Gambling is a huge industry. There are gambling games of all shapes and sizes, each with a unique history and distinct rules. But, gamblers are always clamoring for novelty. They want to experience new kinds of gambling entertainment that feel epic. Now, thanks to casinos upping their game, they can get exactly that.
Big gaming companies realized that classic gambling can only take them so far. To be more successful, they had to stand out. In the words of one The Wynn executive, “Every slot machine in the world is the same.” Casino brands decided to give their slots as much personality as they could. That led them to wrestlers.
Wrestling is also a huge industry, but one where personalities run the show. Successful wrestlers know how to stand out, attract crowds, and keep their attention. This turned out to be the perfect solution for casinos, bringing them the prestige of WWE fights.
This article explores the fascinating fusion of wrestling stardom and gaming. Here is how casinos teamed up with wrestlers and what they have in store for us. The most obvious connection is wrestling betting. It makes people watch casino live events with bated breath. Still, there might be some surprises. As big as gambling is, it is about to become even bigger thanks to wrestlers.
The Global Phenomenon of Wrestling: A Worldwide Entertainment Powerhouse
Casinos did a lot of research on their visitors. One finding was that people who visit casinos want to experience spectacles. People want to have a night that they will remember for the rest of their lives. A casino’s promise of a huge jackpot can only hold the visitors’ attention for so long. Not even a hefty casino bonus will do the trick, and it might bankrupt the casino. And the scariest discovery was — when people get bored of a casino, they aren’t coming back.
To make people come more often, stay longer, and keep coming back, casinos had to think outside the box. They already invest millions into renovations and attractions, but those get stale fast. Wrestling turned out to be the perfect solution. Wrestling is a global cultural phenomenon that is relatable, exciting, and always fresh. Wrestling has rich stories that feature good guys, villains, and henchmen. Surprise ring guests in casino WWE fights can change the script and make any night a spectacle.
Fans don’t see wrestling as mere entertainment; to them, it’s larger than life. They support their favorite wrestler and cheer their hearts out for him or her. That raw passion generates what any new online casino would want: a dedicated fan base. Wrestling betting was the most obvious way to let fans support wrestlers. It dovetails into casino live events that feature wrestlers. By featuring wrestlers, casinos cemented wrestling into a global cultural phenomenon. People from all over the world already bond over wrestling. Now, they can do the same at a casino, generating a profit for it.
Why Casinos Team Up with Iconic Wrestlers for Promotions
The same way they researched visitors, casino brands researched wrestling. They discovered that wrestling has a rich history that hails all the way back to ancient times. Wrestling represented and still represents a meeting of cultures. Each wrestler’s appearance and signature moves represent that wrestler’s heritage. For example, in Mexico the wrestling tradition is “lucha libre” or “freestyle wrestling.” It involves wearing masks and attractive jumping maneuvers. So, casinos decided to pay attention to wrestling brands.
An example of casino brands’ wrestling research is Sycuan’s deal with Rey Mysterio. The San Diego casino partnered with the famous Mexican-American wrestler in 2016. The casino lavished praise on Rey as the perfect ambassador for the casino brand. His masked face adorned the casino’s promotional materials, and he starred in their TV ad. That was besides Rey’s radio ad in Spanish for the casino.
About 30% of San Diego’s population is Hispanic and Latin American. To them, seeing Rey’s 619 flying signature move on someone like John Cena is an experience like no other. It’s a moment of cultural heritage come to life, a moment to remember and cherish. But, wrestling goes beyond any culture to bring people together. A fully-fledged casino event with wrestlers can become regional, national, or global news. It can turn into a part of wrestling history, and it’s all thanks to the casino.
Casinos discovered that they need to be a part of people’s consciousness to reach grand success. They found out that wrestler promotions can help them get there, but that discovery was no fluke. They did thorough research, which is something most gamblers neglect. Gamblers can and should look up gaming industry statistics to find the right game or casino for them. There are many websites, such as online casino cz, that gather info on casinos and games. Those websites help gamblers wrest profit, bonuses, and enjoyment out of casino games.
Online Casinos and WWE Stars: Creating Iconic Wrestling-Themed Slots
Once casino brands figured out the winning formula, they decided to flesh it out. There were still ways to make money through classic gambling, and now casinos knew what to do. They took the classic slot machines and gave them a fresh coat of paint, resulting in WWE slot machines. Famous wrestlers adorned slots, providing the novelty and personality the classic games lacked. Then came the time for slot design experts to shine.
Casino brands know that making a new game is delicate. A slot machine in particular needs to have a fine balance of consistency and randomness. Adding new elements to a slot can make it jarring and unplayable. That’s why casinos did thorough testing to define which wrestling features are suitable. They settled on wrestlers’ signature moves, appearance, and catchphrases. Those elements build instant recognizability and create an emotional connection with the player.
An example of a WWE casino slot is WWE Clash of the Wilds. Made by All41 Studios, this branded slot uses WWE imagery to great effect. The slot features four WWE stars:
- John Cena
- Roman Reigns
- Charlotte Flair
- Bianca Belair
They represent the premium symbols, but there are also J–A symbols. The Wild symbol is a wildcard that can replace any of them. There are 40 fixed paylines, with five-of-a-kind being the most lucrative ones. When five Wild symbols land in a row, the slot pays out 10x the bet amount. Bets go up to 25 dollars/euros per spin, with four RTP choices and the highest one being 96.13%.
The slot also features video clips of the four wrestlers and audio commentary. That in itself represents a casino bonus, but players can also enter a Ladder Match. In it, players get free spins and a chance to earn up to 10,000x the bet.
The Wrestling World’s Impact on the Gambling Industry
From advertising campaigns to themed slots, wrestling is seeping into the gambling industry. It provides fresh, low-cost spectacles the casino brands need. In return, wrestlers can get paid for their unique personality through branding deals. They can take it easy and avoid serious injuries that come from wrestling too often. That is one example of a win-win outcome coming from the fusion of wrestling and gambling. Combined with the internet, the sky’s the limit. A new online casino using a themed WWE slot can draw in millions of wrestling fans.
Wrestling brought a revolution to live casino entertainment. Now, we’re waiting for online casinos to catch up. Here are some possibilities.
Online WWE-Themed Card Games
For now, card games have not used wrestling personalities as much as slots. An exciting possibility is to have a WWE-themed blackjack online game. It could also include collectible cards akin to baseball cards, except with wrestlers. Thanks to video gaming, there is a proven market for such cards. Casinos can sell them through microtransactions and special packs. Each card game, such as online poker, could have a different set of cards.
Influencer Marketing
Social media is where everyone is at, especially the young ones. Anything that isn’t on social media might as well not exist. Wrestlers and casinos can connect with the crowd through social media. That is a cheap way to advertise and can include platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Virtual Reality and E-Sports
Virtual reality (VR) is already here, and it represents a natural evolution of video gaming. E-sports are another fun angle, with players duking it out with controllers in front of the big screen. Both VR and e-sports can make people feel like wrestlers without being in the ring. Add in some wrestling betting, and heart-pumping fun is a sure bet.
The Future of Wrestling and Gambling
In the 21st century, people want to customize every aspect of their lives. Also, they don’t mind using the internet for entertainment. Casino brands have realized both of those facts and adapted to them with little friction. For now, the most important outcome is wrestling betting. It is a staple of casino entertainment alongside WWE slot machines. They give casinos a dash of personality and spectacle. That is sure to put “bling” in gambling entertainment, both offline and online.
