be bought and sold through its platform and will potentially lead to wider adoption of these digital currencies. At the moment, major cryptocurrencies are accepted by only a few gambling sites and not many of the major brands. In 2021, this is expected to change as more sites start to see the value in accepting crypto payments and will even offer withdrawals in major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

More focus on eSports Betting

eSports were some of the few competitions which were largely unaffected by the global shutdown in 2020. While major sports leagues such as the NBA, NFL and Premier League all closed down temporarily, eSports were able to continue online. This brought the spotlight onto a sport that’s been gradually increasing its market share in the past few years.

eSports have gone from a relatively fringe event to a mainstream hobby recently. It has gained further legitimacy from sportsbooks that now offer markets on lots of different eSports events. When sports bettors had reduced options to bet on, they found that eSports were still available and the number of eSports bets placed during this period rose significantly. It remains to be seen whether this will cause an increase in the number of eSports fans, but considering the sport has been growing steadily in popularity, we expect it to continue.

With major sports leagues potentially facing more shutdowns in 2021, we expect that more sportsbooks will start to offer markets on eSports events as they’ll be keen to avoid further losses in revenue. Major eSports competitions are expected to continue online, for now, avoiding any major disruption to schedules.

Expanding Markets in Indian and Latin America

The Indian iGaming market is currently worth an estimated $930 million and is going through a period of rapid growth. The market’s total value is expected to quadruple over the next decade, putting it as one of the largest gambling markets in the world. There’s a growing interest among Indians in traditional sports betting as well as eSports betting and casino gaming. The market is still relatively new with little saturation and plenty of opportunities for companies to grow provided they have one of the accepted licenses to operate in the country.

Latin America, particularly Brazil and Colombia, are also emerging and showing potential for growth in iGaming. Colombia was the first Latin American country to fully legalize and regulate online gambling in 2016. Growing demand for sports betting and other forms of gambling mean the country is an excellent opportunity for iGaming businesses. Brazil’s gambling market has largely been illegal, but recent years have seen the introduction of new regulations, and the country looks poised to allow online gambling. It’s worth noting that Brazil has the fourth-highest number of internet users in the world, showing the massive potential for iGaming growth in the country.

Final Thoughts

After an unusual 2020, there’s still a lot of uncertainty over how 2021 will look. What we can expect, however, is that the online iGaming industry will continue growing and developing. The growth of the mobile market is another big factor as more sites optimise for mobile users and include mobile-only features. With growth into new markets and emerging demand for eSports betting, the future looks bright for online iGaming.

A Look Inside An Esports Tournament

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Esports has become one of the fastest-growing markets of the past decade. Data analytics firm Newzoo describes esports as the “biggest thing in the tech market since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007.”

The term ‘esports’ simply refers to electronic sports. It is used to describe competitive gaming at a professional level, with the best esports athletes often regarded as the best globally in their respective fields. Esports simply converts video game playing into a playing sport, with viewership running into hundreds of thousands. In some cases, it involves individuals. Most times, however, it involves teams. Young people are the major participants in esports since they can earn while playing their favorite video games.

Like traditional sports, esports makes money via branding, advertisements, and sales from merch. The global eSports industry raked in over $950 million in 2020. The esports market is projected to grow rapidly in a few years and it is estimated that the revenue will increase to $1.6 billion by 2023.

How Does Esports Work?

Esports tourname n ts are organized, professionals compete, they win, and that’s the end. However, there are several rules and regulations that players must abide by, but the rules are not complex.

It starts with the formation and funding of an esports team, this is particularly important because self-sponsored teams may not be allowed to participate in tournaments and competitions.

Like any other sport, the goal of esports players is to be the best among the best. Esports athletes are contracted to play, just like a footballer or basketball, and the teams practice and play games just like traditional sports. Depending on the game, several tournaments and events are hosted yearly with six-figure winnings up for grabs, and even up to a million sometimes.

How Is Esports Organized?

Unlike traditional sports where there is usually one professional league for each sport, esports has multiple leagues for each game. Additionally, there are specific consoles for specific esports leagues. For instance, the Call of Duty World League involves playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 specifically on the PlayStation 4 console.

Other leagues like the European Gaming League (EGL), Cybergamer, and Ultimate Battle are specific to a particular region. Ultimate Battle is played locally in India, and the EGL is played in Europe, including the UK, while Cybergamer is specific to the Oceania Region including New Zealand and Australia.

Despite this, esports is international in every sense of the word, so it’s only normal that international leagues are established. An excellent example of this kind of league is the Electronic Sports League which was established in 2000 and is headquartered in Cologne, Germany. It is the biggest esports organization globally.

