Chief product officer of BGaming, Julia Alekseeva analyzes how to attract the audience of sport.
It’s no secret that football reigns as the most beloved sport in the world. It’s easy to follow and hard to ignore with simple rules, year-round events, as well as global appeal. Even those who aren’t die-hard fans likely know a thing or two about it.
In the iGaming world, football betting holds a significant niche. This has long made online casino game providers ask a key question. Can they attract the sport’s dedicated and passionate audience to gamble as well?
Casino operators have struggled with this task for quite some time. While the short answer is that anything is possible, it hasn’t been easy. Fortunately, as player preferences shifted and crash-style and instant-win games grew in popularity, new opportunities emerged. This inspired efforts to blend football themes with these genres.
One of their latest football-themed releases is a reimagined version of their recent hit, Plinko 2. This new version adds a sporty twist. In Football Plinko, players drop ball-shaped tokens onto a grass playing field, with each bounce capturing the energy of the game. The experience is unmistakably football from the goal-inspired entry point to themed sound effects and UI elements. But they didn’t stop there. Inspired by the success, they set out to create an original title that dives even deeper into the spirit of the sport.
The result is Penalty Duel by BGaming. The title went beyond the usual research stage and required several trial runs. The goal was to create a game players always wanted but never knew was possible. They showcased an early concept at BiS SiGMA Americas in São Paulo this year. After receiving encouraging feedback, they took the game back to the lab to bring it fully to life.
