There’s little that doesn’t exist when it comes to the themes of online casinos. From animals to heavy metal and TV shows to fantasy, gambling operators offer something for all taste buds.
One theme that gained popularity is online casinos inspired by DC and Marvel comics. It’s an interesting one, considering operators have to be extremely careful with utilizing comic elements in their designs. Gambling regulators like the UK Gambling Commission have made clear that they won’t tolerate anything that might attract underage people. Any breach of this regulation might result in multi-million-pound fines and, in the worst-case scenario, even the loss of the gambling licence.
Genesis Global Launches Casino Masters
If done right, however, DC/Marvel themes for online casinos have proven to be extremely popular amongst players and profitable for operators.
Genesis Global, for example, added yet another brand to its portfolio of sister sites. Casino Masters is their first DC/Marvel-inspired website, and it couldn’t be more spot on. Their superhero, Dragan, looks like an Asian-inspired version of The Flash, and Andromeda, the other hero, is very much related to Superwoman. The level of detail is also fascinating, considering every single design element of the website refers somewhat to DC Comics and Marvel.
The company even thought of choosing suitable games to match the theme by prominently promoting Microgaming’s Thunderstruck II, a Thor-inspired video slot.
The Challenges of Making a Theme Stick
However, just because something is pop culture doesn’t mean it must work for online gambling.
A few years ago, MT SecureTrade launched an online casino inspired by Heavy Metal. They developed a unique theme, focused on some particular games such as the Guns N’ Roses video slot, and even managed to secure Ozzy Osbourne as the brand’s ambassador. All signs pointed at success.
However, Metal Casino never managed to attract enough players to turn into a huge success. Perhaps the intersection between heavy metal fans and gamblers wasn’t as big as expected, or some themes are simply too narrow to succeed. Of course, it could also be down to a failure in marketing and branding on the operator’s side, but that would be pure speculation at this point.
Conclusion
While using an existing niche as inspiration for your online casino can be a smart idea, it’s certainly not a guarantee for success. Some genres don’t work for online gambling as gamblers might be unable to relate to it and therefore instinctively distance themselves from the brand.
Other themes, however, might show the exact opposite effect, and DC Comics and Marvel might be one of them.
Casino software providers like NetEnt have utilized comic characters decades ago and launched hyper-successful games. Think of Gonzo’s Quest. Therefore, gamblers were soon sensitized to comic elements in online casino games. On top, and that might be very different from heavy metal, is the sheer popularity of DC and Marvel in general.
As of 2022, Marvel movies have generated over $25 billion worldwide, making it the biggest movie franchise ever. And we’re not even counting the revenue from comic books and other merchandise. Marvel and DC are everywhere, attracting people from all age ranges and increasing the chance of a broad intersection between DC/Marvel fans and gamblers.
It’s safe to say that if you want to launch an online casino and base it on a specific theme, DC Comics and Marvel might not be the worst choice. However, keep in mind what we mentioned earlier: regulators made it clear that design elements cannot attract minors, so make sure to follow this advice, or else you might face a heavy fine.