There are two ways to access esports games. Players can attend the live event where they have to purchase a ticket. Another viable alternative is to stream the event. This is usually done via Twitch.tv, Youtube Gaming, or Mixer. The Esports Calendar is a comprehensive resource for finding the esports events taking place.

Some of the most popular esports tournaments include:

The International Dota2 Championships
Evolution Championship Series
Halo World Championships
Major League Gaming
League of Legends World Championships
Intel Extreme Masters
Capcom Pro Tour
Call of Duty Championship

Esports Formats

There are several esports tournaments for all kinds of games. However, there are 4 major categories that every esports game falls under. They include:

First-person Shooter

This involves using weapons and strategy to achieve tactical goals which can range from defense to shooting as many people as possible. It can be played as an individual arena-style contest as seen in games like Overwatch and Halo, or it can be in the form of a team-based fight as represented in Call of Duty and Counterstrike.

Fighting games

Combat games have always been a popular feature in couch-based competitions and arcade battles. These games involve mixed martial art and players deploy a combo of timing, positioning, fundamentals, and special skills to defeat opponents. This is represented in games like Street Fighter and SuperSmash.

Real-time Strategy

This involves a combination of strategic planning and swift decision making. Players have to manage resources, develop structures, mount defenses, and launch attacks. This is represented in games like Warcraft III, StarCraft: Brood War, and StarCraft II.

Multiplayer online battle arena

Gotten from a combination of the strategic planning and tactical attack of Real-time Strategy and the individual skills in First-Person Shooter, MOBAs shifts the RTS action to smaller divisions of even stronger units- generally referred to as Heroes, each handled by one player, then the struggle is converted into an opportunity for team play. “Dota (Defense of the Ancients)”, “Dota 2” and “League of Legends”.

Esports Betting

There are several ways of betting on esports. Esports betting is fast becoming a popular betting feature in many sportsbooks.

Real-money Betting

Similar to traditional wagers on sports like football, bets are placed on specific odds. If the predictions are correct, your winnings will be paid out. Bets can be placed on several outcomes such as the winners of individual matches and tournament winners.

Some of the most popular types of real-money eSports bets include:

Draw: Here, you are betting on whether the outcome of the match will result in a draw.
Group of Winner: Wagers are placed on the group that includes the final winner.
Handicap bet: Here, a sportsbook sets a margin, otherwise known as a line. This gives an unfavorable team a ‘handicap advantage’. So you have to bet on the winner of the game, whether it’s the team with the handicap advantage or the other team.
Tournament winner: Wagers are placed on the overall winner of the tournament.
Over/Under: You place bets on the number predicted by the sportsbook for a specific statistic in the game. Wagers are placed on whether the actual number is higher or lower than the bookmaker’s odds.

Fantasy Betting

Fantasy betting is another way of betting on esports. It works just like daily fantasy sports for traditional sports, but this features esports athletes instead.

Sources

Gerbis, Nicholas. “How Professional Gaming Works.” How Stuff Works. Aug 6, 2016. (Dec. 3,2020)
https://money.howstuffworks.com/professional-gaming.htm
De la Navarre, Tristan “Esports Tournaments & Leagues Guide” Line Ups. June 5, 2020. (Dec 4, 2020)
https://www.lineups.com/esports/esports-tournaments-leagues-guide/
De la Navarre, Tristan “eSports Teams & Players: How eSports Teams Work” Line Ups. July 15, 2020. (Dec 4, 2020) https://www.lineups.com/esports/esports-teams-players/
“eSports market revenue worldwide from 2018 to 2023.” Statistica. Oct. 13, 2020 (Dec4, 2020) https://www.statista.com/statistics/490522/global-esports-market-revenue/
“HOW TO BET ON ESPORTS: UNDERSTANDING ODDS AND MARKETS” https://esportbet.com/how-to-bet/
“An Expert’s Guide to Esports Betting in 2020” https://www.gamblingsites.com/esports-betting/

Your Weekly Best New Slots | Week 52 / December 21 – 27, 2020

February 22, 2024 William Mcmaster

Fascinating New Slots To Try This Week

We scoured the entire slot industry to find some fascinating new slots for you to try this week. Despite the holiday rush, software providers managed to release some of the best new slots this week which are quite interesting.

First to catch our attention is a Halloween-themed slot with Unlimited free spins. It also has a Super Stake option that lets you double your bet in exchange for some game enhancer.

Another slot with a similar somewhat-of-a-bonus-buy feature is Aztec Gold: Extra Gold Megaways. That’s not the only one this slot has to offer though. It’s a Megaways slot, to begin with, and it’s packed with features that you’ll definitely enjoy.

