While it may not seem like it, golf is one of the most popular games in the world. Currently, there are over a million fans that watch, play, and bet on the sport. The reason for golf’s success is simple; it is a year-round sport. In other words, there is a noteworthy golf tournament taking place at any point during the year, with the exception of the winter holidays.
The success of golf can obviously be seen in the betting world, with most sportsbooks covering the sport. However, there are different types of casinos, which attract different audiences. For example, slot casinos are a huge hit, and make up most of the iGaming industry. But, what many may not realize is that there is a huge crossover between golf fans and slot players.
Golf-Themed Slots: An Introduction
Online slots are exactly what many would imagine; digital versions of slot games that you can access on the internet. Like land-based slots, these games require you to spin reels, hoping that you will get the same symbol on a payline. Currently, there are thousands of different options for the slot fan. However, some newcomers to iGaming may be surprised to learn that fact. After all, aren’t most slots the same?
Indeed, the basic premise and gameplay of most slot games remains the same; spin a reel to win a prize. It is no surprise then that playing slots can get quite repetitive. Luckily, game developers have come up with a solution to the problem. Aesthetic, visual, and audio themes have been introduced to online gambling, in order to distinguish slots. Golf-themed games are surprisingly popular, and their popularity is rising.
As you may have imagined, golf-themed slots take inspiration from the sport that we all know and love. Using golf as a marketing tool is nothing new, but actually incorporating the aesthetics of the sport into a game that has little to do with it is quite a fresh idea. Let’s, therefore, explore how online casinos incorporate golf in online slots, and why golf-themed games are on the rise.
Golf as a Theme in Slots
One of the simplest ways to use golf as a visual theme is to simply create a background and symbols that immediately remind the player of the popular sport. An example of this might be the game being placed against a backdrop of an emerald grass field, with little red flags placed at various intervals. To most fans, this visual will immediately remind them of golf.
However, most game developers wouldn’t stop there. Symbols may also part from the usual slot games, and instead use golf visuals. For example, instead of fruits, the designers might use golf balls, clubs, or other symbols associated with the sport. On top of that, the usual slot perks, like Scatter and Wild symbols may also be named after popular golf terms (a Birdie Scatter, or a Hole-in-One Wild, for example).
Some golf slots take it a step further. Rather than focusing on golf in general, they may take inspiration from specific golf tournaments, events, or even players. Here, you might see mascots made to resemble the specific player that the game is based on. Often, for legal reasons, the characters portrayed may be distinct from the actual player, but still non-the-less, the inspiration will be obvious. While casual golf fans might enjoy the basic golf theme, hardcore fans will certainly appreciate these sort of deeper explorations of the aesthetic.
Why Golf-Themed Slots are a Success
Online casinos have reported a growing interest in slots with a golf theme. While they are never at the top of the polls, it appears that these games are consistently growing in popularity. In an industry that prides itself on diverse visuals and aesthetic elements, why are golf-based games such a huge success? The answer has to do with the popularity of golf itself, and the crossover between the fandoms.
As we said before, golf is one of the most popular sports in the world, with over a million fans. Not only that, but golf tournaments take place all year round, much like tennis. That means that, throughout the whole year, there are golf fans who are deeply passionate about the game, watching their favorite golfers and betting on the outcome of a match.
The betting industry is deeply connected to the online gambling market. In fact, many sportsbooks often double as casinos. That means that golf bettors have constant access to a casino, featuring hundreds (if not thousands) of slot games. Of course, if you are new to the world of gambling, you will want to look for something familiar. Golf fans search for golf-themed slots.
How Slot Games Differ from Betting
The fan base of many golf-themed slots may come from people who like to wager on golf. As we said, sportsbooks often double as casinos, and vice versa, which may confuse people into thinking that playing slots is no different than betting. While there certainly are some similarities, the two are quite different, and must be approached with a different mentality.
For example, in sports betting, the participants can go by odds. While a lot of it does come down to luck, there are objective metrics by which we can measure one team’s chances of winning over the other. In slots, it all comes down to sheer luck. Players can look up things like volatility or RTP, but at the end of the day, knowing those things won’t change the actual outcome of the game.
That is why, online casinos always like to dedicate an entire page to responsible gambling, with some even featuring tips for new players, who might not know how to begin. Usually, the recommendations for new players are that they start out light, wagering small amounts on low-risk, high-RTP games. Once they get used to the gameplay, and the industry as a whole, they might want to move on to the riskier stuff. However, many choose to remain in the proverbial shallow pool, which is probably the safest bet.
