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Can any of the upcoming slots dethrone Starburst in 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and the fact that graphics are becoming more sophisticated, even slots that are only two or three years old can look outdated.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.
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SOFTSWISS, an international technology provider with over 15 years in the iGaming sector, has partnered with South African entities for the Responsible Gambling Summit 2025, reinforcing its commitment to safe, sustainable play in one of its key growth regions. The two-day summit, organised by the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation, brings together regulators, operators, and experts to advance harm minimisation and industry collaboration.
The Responsible Gambling Summit 2025 will take place from 13 to 14 November in Johannesburg, South Africa, and will include an awards gala dinner recognising initiatives in safer gambling. The programme spans policy, compliance, innovation, and public education, with sessions on illegal market impacts, regulatory development, and technology’s role in prevention and intervention. A SOFTSWISS representative will join the panel discussion ‘Innovation, Technology, and Responsible Gambling’, which explores emerging risks and mitigation strategies in digital environments.
“Industry partnership is essential to keep responsible gambling and player protection visible, effective, and evidence-based across channels. We greatly value the commitment and partnership of prominent international companies, such as SOFTSWISS, whose support brings expertise and resources to these important initiatives in South Africa,” said Sibongile Simelane-Quntana, Executive Director at the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation.
“South Africa is a priority market for SOFTSWISS, and we are proud to support this summit’s mission to advance safer play through collaboration and technology,” said Miranda Guliashvili, Head of Regional Growth at SOFTSWISS. “We continuously apply responsible gambling best practices in our products to help operators build sustainable, compliant growth.”
Building on this commitment, the SOFTSWISS Anti-Fraud team has delivered measurable results: from January to August 2025, it prevented over 15 million euro in fraudulent transactions, resolved more than 56,000 tasks, and processed 70 player complaints submitted to gaming regulators and forums. As fraud tactics evolve – including attempts to use AI-generated deepfakes during verification – SOFTSWISS is strengthening its tools and processes to help operators maintain a secure, transparent environment.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Deepens Safer Play as Platinum Partner of Responsible Gambling Summit 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
PG Soft, a world-class digital mobile games company, has released its powerful new title, Kraken Gold Rush. PG Soft’s game invites players to embark on the perilous high seas and navigate past The Kraken’s monstrous tentacles, desperate to drag ships into the abyss. Sticky Wilds and multipliers reaching x100 help players hunt down a legendary haul of 10 million gold coins.
Evoplay has launched Velvet Gems, a glamorous slot filled with sparkling stones, seamless gameplay, and high reward potential. The game immerses players in a luxurious realm of shimmering rubies, emeralds, and sapphires, where each spin radiates opulence. Striking visuals and a refined soundtrack create a premium atmosphere, making it a perfect choice for players seeking an elegant, feature-rich experience.
The authorities thought they’d finally locked away The Syndicate, the most notorious crew of fugitives in history. But in Nolimit City’s latest release, Breakout, not even a maximum security prison can hold them. This jailbreak-themed slot adds to the list of this year’s releases; Dead Men Walking, Tsar Wars and Kill Em All.
Think you are brave enough to return to the Castle of Terror? This lab experiment-horror sequel from Big Time Gaming is a bone-chilling adventure packed with electrifying features designed to give you the fright of your life. This is a slot where players find themselves in a spooky lab where they must brace themselves for Bonus Respins that are triggered by landing Scatters.
BGaming brings the party to the reels with the release of its latest slot, Fiesta Clusters. This vibrant, highly volatile slice of action combines the celebratory spirit of Cinco de Mayo with the expressive artistry of Día de los Muertos, delivering vibrant thrills for players and a seasonal spike potential for operators around Halloween.
Push Gaming is set to deliver twice the thrills this Halloween with the release of two new seasonal titles, Tarot Treasures and Tricky Treats. Both games highlight the recent launch of Push Gaming’s new product segmentation. Push Action delivers titles with enhanced layers of mechanics and player interaction, a category which Tarot Treasures proudly joins.
Spinomenal has launched Buffalo Rampage – Hold & Hit 3×3, a 3×3 reel, 5 lines video slot. Buffalo Rampage – Hold & Hit 3×3 unfolds across a sun-scorched desert at dusk, framed by towering cacti and brought to life with a slow-paced and Western-inspired soundtrack that immerses players in the action.
TaDa Gaming, has added some dark magic to its TriLuck slots series with its five reels, three rows and 50 fixed paylines new game, 3 Witch’s Lamp. Green, Purple and Blue Potion Pot Scatters can trigger the bonus game’s free spins, five fixed jackpots, ignite coins for wins and increase the bonus prizes.
Blueprint Gaming
has introduced a new four pots mechanic and enlarged 5×3 grid to its latest release, Cash Strike Power Force 5, marking an innovative double debut for the internationally recognised series. With various iterations from the Cash Strike family consistently ranking in the supplier’s top 10 revenue-generating markets, the new title builds on the impressive momentum from its predecessors.
Play’n GO invites players underwater in Bubblin’ Riches, a 6×4 slot where golden coins and greedy fish collide for submerged surprises. Set in a playful underwater reef, Bubblin’ Riches brings a burst of colour and charm to the reels. At the heart of the action is a bloated Goldfish with a hoarding habit – every Coin Scatter that lands could feed its fortune, or set off a surprise payout.
Playson turns up the heat in its scorching new release Flaming Bells: Hold and Win, where nostalgic gameplay is reinspired with a 5,000x Grand Jackpot, Extra Bonus Game and valuable Multipliers. Collect symbols gather all visible cash values from the reels, including other Collect icons and the three in-game Jackpot symbol values.
ELA Games beckons players to step into a shadowy realm of sorcery and mystery with its newest release: Witches’ Book. Bathe in the magic as a powerful coven of three witches conjures their spells across the reels, revealing mysterious rewards and surprises. Each spin is a step toward ultimate strength, where massive riches and bubbling magic await.
Amusnet has released its latest online video slot, 27 Wild Shots. This vibrant slot game blends the style of classic fruit games with the charm of a fairytale twist, led by none other than the Little Red Riding Hood herself. The three reels burst with familiar symbols of juicy fruits, reimagined in a lively forest theme.
The post Week 42/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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