The PlayStation console is a great platform for gamers, even those who enjoy casino games. However, is it possible for online casinos to thrive in the PS community? After all, the new gen consoles do resemble PCs in many respects, and are no longer used solely for gaming. That said, would it make sense for casino game studios to optimize or make games that are played via a joypad as well? Let’s discuss.
Current State of Casino Games on Consoles
Realistically speaking, there is nothing stopping you from playing online casino games on your PlayStation. All of the real money casino sites that are found on pokiespros.com can be accessed through a web browser, and that browser is installed on PS5. In other words, you can sign up, claim bonuses, fund the account, etc., just like you would on your PC. But the whole experience will feel really clunky because you are using a joypad rather than a keyboard and mouse.
When it comes to real money casino games that you can access through the PS store, those don’t exist. There are gambling-themed games like Casino of Kings or Poker and Blackjack games that you play for fun, but you cannot win real money on those. That said, titles like Poker Club look and feel significantly better compared to online poker rooms, so there’s that.
Technical and Licensing Challenges
The reason why real money gambling isn’t a thing on consoles is twofold. First, it’s not exactly profitable for casino brands to create content that is specifically optimized for consoles. The mobile market is way more profitable, and the costs for creating mobile games are lower.
Second, and more importantly, PlayStation won’t allow real money gambling games on its store. In essence, you’d need a hacked console and a specific way to install the game in order to play it, which is too big of a hassle to make this work.
Player Demand and Market Potential
Consol players mainly play those titles that take full advantage of the platform. Dual sense controllers, stellar graphics, and button-mashing action aren’t typically associated with casino games. Adding elements that leverage these capabilities would be a waste of time and money for the developers because it wouldn’t necessarily resonate with their core demographic.
Even if devs decided to create a AAA casino game for consoles, there is no guarantee that players will love it. If you look at the highly praised Indian Dreaming online pokies, you’ll see that flashing graphics and complex mechanics don’t play a big role in whether the game will be popular or not. Things like bonus rounds, hit frequency, RTP, bet limits, and multipliers are way more important to players. So, trying to cater to players with different preferences and spending a ton of cash to make such a game could be a bad business move.
Role of Sony’s Policies and Restrictions
While smaller game studios might not want to risk developing an expensive casino game for PlayStation, bigger brands and corporations could explore such a venture. They love to test the waters with different projects and see if it makes sense to expand into new markets. However, the policies and restrictions that the PS store has in place make this impossible. The company wants to maintain its family-friendly branding, and adding gambling would go against that philosophy.
Additionally, the store budget cannot be withdrawn, as the PS store isn’t a banking tool or app. So, sorting out those legal hurdles just so they can also offer gambling games might be more trouble than it’s worth for them. Especially, if you consider they’d be liable for casinos refusing to payout winnings to players if something like that ever happens.
Possible Models for Casino Game Integration
Although it’s unlikely PlayStation will change its policy on real money cash games, it’s fun to speculate how these games would look if the company re-evaluates its position. Having real money games or casino simulators like in Poker Club or Casino of Kings could signal a new era for the world of online gambling. Additionally, PS is compatible with VR, so VR casinos could also be a new genre that thrives here, if the store regulations change. In fact, the VR market isn’t fairing too well, and making it more casual-friendly could save it. Since casino games are considered casual-friendly, this could lead to a drastic shift in user engagement.
Future Outlook for Casino Gaming on PlayStation
Assuming legal and policy issues get sorted, the future outlook for casino gaming on PS is positive. First off, the console supports voice communication, which would be ideal for live dealer games if casinos enable that feature. Also, creating real money virtual casinos isn’t that difficult, given how many assets and game engines already exist.
Also, if Sony doesn’t want to be the party that handles deposits and withdrawals, they can simply allow players to top up their casino account using the money from their PS account, and agree they won’t hold Sony responsible if they aren’t satisfied with the outcomes.