Casino Simulation games

That sound you hear is exactly what the Scorpions told us about back in the 80s: The wind of change. It seems like just a matter of time until players everywhere, including the United States, will be able to gamble for real money on their computers and mobile devices. Video game developers and gaming companies have taken steps to prepare, forming alliances and generally getting themselves in the best possible position to begin taking bets.

With that in mind, you can see the current crop of social and mobile casino games as a stealth invasion force of sorts, trying to get people ready for what’s to come. That doesn’t mean they can’t be good games in their own right, and 2012 saw more than a few that were fun to play, with or without ulterior motives. Here are the ones that the Gamezebo crew liked best.

#5 –

You’re kind of painting a target on yourself by calling your game Hollywood Slots (now Hollywood Spins). People are going to expect some glitz and glamor, something more than the typical slots experience. Product Madness pulled it off by giving players games with high production values, including some of the best animation you’ll find in a slots title. Some of the machines are ones you’ll find in real money online casinos. Or so I’m told.

It’s true that you won’t find a lot of social features in this game, but let’s be honest: Slots are kind of a solitary activity anyway. Pull up a virtual slots stool and just enjoy the ride.

#4 –

If you want the young, male demographic to play Facebook games, you’re probably not going to lure them in with farming games. You know what might work a little bit better? Sports gambling, even if it’s for play money. Sports Casino not only allows you to place simulated wagers on real sporting events, it’s packed with social features so you can talk smack or just check out what teams other people are backing to win.

You can even place prop bets that update and change while games are in progress, which is the real killer feature. A selection of other casino games to play on the side is just the icing on the cake. Online sports betting in the U.S. is probably further away than becoming legal than any other from of gambling, but if it does, we’ll be able to look back and say this game was a window into the future.

#3 –

For the past decade or so, casino operators have fought the good fight against online gambling, figuring it would cut into their own profits. Now that the writing seems to be on the wall, they’ve changed tactics and done the old “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” thing. They’re being clever about it too, as evidenced by games like myVEGAS.

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