Skill-based games will become a key component of the international slot machine industry in the next five years, according to the Chief Operating Officer of online slots developer Leander Games, Ramiro Atucha.
But they must discover the right balance between entertainment and providing players with enough reward to keep them interested, he added.
Speaking to Inside Asian Gaming at this week’s iGaming Asia Congress in Macau on Wednesday, Atucha said that, “Skills games are going to have a much more important role to play” in the future. However, there is still work to do in order to appeal to the right players.
According to Atucha, skills games have not been developed to their full potential due to this lack of balance. He said that is essential to find a dynamic that doesn’t punish people with low skills while remaining challenging for skilled gamblers.
As of yet, Atucha said, no developer of skill-based games has achieved a reasonable balance with attempts to please both sides ultimately leaving no-one satisfied.
Atucha also dismissed virtual reality (VR) as an alternative to current offerings.
“I see a lot of work going into VR, but the truth is that after five minutes of playing slots in VR, people want to leave as it is very uncomfortable,” he said. “I think is more a marketing strategy” than a sustainable gaming option.
On the other hand, Atucha praised recent progress made in the Asian market and confirmed that Leander Games is considering expanding into Asia depending upon the legal framework of various jurisdictions.