The video game industry today is a mixture of so many complex factors aimed at an ever growing gaming crowd. From generation to generation of video gamers, video gaming has evolved from the simplest skill-based highest score gaming achievements, to the complex mix of both skill, strategy, tactics, and the majority of objective-based gameplay prevalent today.

Many of the gameplay elements that have been proven overtime to successfully drive player immersion and gaming longevity up while keeping player-base retention going on at an all-time high, have been found to originate in one way or form from the historically time-tested traditional gaming formulas employed by the Casino gaming industry from Centuries past to today's modern age. An example would be the Slot Machine and the Roulette Wheel, both main Casino fixtures, and both having drawn in an uncountable number of eager players since time immemorial.

So, to this, let's take a look at some of these Casino-based gaming element which have made modern day video gaming concepts like Loot Boxes and Gotcha reward systems so entrenched in today's modern gaming world while continually drawing the line between regular video games, and both traditional and video-game based Casino gameplay.

Design Elements

Many of the games found in the Casino industry have been specifically designed over the years to capture and immerse players in order for them to keep coming back for more. Many of these game traits have also been applied by the video game industry over time. Many are psychological in nature as games of chance usually do, and despite the huge differences between Casino Games of chance and Video Games, the application of these time and tested general principles work pretty well with both.

“Sensory Feedback” is one gaming element shared between Casino mainstays like Slots and Video Games. The dings and caching of slot jackpots with added lights, screen animations, and jovial tunes as the years went by, applies as well to Video Games where various sensory cues and rewards (short of a haptic feedback) provides gamers with the sensory motivation needed to keep playing on.

“Variable Rewards Reinforcement” where rewards are given at variable intervals to keep the players engaged and anxiously waiting for the next big reward. This is true for both Casino and Video Games as it is a core psychological element for player retention.

The ‘Gambler’s Fallacy” or “almost there” effect. Many games use this hook by letting gamers almost achieve the highest goal or reward, thus providing them a reason to try again and again. This works just like slot near misses where games of chance addicted players start to believe that they’ll get it the next try.

“Reward and Retention” are elements that will keep the player playing and coming back for more. In Video Games, these is where players are goaded into acquiring game features like Loot Boxes and engaging Gotcha systems. The ability to at least get something out of one’s gaming efforts and the curiosity of discovering a secret, or hidden reward, provides enough retentive persuasion to make many gamers stay and play for more. Pretty much similar to how many Casino Games hook (line and sinker) their loyal patrons.

Gameplay Elements

As the psychology of Casino games have proven to be quite effective when applied to many current-day Video Game designs, certain Casino gameplay elements have been appropriated by the gaming industry as well. Let’s take a look at the most used ones.

“Gameplay Skill and Strategy” is usually prevalent in card games like Poker and Blackjack, besides, applying skill and strategy to the majority of modern-day games is a must. Whether it’s a competitive FPS or an intricate Real-Time Tactical and Strategy game, one’s skill in the game coupled with both critical and decisive thinking may be the difference between achieving one’s mission objectives, leveling up to receive critical game upgrades, or returning to the drawing table for another run.

A “Sense of Accomplishment and Game Progression” are gameplay incentives that will keep the gamer onboard to complete or win the game. As long as the gameplay leads the player through levels of progression, accomplishing and completing missions and objectives, the gamer will continue to be immersed in the game’s overall gameplay. These gameplay factors have been present in almost all traditional and Casino games of chance through the ages.

The “Fear of Missing Out” is another strong influence brought over to Video Games. Again, rewards systems, loot Boxes, and Gotcha incentives play a huge part in the desire of many gamers not to miss out in completing features and objects within the game, provides a sense of completeness and validation to many. The chance to have rare in-game items, or a complete set of in-game essentials, usually lead many gamers to playing and spending more (which otherwise they would not do). Likewise, the need to obtain such added perks like bonus rounds, or extra cards at hand for one’s hand in a game, keep many Casino gamers busy as well.

Finally, the limitations in Video gaming, where items, gear, rewards, and essential objects acquired in-game cannot be exchanged or sold for real money within the game, has provides a huge dividing line between Casino gaming and Video Games. Everyone knows that Casinos are centers of entertainment that handle real cash, and Video gaming should have a clear and distinct difference from them. What is earned in the game through gameplay, stays in the game and only certain specific features which are part of the gaming economy, usually of huge platform-based games, have the certain appropriate legalized features for any conversion whatsoever to real world equivalents.

These are but a few of the best known gaming elements which have been brought over to modern-day Video Games from the old and time-tested traditional Casino gaming industry while keeping Video Games as distinct as possible from Casino Games.

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