Online casino gaming is a big business. Whether it’s playing the virtual slots or roulette for real money, or simply trying your hand at poker for bragging rights with your friends, gone are the days of having to set foot inside a brick-and-mortar outlet to get your gaming fix.
The global online gambling market is estimated to be worth a staggering $46 billion by the end of 2016, whilst up to 173 million people play ‘social casino’ games; that is, titles which see players compete in a social setting for virtual credits rather than real money in an online casino.
Although a large proportion of that latter player base can be inevitably be attributed to the popularity of smart phones and casual gaming apps, you’d expect at least some of the more traditional console game developers to want to get a slice of the action. As it is, however, console users wanting to get their fix of casino gaming – either through slots or table games – via their PS4 or Xbox One are significantly restricted.
As far as ‘real money’ gambling is concerned, the likes of Microsoft and Sony seem unwilling to facilitate the practice directly, with players being limited to accessing gaming sites via their console’s built-in web browser. However, these often rely on third-party plugins, such as Flash, which are unsupported by many home consoles. As it stands, PC and mobile devices are leagues ahead of the likes of the PS4 and Xbox One in providing a platform for this form of online gaming.
With that being said, social gaming fares somewhat better; a growing number of casino titles are being made available via the PlayStation and Xbox online marketplaces. Today, we’ll take a look at just a few of the options available to those wanting to get their fix of slots or table games on their current-gen home console.
Prominence Poker
The 505 Studios-published Prominence Poker is arguably the best casino game simulation title currently available for the Xbox One and PS4. We gave the title a promising 7/10 review upon its release earlier in the year, praising it for its “fun arcade gameplay”. Of course, it is limited in that it only provides access to its titular game; no other casino options, such as roulette or blackjack, are included.
The Four Kings Casino & Slots
Four Kings, released for PS4 and Xbox One, is a title that puts a heavy emphasis on the social aspect of social casino gaming. In what is essentially a casino-based MMO, players are able to select their own avatar and heavily customise it before setting out into the virtual casino. There, they are able to partake in a variety of casino games, including Texas Hold’em poker, blackjack, roulette, bingo, instant keno, slots and more.
Pure Hold’em
Made by the creators of Pure Pool, Pure Hold’em is one of the most graphically impressive casino games available on the PS4 and Xbox One. Featuring full online multiplayer support, the VooFoo Studios-developed title allows players to create and participate in tournaments featuring up to eight people. It holds a respectable Metacritic rating of 73.
There have also been rumours that Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V may include a casino-themed DLC in a future update, after users allegedly data-mined information on mini-games including blackjack, poker and slot machines.
Have we missed out any casino games currently available for the current-gen of home consoles? Let us know in the comments below.