Last on our list is a slot that uses ReelPlay’s famous Infinity Reels. Aside from the famed mechanism, Crystal Wolf Infinity Reels boast of win multipliers and a bonus game.

We have our own favorite among these three fascinating new slots this week. However, we won’t tell you what it is so as not to influence your own judgment. As always, we’ll walk you through these slots and let you decide which one fits your taste.

3 New Slots To Check Out

Our selection of fascinating new slots this week came from developers Stakelogic, iSoftBet, and Boomerang Studios. Let’s explore each of these slot’s features and find out which one you like best.

Voodoo Reels

When there’s an almost global holiday like Christmas, game developers normally release slots with themes that fit the season. So, it’s fascinating when we see new slots going rebellious with an off-season theme, and this week Stakelogic did that. This developer not only serves an unsuited-for-the-season slot but also one that’s a perfect fit for Halloween.

Voodoo Reels is a spooky yet enjoyable slot with a 5×3 game area and 10 paylines. Gnarled, eerie-looking tree trunks frame the grid with creepy shrunken heads hanging on one protruding branch. More of these trees lurk in the gloomy swamp-like background that looks rather disturbing. The ghostly soundtrack fits perfectly, completing the scary but fun atmosphere.

On the lower portion of the paytable are wooding with the 10 to A card symbols carvings. High-paying symbols consist of skulls, crosses, candles, and a man with a top hat. At least three matching combinations on a payline awards a win with the exception of the man with a hat. He and the voodoo doll wild symbol pay with only two of a kind in view. The wild symbol as usual substitutes for all other symbols except for the scatters to form winning combinations.

Voodoo Reels Slot Features

Stakelogic throws in some fantastic features in Voodoo Reels to help improve your winnings. One of those is the pick and click feature. To trigger this, you need to collect six yarn symbols that appear at random during the base game. Once the feature is triggered, three voodoo dolls will appear, and picking any one doll gives either of these rewards:

Wild Mixer Feature awards 3 free spins and 2 to 6 wilds positioned at random per spin.
Sticky Voodoo Feature awards 3 free spins and sticky symbols picked at random before each spin.

Another feature to expect is the free spins feature. If 3, 4, or 5 voodoo doll scatter symbols land, you’ll receive 6, 8, or 10 free spins, respectively. The free spins also come with 0.2x, 2x, or 20x win multiplier, respectively. Once you’re done playing the regular bonus round, the Unlimited Free Spins feature follows. During this feature, reels 2 to 4 play host to huge symbols 3×3 in size. The feature ends after you collected 3 voodoo symbols.

Voodoo Reels also has a Super Stake option. You have the choice to double your bet in exchange for certain benefits on the game. When Super Stake is active, the pick and click feature gets triggered at random. This theoretically improves the game’s result than playing with the base bet price.

Number of Paylines: 10	RTP: 96.49%
Min Bet: 0.10	Max Bet: 200
Max Payout: N/A	Software Provider: Stakelogic

Aztec Gold: Extra Gold Megaways

Developer iSoftbet’s Aztec Gold Megaways makes a comeback this week carrying new betting options in Aztec Gold: Extra Gold Megaways. The game sports a warm inviting color, and the sparkling golden hue seems to promise big returns. Adding to the attraction is its upbeat mystifying soundtrack.

The game has 6 reels with 2 to 7 rows, typical of a Megaways engine. When all reels display a maximum of 7 rows, win ways reach up to 117,649. On the lower side of the paytable is the 9 to A card royals sporting a gemstone each. The higher side has eagles, jaguars, snakes, and an Aztec man.

Aside from the highest-paying symbol which only needs two, all the others require three matching symbols to score a win. Special symbols enhancing the gameplay are the wild and the Sun Disc scatter. The wild can land only on reels 2 to 5 and substitutes for any other symbols save for the scatter.

Aztec Gold: Extra Gold Megaways Slot Features

Most of the features of the original return with the cascade feature on the lead, this being a Megaways slot. As all slot enthusiasts know, this clears the game area of winning symbols to make way for new ones. The feature ends when no new winning combinations land on the reel.

Also making a comeback is the Max Megaways feature which forces the grid to its full capacity during the base game. Another favorite from the original is the Sun Disc Boost which may throw additional scatters before each spin starts. This increases the chance of triggering the free spin feature.

The last feature to return is the Aztec Gold Respins. At least 5 Sun Disc scatters landing at the cascade’s end during the default mode triggers this feature. Among the elements that come with this feature are multipliers and three jackpot symbols. You can win the Mini, Major, or Mega jackpot for 30x, 100x, or 1,000x the stake, respectively.

New Elements Added

The newer version doesn’t come with only the old features to offer. There are some new ones to look forward to as well like the Mystery Symbols. When this feature is active, several step pyramid symbols may appear on the reel and transform into identical symbols.

