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Can any of the upcoming slots dethrone Starburst in 2021

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Starburst is the video slot created by NetEnt back in 2012. Despite its age, it is still one of the most popular slots currently, and probably the most played video slot game of all time! What makes this classic 5×3 slot so special that is still played by millions today, and can anyone find the secret behind its success, and create the slot which can dethrone Starburst in 2021? We will analyze the facts of what makes Starburst that popular, and take a look at some of the upcoming slot releases from the first quarter of 2021 and try to give an answer to that question. Also, if some of you, by any chance, still haven’t tried this amazing slot, Starburst free play is available. Try it now and see why it is so popular.

 

The Building Blocks behind Starburst Popularity

At first glance, we can see that Starburst’s graphics and design are impeccable. It is still modern, although it is more than eight years old! Although this is just makeup, it is very important for slot longevity.

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With the fast evolution of technology and the fact that graphics are becoming more sophisticated, even slots that are only two or three years old can look outdated. After that, their player counts go to the abyss. With Starburst this didn’t happen, and we even believe that it won’t, because graphics are that sophisticated, and yet so simple, that we won’t see a huge dip in their popularity anytime soon.

The second reason behind Starburst slot popularity is its simplicity. Some of the slot game providers experiment with a huge number of reels and rows, many different features, and various cosmetic additions to keep the players entertained and happy. Starburst makes all the things simple, with its classic 5×3 design. Some players argue that Starburst is boring, but it is not a coincidence that the 5×3 design is the most popular slot design ever. It is not too plain and boring, and not too complicated as well, because slot game players want to win some cash, and not feel overwhelmed by design and gameplay.

Starburst has a huge betting range, from €0.01 to €100. That allows both casual players and high-rollers to play this slot. Although high-rollers don’t like this slot very much, because it is not volatile, casuals adore it. There are many more casual players than high-rollers, so they again targeted a broad audience.

We mentioned that Starburst has low volatility and therefore is not that popular with the players who want to win big. However, casuals love to see many small wins, because they have a feeling that they are generally winning, although they actually don’t – the wins you will get will often be smaller than the bet you made, but some of the players somehow don’t notice it. The sessions are usually long if you play for the smallest amounts, so you can have fun, even if you lose money.

For all these reasons, Starburst retained its popularity over the last eight years. Although it is not the best slot in terms of the chances of winning big, all the reasons we mentioned make it appealing for most players, which happen to be casuals.

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We will now take a look at some of the upcoming slot releases and try to guess whether or not they have a chance for dethroning Starburst.

 

The Most Anticipated Slot Releases 2021

January is not over yet, and we already got some exciting slots this year. For example, we got an exciting video slot from Gamomat, an independent slot game provider, called Crystal Strike. It is a highly volatile slot, beautifully designed, with classic features such as respins and wilds.

Nolimit City released San Quentin xWays. This slot is based on the infamous US jail, which is a theme that wasn’t widely used, so it can be hit or miss, but we expect to be popular, especially among the younger audience.

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iSoftBet, another award-winning games supplier, released Mighty Stallion Hold & Win, the Wild West theme-based video slot. It is another slot that uses their Hold & Win mechanic, but the theme is not inventive, nor the slot itself is offering something new – it is basically the type of slot we get from them all the time, only with a slightly altered theme.

Play’n GO released Miner Donkey Trouble, while Pragmatic released Mysterious Egypt. These slots feel like they were already seen before, and there is no chance that slots that use the same, boring theme, such as the Ancient Egypt flourish and dethrone Starburst.

Pragmatic Gaming has a more interesting release scheduled for February – Dragon Kingdom: Eyes of Fire. This slot should be way better and way more popular than Mysterious Egypt because it has a flawless design and many features attached. Dragons are still a popular topic, and they aren’t overused in video slots such as Ancient Egypt, so we can see this release gaining popularity right off the bat.

Another highly anticipated release should be the Playtech Age of the Gods series’s next release – Book of Oracle. This slot should be the first to come from Playtech in 2021, and they decided to go big right away. Age of the Gods series gained a significant amount of players which is getting bigger with every new slot release. We expect that this slot will be masterfully done in terms of the graphics and interface (since we still didn’t have an opportunity to see it), and the features should be similar to the ones from the previous slots. This is a volatile, progressive jackpot slot, so it will draw attention from the high-rollers.

 

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What Features Should a Slot Have to Beat Starburst

Since we know what is behind Starburst’s popularity, and we saw what the first slot releases are in January 2021, the question arises – does any slot from this list have the features and traits required to dethrone Starburst? We can never know for sure, but the answer is probably – no.

To be as popular as Starburst, the audience must be predominantly casual players. There are some amazing, volatile slots you can make a fortune on, but there are not enough people who would risk big money to try it out. Long, interesting sessions, with lots of small wins, which give you the false impression that you are an overall winner, are the key to the slot popularity.

After that, the slot must have an impeccable design that will age well, so it can stay relevant with time, and must have simple, but yet unique and interesting features. You should overcomplicate, but the slot can’t have a dull theme or average graphics.

 

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Summary

We eagerly expect more great slot releases in 2021. In January and February, we should get several amazing slots from the biggest slot games providers, but in terms of popularity, we don’t think that any slot will be able to dethrone Starburst anytime soon.

However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try out new slot additions, especially if you are a high-roller. There is a trend of more progressive jackpots, mega ways, and other great features incorporated in new slot releases, and in general, it seems that the average volatility is getting higher, which is excellent news for the ones chasing big wins.

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Aviatrix flying in Italy following certificate approval

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Aviatrix, the groundbreaking crash game renowned for its unique engagement mechanics, is building new partnerships in Italy following the granting of a certificate in the country.

