Betting lines, over/under, prop bets – these are all familiar concepts for serious sports fans. In recent years, sports-themed slots have emerged as another way for fans the sports they love at sportsbooks and online casinos with major professional sports leagues getting directly involved in sports betting enterprises, that connection continues to deepen. One particularly fun slot genre that has exploded along with sports betting interest is the “fan spirit slot.” These types of slots feature themes and imagery tied to specific sports teams, players, mascots, and more to tap into fans’ spirit for their favorite squads.
Individual sports stars lead the way
It used to be you’d only find slot representations for teams, leagues, or sports overall. Yet over the past few years, individual star athletes have been among the biggest inspirations for sports-centric slot developers. The NBA’s Michael Jordan is arguably the athlete who has made the biggest splash in slots. His longtime partnership with Nike led to a natural transition into slots when PlayJam created the Michael Jordan Video Slots game. Basketball gameplay features blend smoothly with slot machine mechanics for an authentic fan experience.
The king of soccer, Brazilian legend Pelé, also got the slots treatment a few years back. Developed by Unibet, thePelé’s Classic slot includes iconic images and symbols from the star’s life and career. Other soccer greats like Brazilian dynamo Ronaldinho have also recently entered the slots space. Major North American sports have seen their current stars inspire slot gacor designers as well. Hockey phenom Sidney Crosby brings his high-energy playmaking game to the reels in Sid’s Hockey Hero slot from Microgaming. Seven-time NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson lent his name and likeness to the revved-up slot game Jimmie Johnson’s Anything with an Engine from Scientific Games.
Squads and franchises unite fans on the reel
Individual sports superstars may draw in fans’ loyalty, but professional teams themselves still represent entire towns, regions, and fanbases. It’s no surprise that famous pro franchises have gotten the slot treatment just like famous players. The biggest name in international soccer, England’s Premier League, partnered with gaming developer Inspired for two fun slot releases. The Premier League Dynasty Slot and Premier League Ultimate Slot let footy fans play with imagery and symbols from the 20 EPL teams while triggering special features like free spins, substitutions, and more. Europe’s other major domestic football league, Spain’s La Liga, also has its own branded slot. La Liga Golazos Football Slot from Pragmatic Play brings the rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona into the reels with iconic players and moments from Spain’s first division.
From esports to the olympics and more
Looking beyond conventional ball-and-stick major sports, game developers have cast a wide net for sports slot inspiration. The meteoric rise of competitive video gaming has spawned slots like the eSports Slot from Big Time Gaming. This innovative concept built around the popular multiplayer online battle arena title League of Legends attracts a new generation of slots fans.
At the other end of the spectrum lies slots dedicated to beloved legacy sports brands. British developer Reel Play recently unveiled its Olympic Slots game just ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Table tennis, curling and bobsleighing events give this slot novelty and educational value beyond conventional themes.
