In order to stand out in a highly competitive market, online casinos have found a number of ways to make sure they provide players with the best experience possible. These include driving interaction through mini-games and interactive games, as well as creating a narrative—all elements shared with video games. In recent years, video games have been influenced by casino games to introduce elements of chance, like lootboxes. Let’s look at some of the ways in which casino games have influenced video games.
Chance in Video Games
One of the ways casino games have influenced video games is through the increasing frequency of gacha systems. In gacha systems, players’ rewards are randomly determined by a mechanism of pulling, rolling, or spinning. For example, a player may have the option to get a reward, determined by rolling a dice, for finishing a level. These systems are commonly used within casino games to determine outcomes, and they are now becoming increasingly popular in video games.
Further features also use elements—like prize packs or bonuses, sometimes referred to as lootboxes—that are determined by chance. These packs contain different items or rewards that players can use within the video game. One common example of this is player packs within the popular football video game, FIFA. Players buy player packs containing mystery footballers in the hopes of improving their team. One way these items can be determined is through a random number generator, which automatically chooses a number that correlates with a prize. This method of selection is commonly used in online casino games to determine the cards a dealer receives, for example. This helps to ensure fairness for all players as the numbers are entirely determined by chance.
Similarly, elements of chance have been further incorporated through nondeterministic games. Nondeterministic games are heavily influenced by a level of chance, meaning the outcomes are not always the same for all players. While the majority of video games rely on a predetermined script, some, like Creatures and Dear Esther, incorporate chance into which text is displayed and in which order. Random determination in these events allows players to have a different experience each time they play. Many players enjoy this greater number of possibilities and the different paths available. There are many casino games, like roulette and slots, that are also nondeterministic games, where the result is randomly determined.
Fostering Competition
Another way casino games have influenced video games is through helping create a similar sense of competition in elements like tournaments and leaderboards. In many online casino games, like poker and blackjack, players are able to compare their progress to others through leaderboards that display rankings. It’s even possible to create personalised tournaments for players to be able to compete against their friends. This helps to further engagement by creating a sense of competition, as well as increasing interaction between players.
Many video games have also utilised league tables and leaderboards in the hopes of doing the same. One way that competition within the video game industry has exploded is through esports, which involves gamers competing in multi-player games in front of spectators. In 2025, it’s estimated that esports will have an audience of over 640 million globally. There’s a wide variety of games played during esports competitions, including Halo, League of Legends, and Overwatch. Esports tournaments also utilise leaderboards to display player progress, and they involve a combination of skill, strategy and luck.
Increasing Gaming Interaction
Now, let’s talk a little about how video games have influenced casino games, with many common elements shared between the two. Casino games have begun incorporating many of the elements found within video games in order to increase the level of player interaction. One example of this increased gamification is mini-games, in which players can earn bonuses and advantages for their overall gameplay. There are a few different types of mini-games and interactive features that can be found in casino games.
Pick and Click Mini-games
These types of mini-games are often found at the end of the round and allow players the ability to gain bonuses like free spins. For example, a player might be presented with three treasure chests, each with different bonuses inside, their choice determines which one they receive.
Skill-based Mini-games
Many slot games have introduced skill-based minigames to boost levels of player interaction. For example, players might have to solve a puzzle or find their way out of a maze in order to unlock bonuses or extra rounds. These are especially popular in slot games as they provide players with the ability to shape the outcome of the game, whereas it is usually entirely dependent on chance.
Winning Enhancements
Some casino games allow players further options for gameplay after their round has finished. These can include spinning wheels for extra prizes, and feature games that allow players to increase their winnings. For example, players might be given the opportunity to continue gameplay for the opportunity to double or half their money.
Influencing Progressive Jackpots
Progressive jackpots increase as the number of plays does. A specific slot game could see its prize increase across all players or the players in a certain area. One way many providers have been enhancing the level of interaction provided by these types of games is through features that determine prize amounts. Players might spin a wheel or select a treasure chest to determine how much they add to the jackpot after their round.
Shaping Stories Within Casino Games
One area where video games thrive is creating narratives to make gameplay more engaging and interactive. The majority of video games will feature some sort of story, which is developed as the player progresses through different levels and gains access to different elements. Some video games have paths that are shaped by the action of the player, who can choose from different progress options, characters, or unlockable features. As a result, video games can create a highly immersive experience in which the player becomes part of the story.
Theming
Influenced by the success of narratives within video games, many casino providers have started introducing them into their games. It’s common to find slot games themed on everything from music and popular board games to television shows like The Simpsons. In order to find the best casinos to play these immersive games, players turn to trusted comparison sites, like NewCasinos. By comparing providers across features like bonuses, game selection, and user experience, they help players find the top casinos.
Some games have gone a step further by using themes to create a narrative. One example is the popular slot game, Gonzo’s Quest. Players help Gonzo, a Spanish explorer, find lost treasure through gameplay. The narrative is enhanced through themed graphics, sound effects, and, of course, the main character, Gonzo. Like in video games, the theming of these casino games helps to create a truly immersive world. Players are also able to select which areas to unlock, and they can trigger bonus rounds by finding keys.
Characterisation
One way video games are able to increase engagement is by allowing players to customise their characters. They may be able to select different physical attributes, outfits, or weapons, and even craft a back story for their character.
Some casino games have started to introduce customisation into their offering through personalised avatars. One way users have been able to do this is through virtual reality casino games, which use VR headsets to immerse players within the casino environment. Players are able to customise their avatar, which interacts with other characters—through dialogue and actions—in the virtual world.
Unlocking the Narrative
Another way providers have achieved this is through narratives, which are unlocked by different results. Players might partake in mini-games, in which they have the opportunity to unlock the next section or area of a story or influence the overall outcome.
In the casino game Vikings Go Berzerk, players are able to access extra rounds in which they can influence the development of the story through their actions. The game features a Norse mythology theme, with the overall quest of helping the Vikings fight off sea monsters. When players win, they charge up the ‘Rage Meter’ of different Vikings. Once they fill up the meter of a Viking, they enter ‘berzerk mode’, triggering seven free spins and helping the Vikings defeat the sea monsters. The Viking then becomes a wild symbol, which can help the player win some great bonuses. Depending on their results in gameplay, players can influence the path of the story.
The Continued Influence of Video Games
Video games have been influenced by casino games in the introduction of features, such as lootboxes, which are dependent on chance and heightened competition through tournaments and leaderboards. In return, video games have influenced casino games by highlighting the importance of player interaction, customisation, and narrative. In the future, as the lines between the two continue to blur, it’s likely we’ll see this influence lead to even more shared features.
