The world of casino gaming is a constantly evolving industry that is always on the lookout for new and innovative games to keep players engaged and coming back for more. However, with innovation comes some level of uncertainty, and not every casino game that is developed will be every player’s first pick. In fact, we have numerous examples of titles and separate categories that were created with high hopes but ultimately flew below the radar of gamers.
So, despite the many successes in the industry, the reality is that the casino game development business can go either way. Creating a product that will succeed in a highly competitive market takes skill, creativity, and luck. Developers need to be able to create games that not only offer something new and exciting but also resonate with the players’ desires.
Unlike the always popular pokies, many casino games have missed their chance to take off and be listed on leading online casino platforms. This is not a reflection of a lack of innovation in the industry. In fact, the opposite is true. The casino gaming industry constantly pushes the boundaries of what is possible, releasing new and thrilling games.
Games That Missed to Make a Mark
Let’s start by noting that the games we will analyze were not completely hit-and-miss. Some of them are still available in online casinos and ready to be played. It’s just that the creators invested much time, energy, and money into them, but the final result was a bit lacking, to say the least.
Big Six Wheel
The Big Six Wheel is a casino game invented a few decades ago. It’s available in many casinos in the USA and the UK. The game features a large spinning wheel with six sections containing different symbols or numbers. Players place their bets on where they think the wheel will stop, and if the wheel lands on their chosen section, they win a prize. The game is fast-paced and not difficult to understand, which may be some of the reasons why many people don’t find it as exciting.
Triple Shot
Patient and skill are the two things players need to become successful at Triple Shot, a casino game that didn’t bring the results its creators wanted. As the name suggests, this game includes three other games in one place. So, it’s a table game that allows players to play War, Blackjack, and Poker. You wager money on each game at the beginning and play these games subsequently. This is what the Triple Shot is all about. This might sound exciting on paper, but many players disagree, and it seems that there’s more than one reason for that.
Casino War
Casino War is a simple game played with a standard deck of 52 cards. It has straightforward gameplay, with players placing their bets on whether they think their card will be higher than the dealers. If the player wins, they receive a payout equal to their original bet. It takes just a few minutes to understand how the game works, so you can start playing immediately.
Pontoon
This is a card game similar to Blackjack. Players aim to have a hand value higher compared to the dealer’s without going over 21. In Pontoon, the dealer’s cards are dealt face down, and players must make their bets before seeing their cards. The objective is to get a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand without going over or “busting.” Players can draw additional cards to improve their hand, but they automatically lose if their hand value exceeds 21. A “Pontoon,” or a two-card hand with a value of 21, pays out 2 to 1. If the dealer has a Pontoon, all player bets are forfeited.
What Went Wrong for Them?
There are numerous reasons why the games we listed above never made it to the big league. For instance, Big Six Wheel is often mentioned in the realms of ones having one of the highest house edges of any casino game. In other words, players will likely have less time playing than in other games. Also, for many people, the gameplay is a bit underwhelming.
As for the Triple Shot, this game can be complicated for many players because it includes three games that must be played consecutively. We live in times when people are not used to being patient, and they also like to try new things when they please, not when they have to, like in the case of Triple Shot.
Next, Casino War is a very simple game that relies purely on being at the right place at the right time (like Big Six Wheel), so it may not be as appealing to players who enjoy more skill-based and strategic games. In addition, the house edge is very high, and the potential prizes are not worth the risk.
Finally, we have Pontoon, a variant of Blackjack. Compared to traditional Blackjack, Pontoon often has a lower RTP (Return to player) percentage. Also, the lack of visibility of the dealer’s cards can make it harder for players to decide whether to hit or stand.
Final Thoughts
These games may not have become as mainstream as other casino games because they don’t appeal to as wide of an audience or have as many variations and strategic elements as more established games like poker, roulette, and blackjack. In other cases, we have releases that were too complex or had a high house edge.
Overall, it’s good that game providers keep looking for new ways to surprise players despite these setbacks. They use what they learned from these examples from the past to improve their future products, so their next release will enjoy the company of other more mainstream picks.
