If you visit sites like Vulkan Vegas, you will find thousands of slot machines. One thing you will observe is that these casino games have themes, and some of them are regional.
Regional slots cater to specific cultures. For example, you will find games that focus on Americana; some are Hawaiian, and some are Japanese. These slots represent a country or a culture, and the creators aim to educate the players about traditions and beliefs.
Common Slots With Local Themes
Anything, or any idea, can be turned into a slot machine. The most common ones we see are American-themed titles.
Here is an overview of local slots:
- American – the most common themes are the 1800s Wild West, Hollywood, or Native American items.
- Japanese – mostly slots about Yakuza, cherry blossoms, ancient warlords, katana, Samurai, etc.
- Chinese – mostly slots about the Buddha, luck, gold coins, firecrackers, the Chinese zodiac, and more.
Many iGaming developers do this. Many times, you may find casino titles with European themes that talk about Irish folklore. Common slot themes include leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold. Another example of European culture is ancient Greek mythology. Even in movies, you will find Zeus as a common theme. People love ancient Greek stories.
Why Are Slots With Local Themes Popular?
iGaming developers want to target specific cultures because themes resonate with the users. If the game is about Chinese traditions, then it is likely that Chinese gamers would be drawn to it.
Here are some more reasons why these slots are popular:
- Cultural aspect – casino titles that represent a culture are engaging, not only to the person of that culture but to others.
- Expansion – it is easier to promote a gaming product to a new country if it carries this country’s culture. For example, Chinese players may not know anything about the Wild West, so it is going to be difficult to market this slot type to them.
All in all, we can say that localized slot themes perform better than their opposite. People are tired of the classic in-game symbols like fruits and stars. Local themes are much more inviting. The more people are drawn to the local slot, the more money an online casino earns.
Popular Slots With Local Themes
There are thousands of casino titles that have local themes. However, one thing you are likely to come across is any of these three:
- Dead or Alive.
- Lucky Leprechaun.
- Chinese New Year.
Dead or Alive is a popular slot machine by NetEnt. There is a second version or sequel to it, but the original is more popular. The game features a Wild West theme where you will see symbols of hunters. There are also photos of wanted fugitives. The game includes standard features like bonus rounds, free spins, scatters, and wilds.
Despite having only nine pay lines, this high-variance game offers a maximum win of 2,500x your bet. A 5-symbol wild combo can net you up to 1,500x your stake.
Lucky Leprechaun is a game from Microgaming. It features an Irish folklore about the leprechaun and a pot of gold. It offers a bonus round, free spins, and 20 paylines. The slot also sits on five reels, and it has scatter symbols, wild symbols, and multiplier bonuses. There is no jackpot, but the game can pay up to 500,000 coins.
If you are lucky, you may trigger the bonus round. In this round, you get between four and six free spins. The slot would spin without you making a bet. If it triggers a winning combo, you still win that money even if you did not invest a bet.
Finally, there is the Chinese New Year. As the slot’s title implies, its theme is about the celebration of a festive holiday in China. The game has wild symbols, scatter symbols, and bonuses. Most of the symbols here are those of the lucky Chinese animals. The slot machine pays in coins, so you will win the same number of coins regardless of your bet size or level.
The best thing about this title is its huge payout. There are some casinos or operators that pay up to $12,500 if you are lucky enough to hit the highest-paying combo. At maximum, one can win over $33,000 in this game.
Regional slot machines are challenging to produce but are worth it if shown to the right market. For one, you need to get the facts right. The creators must find local experts about the specific culture they want to use in the slot machine.
As far as marketing goes, the casino operator has to ensure that the slot goes to the eyeballs of people who can relate to the culture. For payment and prizes, there is no difference between local-themed slots and casual or classic ones.
