This month’s bonus feature in the world of casinos revolves around the decision to buy, not buy, or surcharge. Kevin Dale delves into the realm of feature-buy games, price hikes, and the top 20 games globally.
Taking a trip back to July 2023, we see Starburst reigning supreme on the eGaming Monitor charts, while Pragmatic Play was making waves with seven titles. Fast forward a year, and Starburst has slipped to the fifth spot, with Pragmatic Play dominating the charts with a staggering 12 titles. Surprisingly, Gates Of Olympus has emerged as the top contender, outshining both companies with its own captivating titles.
Play’n GO continues to pose a formidable challenge to Pragmatic Play, with their ‘Of Dead’ family of games maintaining a strong presence. However, ELK Studios’ latest release, Pirots 3, stands out as the only new title this month to break into the top 20.
If live games were factored into the charts, popular titles like Crazy Time and Lightning Roulette from Evolution Gaming, and Sweet Bonanza Candyland from Pragmatic Play would secure a spot in the top 20.
Looking back a year ago, the crash game Aviator made its debut in the top 20 and has since maintained its position. The success of Aviator has sparked a wave of new entrants in the genre, with 30 new studios launching crash games, effectively doubling the total number of crash games available. For a detailed analysis of game production and distribution by operator, studio, and game type, refer to our annual review.
The debate of whether to buy a feature in games has garnered attention this month, particularly due to the influence of streamers who excel in elaborate versions of games. While some view these feature-buy games as trendy and alluring, others argue that the pursuit of these features is akin to seeking a dopamine rush, potentially leading to customer burn-out at higher stakes.
The decision of whether to engage in feature-buy games is comparable to choosing between different types of bets in sports or casino games. It’s like deciding between red/black or single numbers in roulette, or deciding when to cash out in crash games. Oddly enough, bonus-buy games are facing compliance challenges and bans in certain jurisdictions.
Amidst this debate, the production of feature-buy versions has remained relatively constant, comprising only 0.6% of new game releases over the past three years. It’s a reminder that expectations don’t always align with reality when analyzing trends in the industry.
In other news, operators have been introducing higher-priced versions of existing products to offset tax increases. However, some have faced backlash for announcing these surcharges publicly instead of implementing them quietly. Some experts suggest adjusting the overrounds in markets with higher taxes as a more discreet alternative, similar to how slot games in Germany adjust to maintain a higher RTP.
The casino industry continues to evolve, with bonus features, price hikes, and compliance challenges shaping the landscape for operators and players alike. The decision to buy, not buy, or surcharge remains a pivotal consideration in the ever-changing world of online gaming.