There’s also the Extra Gold Button which increases your bet by 25% for Cash Respins should 4 scatters land instead of 5.

The third and final addition is the Aztec Bet, which has 2 forms:

100x your stake triggering the usual Cash Respins.
150x your stake triggering Max Megaways Cash Respins.

With the best old elements mixed with few amazing additions, this game is indeed one of the fascinating new slots out there this week.

Number of Paylines: 64 to 117,649 ways	RTP: 96%
Min Bet: 0.20	Max Bet: 20
Max Payout: 20,000x	Software Provider: iSoftBet

Crystal Wolf Infinity Reels

Boomerang Studios made use of ReelPlay’s fascinating Infinity Reels for the new addition to its library of slots this week. Crystal Wolf Infinity Reels begins with a 3×3 grid awarding wins for 3 matching symbols from left to right. When you hit a win, you’ll get an additional reel on the right and another one if the spin results in a win again. This sequence will stop when no new matching symbols land, and the grid goes back to the initial 3×3 size.

The game has an eerie-looking background somewhat reminiscent of The Nightmare Before Christmas. The transparent game area houses the crystal-like symbols including card suits, which comprise the lower end of the paytable. Premiums include wolves, eagles, owls, deer, and trees. There’s no wild to expect, but there are special symbols and other features to help with the win rate.

Aside from the Infinity Reels mechanism, the base game also boasts of a win multiplier of x1. This increases by +1 when a paw symbol appears and gets back to the initial x1 on fresh spins.

When a spin sequence ends with three moon scatters in view, you’ll get 3 free spins. This marks the start of the bonus game. You’ll play at an empty grid with 15 tiles. When a moon lands on a spin, you’ll receive an extra spin, and the moon locks into position. The bonus game ends when you run out of free spins or the tiles get filled. When the round ends, the locked moons will show a prize from 1x to 50x your stake, which will then be tallied up.

Number of Paylines: N/A	RTP: 95.63%
Min Bet: 0.25	Max Bet: 100
Max Payout: N/A	Software Provider: Boomerang Studios

Conclusion

That wraps up our selection of the best new slots this week. With features like Unlimited Free Spins, Megaways engine, and Infinity Reels, we hope you find one element that you like best.

With one week left this year, we’re curious if there’s at least one in next week’s slot that will end the year with a bang. If you’re wondering as well, then don’t forget to check our site for news of the upcoming slots week in and week out.

Kansspelautoriteit Poised to Liberate Dutch Gambling Market

February 23, 2024 William Mcmaster

The Netherlands’ Gambling Authority, Kansspelautoriteit, is moving towards liberalizing the country’s gambling market. For the longest time, the Holland Casino holds a monopoly in the Netherlands’ offline gambling market. Meanwhile, the government prohibits online gambling. Things are about to shift, though, with the implementation of Kansspelautoriteit law changes in 2021.

Kansspelautoriteit Brief History

The KSA (Kansspelautoriteit) is the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ independent gambling regulatory authority. Founded on April 1, 2012, it supervises and regulates gambling in the Kingdom’s European part.

While the Minister of Justice and Security handles gambling policy, it’s the KSA’s task to ensure its implementation. Thus, the KSA enforces the Wet op de kansspelen (Betting and Gaming Act of 1964) and other legislation.

The KSA is working on implementing the latest legislation, the Remote Gambling Act, approved by the Senate on February 19, 2019. This will pave the way for liberalization, breaking the country’s gambling monopoly in the process.

Kansspelautoriteit To Open Netherlands’ Online Gambling Market in 2021

While online gambling is prohibited in the Netherlands, the Dutch gamblers find a way through offshore gambling providers. This leaves them susceptible to unfair play with no online gambling laws in their own country to protect them. Thus, the need for reform in the Kansspelautoriteit laws is in order.

It’s been a long time coming, but the government finally approved the Remote Gambling Act that will come into force in 2021. The new legislation will allow operators to apply for an online gambling license to offer legal services in the Netherlands. The Kingdom now opens its doors not only to operators in the land but also the offshore ones.

Some Dutch Gambling Companies Waiting

Shortly after the House of Representatives passed the legislation in 2016, Dutch gambling companies took steps in preparation for it. As early as 2017, some companies swam over the shores of Malta and set up their operations in the small country.

Most of them only own entertainment arcades in the Netherlands because of Holland Casino’s monopoly of the Dutch gambling market. They wanted to be ready when the Dutch market opened up for competition. Hence, they chose to set up operations in another country early on.

With its well-regulated gambling laws, high-class infrastructure, and EU membership, Malta is an ideal location. These companies also hope to win the KSA’s approval with them having a Maltese license in hand.

