The Casino Market And The Film Industry Are More Connected Than You Think
It may not be visible to the naked eye, but the online casino industry and the film sector have a long-standing mutualistic relationship, meaning both industries benefit from their interactions with each other. For decades, films and television shows have used casinos to tell brilliant, exciting, and even heartbreaking stories. One of the most famous examples is the 1988 Academy Award-winning film Rain Man, which features a scene where Dustin Hoffman is counting cards during a blackjack game alongside Tom Cruise. This scene helped give more insight into Hoffman’s character, who is an autistic savant.
A Duo That Just Makes Sense
Likewise, many casino operators have taken inspiration from films and television shows. This move has led to the development of some of the most popular casino games to date, such as the Deal or No Deal online bingo game and The Goonies slot game, based on the iconic film from the 1980s. These branded casino games let players play for real money or for free, depending on their interests and intentions, and help casino operators find their target audiences, which, in turn, boosts player and platform engagement.
Why Does The Relationship Work?
Online casinos offering branded games inspired by films and TV shows is a smart business move. These audiences tend to be passionate and dedicated, watching all the latest installments in a franchise or buying various pieces of merchandise, including video games. We tend to see this with Marvel and DC fans, with one Marvel fan based in Florida watching Avengers: Endgame a total of 191 times. This passion — and the economic advantages that result because of it — is something the casino industry has realized as well.
For example, game developer Playtech has been adding more installments to its Marvel slot series for years. Now, almost every superhero, from Spider-Man and Iron Man to the X-Men mutants, has their own slot game. Even better, many of these games have been optimized for mobile play, which enables individuals to play them whenever they want and wherever they are. People may not feel like playing a game of poker on their mobile phones while transiting to work, but everyone has time for something that’s related to their favorite TV show or movie.
That’s why television show franchises like Deal or No Deal are still broadcasting, and movie franchises such as The Avengers and Spider-Man are still releasing installments — and people are still watching them. For perspective, around 1.1 million people in the United States watched Spider-Man: No Way Home in its opening month of December, and this was just at AMC Entertainment Holding’s theatres alone. Spider-Man: No Way Home was released nearly five years after the first movie in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy, a testament to how loyal Marvel fans are.
Thanks to the fans for voting #SpiderManNoWayHome and @TomHolland1996 as the #GoldenTomato Award winners for Fan Favorite Movie and Actor of 2021! @RottenTomatoes pic.twitter.com/u0HtPUXq3J
— Spider-Man: No Way Home (@SpiderManMovie) January 31, 2022
It wouldn’t be surprising if many people view online casinos as competitors to film production companies as both operate in the entertainment industry. Plus, the more time someone spends playing online games, the less they’re looking at the big screen. At least, that’s what it looks like to the naked eye, when in reality, the two industries bounce off of each other, with films using casinos as story settings and casinos developing games based on popular franchises.
