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Can any of the upcoming slots dethrone Starburst in 2021

Published

5 years ago

January 20, 2021

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.

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and the fact that graphics are becoming more sophisticated, even slots that are only two or three years old can look outdated.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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Booming Games

Booming Games launches Inferno Fortune InstaStrike slot

Published

9 minutes ago

April 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-launches-inferno-fortune-instastrike-slot

Booming Games has launched Inferno Fortune InstaStrike, a new slot title built on a 3×3 grid with 10 paylines and a maximum win potential of 2,000x.

The game includes an InstaStrike mechanic where landing two or more InstaStrike symbols anywhere on the reels triggers an immediate payout between 2x and 2000x the bet. Booming Games also said paying symbols can reveal a Mini InstaStrike overlay symbol, with three unlocking a random prize worth between 2x and 2000x the original bet.

Additional features include a Gamble option on base game wins, offering a “double-or-nothing” or “quadruple-or-nothing” round. Three Scatter symbols trigger ten Free Spins, with no limit on re-triggers.

Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said: “With innovative InstaStrike features and Free Spins, we’re confident that players will love the latest addition to our collection. With its familiar layout and fiery graphics, Inferno Fortune InstaStrike is perfect for any player seeking a high-stakes thrill. Step into the fire and feel the InstaStrike spark!”

The post Booming Games launches Inferno Fortune InstaStrike slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Betty Tűndik Co-Founder at HIPTHER

HIPTHER Appoints Elena Stepanyatova as Event Content & Production Manager

Published

9 minutes ago

April 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

hipther-appoints-elena-stepanyatova-as-event-content-&-production-manager

HIPTHER strengthens its growing international events portfolio with the appointment of an experienced leader in content strategy, production, and large-scale event execution.

HIPTHER is pleased to announce the appointment of Elena Stepanyatova as Event Content & Production Manager, joining the team during an exciting period of expansion across Europe and beyond.

With more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning executive management, sales development, business growth, and premium event organization, Elena brings a powerful combination of strategic vision and operational excellence to the HIPTHER ecosystem.

Throughout her career, Elena has successfully launched and scaled new ventures, managed teams of up to 60 professionals, negotiated with government institutions and VIP stakeholders, and overseen high-profile events for audiences of up to 2,500 attendees.

Most recently, as Partner & Executive Director of LLC “MAP,” she played a central role in building and managing an event management company from the ground up, leading recruitment, business development, event concept creation, and commercial strategy. She also directed international business tours for Russian-speaking entrepreneurs to destinations including the United States, South Korea, and Japan.

At HIPTHER, Elena’s responsibilities will include agenda development, speaker and moderator coordination, event content planning, production workflows, and enhancing the attendee experience across the company’s growing portfolio of conferences and summits.

Her first major assignment is already underway: helping shape and implement the agenda for HIPTHER BALTICS: Riga 2026, the next stop in HIPTHER’s expanding Baltics series.

Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder and Head of Business at HIPTHER, commented: “Elena joins us with exactly the kind of energy, experience, and execution mindset we value. Great events are built long before the doors open, and her ability to combine business acumen with production precision makes her a major addition to our team.”

Betty Tűndik, Co-Founder at HIPTHER, added: “Finding the right person for this role was not an easy decision. We spoke with several highly experienced professionals and went through a deep selection process, because this position requires much more than event knowledge alone. From our first conversations with Elena, and later when we met in Prague, it became clear that she understands not only events, content, and production, but also people.

Human understanding is incredibly important in our industry. Elena brings professionalism, intuition, structure, and a strong sense of psychology to the way she works. I am truly impressed by her experience and by the way she connects ideas, teams, speakers, and communities. We believe she is a perfect fit for HIPTHER, and we are excited to welcome her into our team.”

Elena Stepanyatova added:“When I first met Zoltán and Betty during the interview, I immediately thought that this was a place where I wanted to work — I liked it, and I liked them as people. When we met in Prague, I felt it was a true match. We share the same goals and values, not only in our work but also in life.

It is truly special when professional ambitions are fueled by team spirit. I am very happy to be a member of the HIPTHER team, and I believe I can bring something new and meaningful to it. Together, we will keep moving toward the stars and reaching the heights that inspire us.”

As HIPTHER continues to expand its footprint across gaming, fintech, technology, compliance, and innovation sectors, Elena’s appointment marks another important step in scaling world-class event delivery across multiple markets.

The post HIPTHER Appoints Elena Stepanyatova as Event Content & Production Manager appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BAR 1

BETER joins forces with BAR 1 Betting

Published

9 minutes ago

April 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

BETER, the award-winning provider of live streams, real-time data, and odds for fast-paced esports and sports, has partnered with BAR 1 Betting, the leading Irish sportsbook, further strengthening its roster of tier-one operator partners.

Under the terms of the agreement, Irish bettors now have access to BETER’s exclusive ESportsBattle content, with eFootball and eBasketball the first disciplines to be integrated into the BAR 1 platform.

Founded in 1995 as a family-run business operating from a brick-and-mortar shop in Dundalk, County Louth, BAR 1 Betting has since expanded its operations across Ireland, establishing a strong market presence. In 2018, the company launched its online platform, BAR1betting.com, offering a range of betting markets, odds, and promotions.

As the industry’s leading provider of fast-paced betting content, BETER delivers over 500,000 events annually through its ESportsBattle tournaments, covering eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis, while offering up to 50 markets, with an average operator margin of 7.5%+.

BETER’s trading team also powers its Esports Odds Feed, delivering market-leading odds with the highest uptime across more than 450 tournaments globally. The offering covers over 40,000 pre-match and live events annually.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “As the leading provider of live streams, live data, and odds for the betting industry, we’re delighted that BAR 1 Betting has chosen BETER to provide its bettors with premier eFootball and eBasketball offerings.”

“With BAR 1 being one of Ireland’s most respected and well-loved sportsbooks, this partnership allows us to bring our award-winning esports content to a wider audience across regulated markets. At the same time, we look forward to supporting BAR 1 Betting in further strengthening its position as a leader in odds, event coverage, and betting opportunities.”

Barney O’Hare, CEO of BAR 1 Betting, said: “From day one, BAR 1 Betting has been built on a customer-first philosophy. When our customers speak, we listen so when they asked for more esports content, we knew BETER was the ideal partner.

“With its reputation for innovation, extensive coverage, and reliable delivery, BETER stands out as a true leader in the esports space. By adding its eFootball and eBasketball content to our platform, we’re confident we can further enhance the online betting experience for our customers.”

The post BETER joins forces with BAR 1 Betting appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.