Quite A Number Of International Gambling Companies Interested

Since one of KSA’s tasks is to issue the license, the regulatory authority announced an interested registration period in June 2019. The announcement is an invitation to international gambling firms who are interested to operate in the Netherlands. All interested parties then filled the I want to become a Kansspelautoriteit license holder on the gaming authority’s website.

The KSA revealed the number of interested parties totaled 79. This gives them an idea of the number of licensing applications to expect when the Remote Gambling Act comes into force. With 79 companies answering the call on such short notice in 2019, the KSA might just be in for a significant number of licensing applications to process in 2021.

Kansspelautoriteit Taking Calculated Steps

The gambling industry is a witness to how busy Kansspelautoriteit has been these days. The Netherlands’ Gaming Authority has been all over the place, signing MoU after MoU among other things.

There are still months left before the Netherlands Remote Gaming Act enters into force. However, the Kansspelautoriteit has already been signing several memoranda of understanding with other regulators.

So far, it secured MoU with the following gambling regulatory authority:

MGA – Malta Gaming Authority
Spelinspektionen – Swedish Gambling Regulator
ANJ – L’Autorité Nationale des Jeux, French National Gaming Authority

The agreement provides an open communication channel between the regulatory authorities for the common good. The said authorities agreed to share information and best practices and engage in policy discussion. Ultimately, their common goal is to provide a better gambling environment in the entire industry.

The gambling community also witnessed over the years how the KSA has been cracking down on violators of its gambling laws. Its collected fines in October 2019 totaled 3.5 million, a significant increase to its 1.9 million total in 2018. This year, Kansspelautoriteit partnered with tech giant Facebook in combating illegal gambling.

All these actions could be KSA’s effort to clear the way for the implementation of its Remote Gambling Act in 2021. It seems it is leaving no stones unturned, making sure the legislation will not experience any major bumps on the road.

The Effect of KSA’s New Regulatory Framework To The Gambling Community

Fellow Regulators

The KSA is forming strong partnerships with its fellow regulators for the common cause of fighting unlawful gambling practices. As such, the KSA’s recent actions with regard to strict online gambling restrictions are not something that can directly harm its fellow regulators. In addition, almost all other gambling regulators are gearing towards stricter laws and regulations.

One regulator that will suffer is Curacao. Interestingly, Curacao like the Netherlands belongs to the 4 nations that make up the Kingdom of the Netherlands. With Curacao succumbing to the pressure of the Netherlands regarding gambling rules, the country might just lose some of its licensees.

Operators

Online gambling operators are always interested in offering services to as many nations as possible. So, the Netherlands’ door opening up to online gambling means a new market that operators can exploit.

With regard to Kansspelautoriteit implementing strict laws, operators are well aware of how strict the Dutch gambling laws can get. Because almost all rules are being laid out before the legislation takes effect, operators have an idea what to expect once they become licensees. They can either agree to abide by the rules and get a license or look for an open market elsewhere.

Players

According to KSA, all new licensees must be registered at the Central Exclusion Registry (Cruks). The said registry will give the players the freedom to choose only those online gambling companies which they trust. With this system, the KSA expects to weed out those operators who are practicing an unjust and unfair play. As shady online casinos grow in number as much as the reputable ones, the KSA claims such a registry will help combat the problem. Thus, it is in the best interest of the players.

Final Thoughts

A new well-regulated gambling framework is always a welcome addition to the online gambling community. In its entirety, the KSA’s actions in preparation for 2021’s Remote Gambling Act implementation won’t harm the industry. In fact, legal and trustworthy casinos may benefit from it all. The Kansspelautoriteit is making an all-out effort to plan the smooth implementation of the legislation. However, it’s flawless execution remains to be seen.

Your Weekly Best New Slots | Week 43

February 23, 2024 William Mcmaster

Terrific New Slots To Explore This Week

The ever-tireless slot game developers give online players another treat with their offerings of terrific new slots this week.

Prepare to have an adventure of a lifetime with the best new slots this week. Get a tattoo from a Mysterious Lady or travel back to Imperial Russia and meet a Royal Family. If those don’t sound adventurous enough, how about accompanying Tarzan in his heroic quest?

You can also choose to go to Ancient Egypt and help the souls of the dead go back to their tombs. Better yet, go straight to the world of the Denizens and meet the God of the Underworld.

5 New Slots To Check Out

Our list of the best new slots this week are from Microgaming and Gameburger Studios, Pragmatic Play and Reel Kingdom, Play’n GO, Yggdrasil Gaming, and Red Tiger. Let’s explore the terrific new slots these top developers present to us this week.

