A new survey released by supplier Synergy Blue shows that casino executives are looking for skill-based casino offerings that appeal to a new generation or gamblers.
According to the company, 70 percent of the executives surveyed say they “have, plan to, or are considering adopting skill-based games, games with skill components or games with arcade-style play.”
The data comes from a new poll commissioned by Synergy Blue, a provider of skill-based games and software tools for game developers in the segment.
Among the other findings:
- 67 percent of the respondents want games that appeal to “a new generation of gamblers.”
- 46 percent think skill-based games will “increase casino attractiveness by offering diverse products.”
- 34 percent say they hope the games have the potential to generate new revenue.
- 81 percent indicated that skill-based games would provide a different player experience.
According to the company’s report, the executives surveyed are not focusing their growth efforts on millennials or baby boomers. The survey says half of all casinos are focusing on Gen X’ers (born from 1965 to 1980) as their target over the next five years.
According to a report by Buddy Frank of CDC Gaming Reports, “over legal or jurisdictional requirements” were cited by 34 percent as a possible challenge to skill-base game adoption. Whether or not they would really appeal to patrons was mentioned by 30 percent. Likewise, 17 percent felt the challenge was the lack of knowledge (by players) of these types of games. The group said the areas in which they’d most like to see improvement before becoming fans are “player appeal” (51 percent) and “player understanding” (50 percent). One in five said that “skill-based games need to demonstrate a stronger hold percentage.”
These same executives did say that the benefit of skill-based games that would lead to the most adoption would be an “increase net or incremental revenue” (45 percent) and “expanded player demographics” (29 percent). They’ll look for that revenue increase by “measuring against slot floor average” (30 percent) and would also compare and measure them against other “standalone product” (41 percent).
“A new generation of players opens the door for a new generation of games,” says the report’s summary “And future generations of gamers will increasingly be more tech-savvy and digitally native. Many Gen X’ers in particular are from the early video gaming generations, and it means they are accustomed to a more engaging, more immersive gaming experience.”
The survey, titled “The State of Skill-Based Games in a New Era of Gambling,” was conducted over 100 casinos in the third and fourth quarters of 2018.