The Italian certificate enables Aviatrix to collaborate with operators regulated by the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, introducing casinos fans in Italy to the award-winning game for the first time.

Players at many of the biggest brands in Italy will soon be enjoying Aviatrix.

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Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “We are excited to be bringing Aviatrix to players in Italy for the first time. This is a market where innovation and player engagement are highly valued, so we’re certain our product will be a great fit. And more than that, we have an opportunity to play a central role in one of Europe’s most vibrant online gaming cultures. We can’t wait to get started with operators in the country.”

Aviatrix is fast establishing itself as an important game in regulated jurisdictions, as it already is in emerging ones.

The post Aviatrix flying in Italy following certificate approval appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Set sail on a pirate quest with Belatra’s Tortuga Codex

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Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has launched its pirate-themed title, Tortuga Codex. This 5×4 slot casts players on a journey on the hunt for untold riches buried on a mysterious island.

A Skull symbol acts as the Wild and will substitute for any other symbol to increase the chances of a win. An intriguing element to the game lies in the Additional Reel feature which sits above the main frame. It’s in sync with the main reels, displaying Wild symbols, special pirate icons, and numbers from one to nine. When three or more bomb Scatters come in, numbers on the Additional Reel become active multipliers in the bonus game. The more Scatters appear, the higher each multiplier value, amplifying the potential winnings.

In the main game, the Wild scatters a random number of Wild symbols onto the reels if there is a Scatter underneath it. When the Bonus Game is hit, the Wild symbol will be replaced by the number 9. Pirate Bob, Pirate Patrick and Pirate Girl symbols replace all minor symbols if there is a Scatter symbol underneath them. These symbols will be replaced by the numbers 8, 7 and 6 respectively.

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The Treasure Chest symbol awards players with a random win ranging from 5 to 1000 bets  if there is a Scatter symbol under it. This symbol is replaced by the number 5 when the Bonus game begins. A Coin gives the player a win of 10 bets on the game if there is a Scatter symbol underneath it – transforming into the number 4 for the Bonus. All numbers on the Additional Reel that fall out or appear in place of symbols will go into the Bonus Game when three or more Scatters appear on the reels. Hitting four Scatters will increase each number by one, landing five Scatters will increase each number by three – the maximum is nine.

Players trigger the Bonus Game with three or more bomb Scatters. Before it begins, the first and second cells open up on the Additional Reel at the top, then players must choose a chest that contains either a Plus, Multiplier, or a noose, which concludes the round. As players move down through the levels, the multipliers can increase depending on the chest’s bounty – the maximum is 59049x.

Sergey Chernyavski, Belatra Games’ CCO, said: “Tortuga Codex takes players deep into the perilous seas filled with hidden mysteries, legendary treasures, and ancient artefacts waiting to be uncovered on the reels. The Bonus feature gives players the perfect opportunity to chart a course to winnings.”

The post Set sail on a pirate quest with Belatra’s Tortuga Codex appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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BETBAZAR strengthens product line-up with GR8 Tech partnership

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Industry-leading B2B iGaming marketplace unveils collaboration with the high-performance sportsbook and iGaming platform provider to supply even more solutions to clients

Betbazar – the innovative technology company behind the world’s leading B2B iGaming marketplace – has this month revealed details of a recent partnership with GR8 Tech that will enable it to provide an impressive array of sportsbook solutions to customers.

With GR8 Tech being one of the industry’s most forward-thinking providers of sportsbook and iGaming platform software, the collaboration means all BETBAZAR clients will be able to choose from a wide range of products aimed at providing a more immersive online experience to players.

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While GR8 Tech’s award-winning sportsbook platform, MTS (managed trading services), and streamlined iFrame will all be available via the BETBAZAR marketplace, the star of the show from an operator’s perspective will certainly be the company’s critically acclaimed sportsbook data feed.

GR8 Tech developed this innovative solution to empower iGaming companies to supply an enhanced sportsbook experience to their customers. The GR8 Feed delivers real-time odds, scores, and statistics on approximately 100,000 events from the industry’s most trusted providers.

Covering everything from esports to American football, the feed itself is seamlessly integrated through an API and can harness the power of artificial intelligence to deliver live alerts and a dashboard that breathes life into customers’ statistics. All of this is backed up by bulletproof security features and a dedicated support team that’s available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Given the data feed’s scope to improve clients’ revenue streams and the myriad benefits offered by all of the other GR8 Tech solutions, the partnership will further establish BETBAZAR’s marketplace as the go-to destination for customers’ iGaming needs. Both parties are already looking forward to the numerous opportunities the collaboration should bring.

Alex Iaroshenko, Chief Executive Officer at BETBAZAR, said: “It goes without saying that if you want to be the iGaming industry’s leading B2B marketplace, you have to be able to offer the best products available – and in GR8 Tech’s innovative range of sportsbook solutions, we believe we’ve found a selection of services that will empower operators to offer a best-in-class user experience.

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“Covering everything from sportsbook platforms, managed trading services, and the company’s celebrated data feed, the GR8 Tech products available in our marketplace will ensure we remain at the forefront of innovation while also offering a comprehensive range of options to customers.”

Oleksandr Feshchenko, Deputy CEO & CRO at GR8 Tech, said: “At GR8 Tech, we really believe in the quality of our products and their potential to help operators stand out and maximise their revenue streams – so the next step is obviously to ensure they’re seen by as many customers as possible.

“By partnering with BETBAZAR and making our solutions available via their industry-leading B2B worldwide marketplace, we’ll be able to guarantee that even more prospective clients will have access to the services we offer. This will in turn allow us to empower even more operators to provide an enhanced experience to their end users.”

The post BETBAZAR strengthens product line-up with GR8 Tech partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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