Tarzan and The Jewels of Opar

Gameburger Studios takes us on a jungle adventure in its new Microgaming-powered slot, Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar. Paying homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs’ masterpiece, the theme does not deviate at all from the book.

The 5 x 3 grid with 20 fixed paylines is set in a clearing at the heart of a forest surrounded by lush greenery. To win, you’ll need at least three adjacent matching symbols from left to right.

The paytable has 4 pay symbols each on the low and high side. Our vine-swinging jungle man pays the highest for five of a kind. A panther represents the wild, and completing the symbols are the Jackpot and Free Spin scatters.

What made us decide to include Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar in our list of terrific new slots this week is its 3 amazing features.

Random Wild Feature. Tarzan does his vine-swinging moves once or more times randomly at any spin, dropping 2 wild symbols at the least. This can potentially fill the reels with wild giving you huge-win chances.
Free Spins Feature. Landing 3 free spin scatter symbols on reels 2, 3, and 4 triggers the free spin features. This activates the Feature Wheel, which gives 10 to 30 spin chances. All wins except for the jackpot scatter wins have accompanying multipliers of up to x10.
Jackpot Feature. A purple-colored jewel scatter can land on any reel and 3 or more of these awards you a cash prize from 2 to 10,000.

Number of Paylines: 20	RTP: 96.38%
Min Bet: 0.20	Max Bet: 20
Max Payout: 5,000x	Software Provider: Microgaming / Gameburger Studios

Return of the Dead

Reel Kingdom’s Return of the Dead is a slot game in the “Book of” category. The game transports you to Ancient Egypt where you’ll see the majestic pyramids bathed in sunlight.

Its grid of 5 reels and 3 rows with 10 paylines will remind you of the walls of this ancient land’s tombstones. You can trigger the payout with three of a kind for the lower-paying symbols from the left reel onwards. You need two of a kind of the top-paying symbols to win. The papyrus book is both a wild and a scatter symbol. Acting as a wild, it substitutes for any symbol to form a combination and awards up to 500x for five of a kind.

When the book acts as a scatter, it awards 2x, 20x, or 200x the stake when 3, 4, or 5 are in view respectively. This also awards 10 free spins. A pay symbol is chosen randomly to act as a special symbol before the free spin round begins. During the round, this chosen symbol vertically expands to cover the 3 rows of the reel giving you more big winning chances.

What makes this Pragmatic Play-powered slot differ from those in this popular theme is its way higher RTP of 96.71%. This is enough reason to explore this newest addition to the long line of slots in this familiar category.

Number of Paylines: 10	RTP: 96.71%
Min Bet: 0.10	Max Bet: 250
Max Payout: 5,000x	Software Provider: Pragmatic Play / Reel Kingdom

Madame Ink

A salute to the terrific work of tattoo artists, Play’n GO’s new addition to their library of slots this week showcases the art of tattooing. This top developer doesn’t stop on the tattoo theme alone, it gives Madame Ink an Asian feel too.

The game has a 5×3 grid with a game area that shouts China. Even the winning symbols have a mix of tattoo elements and Chinese symbols. The rules to win are pretty easy to understand with 243 ways to win instead of paylines. Three or more matching adjacent symbols scores a win from left to right regardless of reel position.

A dragon-headed ink jar represents the wild. At random, this can trigger the Wild Ink Feature where the wild expands and turns all the respective reel’s symbols wild. There is also Madame’s Mystery Reel that lands randomly on the center reel and turns into 3-stack-high premium-paying symbols.

An S-shaped serpent is the scatter that triggers the free spins when three land on the reel. You have three free spin variations to choose from.

12 Free Spins. Wild Ink feature without Madame’s Mystery Reel.
6 Free Spins. Madame’s Mystery Reel without Wild Ink.
3 Free spins. Both Madame’s Mystery Reel and Wild Ink Features are active.

Play’n GO successfully combined two different themes in Madame Ink. Giving it their dependable slot stats, this is one of the terrific new slots that’s worth exploring this week.

Number of Paylines: 243 win ways	RTP: 96.21%
Min Bet: 0.10	Max Bet: 100
Max Payout: 5,000x	Software Provider: Play’n GO

Hades Gigablox

Yggdrasil Gaming will drag you to the Underworld to meet its king in Hades Gigablox. You need not worry though as you’re guaranteed to be bedazzled instead of horrified.

An impressive cinematic introduction greets you before the God of the Underworld appears to welcome you to his kingdom. There, you’ll find a giant 6×6 game area. It only has 50 paylines, but the Gigablox feature gives you a fairly good chance of triggering wins.

