Outdated and Forgotten Casino Games
An ever-increasing number of websites have started to offer casino games. Some of them offer advanced features and modernistic themes. Others possess a classic, retro outlook and very traditional rules. Gaming providers strive to offer new products and improve the already-existing ones day in and day out.
However, some games simply become too outdated to address modern-day demand. Others fail to captivate players and in time the market rejects them. This is not a bad thing, though, as it keeps the industry standards high and helps create a more vibrant gaming environment.
Today, we are going to look at seven games that went out of fashion due to different reasons. This will help us understand the trends that drive the market and, if you are a player, it will improve your ability to choose better, higher-quality games for yourself.
1. Casino Tic-Tac-Toe
Tic tac toe is one of the most simplistic games of fortune. A shrewd casino game designer came up with the idea to take this childhood game into gambling halls. Thus, in 2009, T. Christian A. Schlumbrecht patented the Casino Tic-Tac-Toe game and started offering it to land-based establishments.
The rules were really simple. The game used a 52-card deck with 26 X cards and 26 O cards. Instead of the typical 3×3 grid, however, players encountered a similar table containing the numbers 1 through 9. Still, they had to either bet on the X, O, or Tie. Easy, right?
Besides, the game had a house edge of 3.15, which is about the average. The outcome was entirely luck-based, so it was fun and pocket-friendly to play.
However, Casino Tic-Tac-Toe never survived due to a very peculiar story. Just as the game was about to gain popularity, some casinos adopted a version of tic tac toe where you play against a real chicken called “Ginger.” The chicken’s role was to point where the next move would fall on the grid. Ultimately, it turned out that chicken tic tac toe was manipulated because casino staff used a laser to point the chicken’s signals. Nonetheless, it still accounted for the death of Casino Tic-Tac-Toe.
2. Sigma Derby
This game still exists in the US although it is on the verge of becoming extinct. Only 10 Sigma Derby machines operate in the country at the present day. As you might guess by the name, the goal of this land-based game is to simulate horse races.
The rules are simple. You have a model of a real racetrack with five horses. Races are triggered mechanically and last for a whole minute. All you need to do is pick your favorite horse and place your bet.
Sigma Derby was introduced in 1985 and quickly gained a lot of fans. However, the large mechanical device takes too much space that can be used for slot machines. The latter bring in more money to casinos, so it makes no business sense to keep the Sigma Derby. Still, a few dedicated owners have refused to get rid of the machine and die-hard Sigma Derby enthusiasts flock to their establishments to play this entertaining game.
3. Casino War
This is another casino game that resembles simple childhood entertainment. You need only luck to play Casino War. The rules are straightforward: You play against the dealer, who flips over a card for you. The highest card wins the game. If the two of you tie, you can double your initial wager, thus “going to war.”
As you can see, although this game is fast-paced, there is not much to it. This is especially true given all modern-day casino alternatives that allow you to experience sophisticated, unusual gameplay. Besides, the house edge is 3%, which is not favorable.
4. Pineapple Poker
Poker is one of the most popular casino games. Its numerous variations attract players because to win, you need both good fortune and strategy. However, in a typical poker game players rival each other. This means the casino profits very little.
In contrast, Pineapple Poker is one of the game’s versions, where you play against the casino. While this scenario might seem quite thrilling, the bottom line is the house always wins. Thus, Pineapple Poker and its likes are getting frequently discarded in favor of more player-friendly poker variations.
5. 5-Card Draw
Talking about poker, the 5-card draw is a very popular variation played by families and friends. The game is quite entertaining and – depending on the bets – you can even make decent money if you are good at it.
However, casinos have not been keen to offer it. Typically, they favor Texas Hold’em instead. Despite this fact, video poker providers have been shrewd enough to embrace the gameplay, so you still have the chance to enjoy it at most online casinos. Besides, the house edge is quite low, which makes the 5-card draw all the more attractive.
6. Faro
Faro was a game that somewhat resembled roulette that is played on a table, where you would have all Spades laid out in front of you. The values ranged from the Ace being to lowest to the King being the highest. You and the other gamblers would then place your bets on the cards. Consequently, the dealer would draw two cards. The first one was the losing and the second was the winning.
7. 7-Reel Slots
There was a time at the beginning of this century when we had 7-reel slots. However, the 7-reel physical machines did not offer anything special compared to the already existing mechanical slots. That is why they never became popular at land-based casinos. In contrast, there are many 7-reel online slots full of amazing features that Internet gamblers enjoy today.