Using mechanics from casino games in board games is no longer something that is particularly novel, but what is perhaps more telling is the fact that games based around poker and other casino classics are not just novelty items but sell in large enough numbers to sit comfortably on the shelf next to more ‘serious’ strategy games.
There may have been a real surge in the sales of board games recently, and casino games are capitalising on this shift in the way that people in their leisure time.
Why casino mechanics translate so well to the tabletop?
For players who enjoy the strategic tension of finding a trustworthy UK casino but prefer a living-room setting, casino-inspired board games have carved out a distinct niche, translating card mechanics and betting structures into tabletop formats that reward both newcomers and experienced players.
Using elements of chance in a game does not have to mean loads of expensive equipment and a dedicated playing space – simple betting structures and probability calculations can add plenty of tension.
Card games have been around for centuries, and with so rich a heritage there is plenty of material for publishers to draw upon.
The global tabletop games market has been steadily increasing in size, with Grand View Research projecting the size of the board games market to be over USD 13 billion in the year 2022. These growing numbers may continue to fuel the development of casino themed games.
Titles worth adding to your collection
Skull is a fun little bluffing game that packs all of the psychological poker pressure of Poker into a tiny box containing less than 5 tokens per player.
For a full-on casino experience that plays in under 30 minutes, Ravensburger’s Las Vegas offers a game that uses dice drafting for the interactive thrill of slot machines.
Pokertop Deluxe is one of many structured hand-managed Poker variants designed to play quickly, emphasizing probability and strategy over the long game.
Participation in gambling in the UK is most common in forms that are well known to players, such as card games which will be familiar to new audiences.
Fitting these games into a broader game-night culture
New statistics from the ONS show that at home activities have increased during 2020 and remain at a high level for recreational pursuits.
Casino-style board games with no downloads or subscriptions required. Data from the ONS shows spending on games within the gift sector is still above pre-2019 levels across many retail channels.
Game theory, backed by academic research, shows that games that combine elements of luck with elements of progressive game play (where players make decisions that result in some form of outcome over successive rounds) are more able to keep a player interested than games of pure luck.
A category with staying power
Casino-themed board games may occupy a permanent and popular niche in the hobby game market: familiar enough for casual gamers but deep enough for hardcore enthusiasts.
As more people choose to spend their leisure time participating in social, screen-free, “tabletop” games, games with a casino theme are likely to maintain their market share rather than fade with the current fad.