The Hades Wild Hunt Feature is something to look forward to. At random, Hades leaps into action and decides to battle the monstrous-looking symbols on the reels. All defeated monsters turn into wild.

Hades Wild Hunt also plays an important role during the free spin. Five or more scatter symbols activate the free spin, awarding you with a number of spins equal to the number of scatters on the reel. The Hades Wild Hunt feature comes into play on every spin. Each defeated monster awards the Multiplier Bar a +1 point, increasing the multiplier from x1 to x10.

Yggdrasil created a praise-worthy slot on Hades Gigablox. This slot game is downright entertaining and enjoyable, you’ll never get bored once you start playing it.

Number of Paylines: 50	RTP: 96%
Min Bet: 0.10	Max Bet: 100
Max Payout: 11,129x	Software Provider: Yggdrasil Gaming

Golden Tsar

Red Tiger ushers you to a Russian Royal Family’s abode and lets you have a feel of their lavish way of living. From its graphics to its soundtrack, Golden Tsar’s is oozing with opulence.

The game’s 6×4 grid stands proud at what looks like a ballroom of a great house. Two or three of a kind from the left reel of its 30 fixed paylines score you a win.

The 10 to A royals are on the low-pay side. The high-side consists of the members of the royal family.

You have no wilds to expect on this slot game. Instead, it has two features to help you have a chance to bag a big win.

Royal Expand Feature. Four meters sit on top of the reel representing the 4 members of the royal family. A premium win occurring fills the respective meter. Once the entire meter is filled, the corresponding family member expands to Super Symbol of 1 x 4.
Tsar Spins. Three or more scatter symbols activate the Tsar Spin, giving you up to 18 spins. The Royal Expand Feature comes into play during the Tsar Spin allowing you more chances of winning big.

Number of Paylines: 30	RTP: 95.77%
Min Bet: 0.10	Max Bet: 40
Max Payout: 1,380x	Software Provider: Red Tiger

Conclusion

Overall, the industry’s leading developers deliver slots that will not disappoint this week, most even worthy of praise. You’ll have an abundance of new slots to explore and try your luck out. You’ll find all the terrific new slots we reviewed this week on almost all of the best online casinos out there.

Your Weekly Best New Slots | Week 41

February 23, 2024 William Mcmaster

Amazing New Online Slot Games This Week

You can expect nothing short of amazing when 6 developers are behind 5 new online slot games this week. These industry’s top developers never fail to come up with slot innovations that make their games more exciting and appealing to slot machine enthusiasts.

ELK Studios present you with a hilarious alien-themed slot this week, while Pragmatic Play lets you experience some Irish luck. Microgaming and Slingshot Studios joined forces to take you on an African adventure. Meanwhile, NetEnt and Play’n GO each gives you a chance to grab some riches in their fantasy-themed slot offering.

5 New Slots To Check Out

It’s always amazing to try new online slot games since it gives us a fresh chance to take home some huge winnings. Since we also never know what we’re going to get, there is a sense of thrill and excitement while spinning those reels. That’s why we again present to you 5 of the best new slots to try your luck this week.

Visitors

Set in an idyllic village, the humor and fun of aliens getting bored provides an attraction to this slot. The flying cows and laser beams make it even more entertaining. The board sits on a 5×5 grid and has 3,125 ways to win.

Feature-wise, this alien-themed slot has plenty on its arsenal. During the base game, you can have the Alien Respin Feature which has the Sticky Wilds, Multipliers, and Mega Symbols. The scatter symbol here is represented by the Bonus symbol and triggers the Alien Invasion free spins feature.

What we like most about Visitors is their free spin feature. This triggers a board of 25 mini reels where you hope to land the silver and gold UFOs. A silver UFO not only gives you a prize but also another free spin and a multiplier board. A golden one doubles the multipliers wherever it lands.

The Visitors slot game has the potential to be a big hit, thanks to its developer’s refreshing approach to a somewhat overused “alien invasion” theme. If you want to have a good laugh while playing an amazing online slot game, this new offering from Elk Studios is a must-try.

Number of Paylines: 3,125	RTP: 96.10%
Min Bet: 0.20	Max Bet: 100
Max Payout: 10,000x	Software Provider: ELK Studios

African Legends

African Legends is a collaboration between two top developers, Microgaming and Slingshot Studios. This new online slot game brings you to the wilderness of Africa, where riches and fortune await you. The partnership of two amazing developers worked wonders with their superb graphics, from the picturesque backdrop to the symbols on the reels.

The aesthetics of African Legends doesn’t stop there. Aside from the looks, it has a handsome offering of bonus features that would make any player grin with excitement. Just imagine Wild Blasts, Rolling Reels, Multipliers, Free Spins, and Jackpot all in one slot. Now, that is impressive!

