The online bingo market has skyrocketed over the last five years, and part of its success has been in attracting online casino players. Offering slots was a masterstroke by operators, as these games are popular with a broad playing demographic. Now that slots seem at home on bingo sites, developers had to get innovative to come up with a new attraction. This led to Slingo, which has enjoyed an astonishing surge in interest recently. Slingo’s success could lead to other hybrid options in the iGaming industry.
Slingo Has Been a Revelation for Online Bingo Sites
Slingo does exactly what it says on the tin and combines two fan favorites: slots and online bingo. Players spin the reels to bring numbers into view, which can then be eliminated from a bingo card. It’s a high-octane way of playing, but it can be conducted at the user’s own leisure – there’s no need to wait for a bingo caller to shout the numbers out.
Online bingo sites have benefited massively from offering Slingo games, as they come in a variety of themes to suit different players’ interests. They can serve as a gateway to bingo or slots as well, for players who may not yet be sold on either genre. Some of the themes on offer include Slingo Rainbow Riches, Slingo Centurion, and Slingo Reel King. The diversity here shows how these games are used to target players with contrasting tastes.
What Other Games Could be Combined?
Developers in the iGaming industry are likely to be looking at the impact Slingo has had and working out ways to replicate it. Online bingo operators have been on the front foot in recent years, and the inventiveness seen at these sites suggests that the sector could overtake online casinos in the future at this rate. That means that online casino operators may need to employ similar tactics to keep pace.
There are plenty of online casino games that could undergo the same treatment as Slingo. Blackjack and slots, for example, could be blended to make Blackslots or Slotjack. Or maybe developers could work on combining some table games like roulette and baccarat.
Strategy Likely to be Seen in Other Areas of Gaming
Slingo has been used to attract players to gaming sites and influence them to play other offerings on these platforms. This technique could also be successful for new library subscription services across the gaming industry. The likes of Apple Arcade and Google Stadia may be able to attract more users if they can create hybrid games that appeal to a wider range of people. For example, battle royale and MMO games are in fashion now. Combining the two offerings could be a hit for developers and the companies that run the subscription services.
Slingo was invented way before online bingo became a thing, but it only hit the big time in the last few years. This shows how now is a prime opportunity for innovative developers to come up with new ideas and ways of playing. It wouldn’t be surprising to see other hybrid games cropping up in the future.