The board sits on a 5 x 3 grid and has 243 ways to win. In addition to wild symbols that substitute for any symbols, you’ll have the Wild Blasts in this slot game. The Wild Blasts can turn up to 5 symbols into wilds and give you higher payouts.

Instead of the scatter symbol, African Legends has the Rolling Reels. You need four of these to activate the free spins feature. The Free Spins will then have this payout system:

4 rolls – 5x multiplier and 12 free spins
5 rolls – 6x multiplier and 15 free spins
6 rolls – 7x multiplier and 18 free spins
7 rolls – 6x multiplier and 20 free spins
8 rolls – activate the jackpot feature

If you’re the type of player who prefers high-quality graphics and animation, this slot is perfect for you. This amazing new online slot game is rich not just in graphics but also in features. There’s even a jackpot feature that will give you a chance to win some generous rewards.

Number of Paylines: 243	RTP: 94.92%
Min Bet: 0.20	Max Bet: 25
Max Payout: 1,200x	Software Provider: Slingshot Studios

Emerald King

When a giant like Pragmatic Play is behind an Irish-themed slot, you can never say that it’s just riding on the Irish Luck popularity. True enough, Emerald King has more than the Irish luck to be one of the amazing new online slot games you can try out this week.

The board has a classic 5 x 3 reel and 20 fixed paylines. You’ll have random wilds and win multipliers that increase at random. You’ll also get some Irish Luck at the base game when either 2×2 or 3×3 symbols appear at random on your reels.

With this slot being an Irish theme with a generous leprechaun in it, it’s no surprise that the wild symbol is a pot of gold. As always, this lands on any reel. What’s different is that a lucky clover can call up the wild symbol on this game. You’ll either see this green clover sitting in the left corner or falling from the top of the reel.

What we like about this game is the randomly-triggered mini-slot feature. When this feature is at play, up to 15 small slot machines will fill your screen. Irish or not, you’ll get a chance to win the generous max payout.

Number of Paylines: 20	RTP: 96.51%
Min Bet: 0.10	Max Bet: 100
Max Payout: 20,000x	Software Provider: Pragmatic Play

Dark King™ Forbidden Riches

Top developer NetEnt created one of their best offerings this October with Dark King™ Forbidden Riches. From the top quality graphics to the eerie soundtrack, this amazing new online slot game successfully achieved the feel of terror in every spin you take.

The fantasy slot game is sitting in a 5×3 grid and has 20 fixed paylines. Its volatility is medium-high, so expect a little dry spell before Dark King rewards you for your patience.

The bonus features are this slot’s best part. A crystal orb represents the wild symbol, while the scatter symbol is a deep red gemstone. Three or more of these scatter symbols trigger the Dark King free spin feature.

In the free spins bonus, you’ll have a chance of landing the Sticky Wild Hotspots. Any wilds that land on the hotspots will turn sticky and each wild will give you 1 additional free spin. That’s absolutely wicked!

Number of Paylines: 20	RTP: 96.06%
Min Bet: 0.20	Max Bet: 400
Max Payout:2500x	Software Provider: NetEnt

Rabbit Hole Riches

It’s very seldom that a developer creates a wonderland fantasy theme and gets away with it. However, Play’n GO is good with these types of themes and Rabbit Hole Riches is not an exception.

The design of the game is impressive, albeit a small board of 3×3 with only 5 paylines. Despite its diminutive 3×3 frame, Rabbit Hole Riches manages to pack many features.

One of the best features that the game offers is the Rabbit Hole Bonus. During this bonus, the rabbit picks 1 of the four rabbit holes to determine which bonus will be given to the player. The bonuses include:

Teacup Party Pick Bonus. You choose a teacup which corresponds to a high-paying symbol that pays as high as 8 times the bet. You can continue doing this until the word “collect” appears.
Cheshire Cat Respins. A respin where the 1×3 Chesire Cat is active on the reels, resulting in sure wins.
Tower Power Bonus. 7 free spins with the white and red towers active and stacked.
Queens Army Free Spins. The most generous of all spin features, and uses the Queen Wild symbol.

Number of Paylines: 5	RTP: 96.23%
Min Bet: 0.10	Max Bet: 100
Max Payout: 5,000x	Software Provider: Play’n GO

Conclusion

This week’s new releases are a blast and indeed has the potential to be a huge success in the not-so-distant future. The healthy competition of our ever-restless amazing developers to produce the best new slots works in favor of online slots fanatics. There is always a steady supply of amazing new online slot games for you to enjoy every week.

Because of that, our team of experts here at CompareCasino is also always on the hunt for the best new slots out there. So, make sure you visit our blog page where we post the best new slot releases every week.