Mobile slot games have become extremely popular. As the world of football and iGaming become more interlinked, there have been several games incorporating football themes. But are there any EPL-themed slots on the horizon?
It is rare to see a global football league in today’s modern era that does not have some form of gambling sponsorship. From bookmakers to online casinos, iGaming is one of the most prolific sponsors. Inevitably, there are several football-themed slot games available to play online, some better than others. So, where do you begin to find and play them?
Early Days of Football-Themed Slots
The real boom in football-themed slots began in the early 2000s. Online slot games became a viable form of entertainment, and one that was proving popular. To attract new players, developers began to incorporate football themes into slot games. They replaced symbols with iconography such as balls, goalposts and corner flags.
Football was not the only theme being incorporated at this time. Slots began to utilise everything they could, from historical themes like ancient Egypt to ones based on popular culture franchises like movies. A selection of the most popular slots on casinos.com shows just how varied they now are. There are horror themes like ‘Blood Sucker Megaways’ that uses the famous patented cascading reels system. Others include famous franchises like ‘Big Bass Bonanza’, a fishing-themed slot that now has numerous iterations. Of course, there are plenty of sport themes too, with a few football ones dotted about.
Popular Football Themed Slots
Football-themed slots come in many different types. Some are better suited to beginners, while others to more experienced players. A selection of the most popular are below.
Football Champions Cup
The Football Champions Cup is a great game to get started on. It has wild symbols that can substitute for any paying symbol, and a scatter symbol in the form of a golden cup. Line up a few of these, and you can enter the free spins bonus round, where the larger prizes are won. It has five reels and 20 different ways to win, so it never gets too complex but does have enough to keep you interested.
Football Favourites
This title is loosely based on the Champions League, but without the licenses. A nice touch is that you get to choose your team from a London-based one, two Manchester squads and two Spanish sides. This will change the look of the player symbols on the reels. The game contains wild symbols, but also has a range of multipliers that can quickly amp up any wagers placed.
Maradona
One of the few slot games that features a license, the Argentine legend gets his own game with this release by Blueprint Gaming. Just like the player himself, the title is highly volatile, meaning that wins come infrequently, but in spectacular fashion when they do. There are 20 different paylines which let you win up to 50,000x your wager. All of this is done amongst the images of this sporting legend.
Spin and Score Megaways
Spin and Score is a football slot that uses the famous Megaways system. This is recommended for advanced players, as it can get quite confusing. The number of symbols on each reel can change, meaning the ways to win can reach around 200,000 variations or more. This is very different to most games, which provide around 20. However, it does allow for very exciting games with huge wins if it is linked to a jackpot.
Will There Be EPL-Themed Slots?
The EPL has never been one to shy away from betting and casino brands. There have been numerous partnerships and sponsorships. Look at Liverpool alone. In 2015, they signed a deal with Marathonbet, which was one of the first major online gaming platforms in the modern era. It also made the platform the official betting partner of the club. In 2016, they signed a deal with BetVictor, who then became the global betting partner of the club. This is the case with many top-flight teams.
How far EPL endorsements will go in the future depends on the United Kingdom’s legislation. In the US, there are major sporting brands such as the NFL currently lending their licenses to actual slot games. Created by Aristocrat Gaming, all the branding and imagery from the major US sporting league are included. The NHL have also done the same, cementing their partnership with the gambling industry.
Under UK law, gambling games are not allowed to appeal to minors. An endorsement by the EPL may breach this, as so many of their fans are young and impressionable. There have been many individual sportspeople who have signed deals with slot manufacturers. For example, horse racing legend Frankie Dettori has his own slot titles. However, his appeal is less of one aimed at minors.
Slot games should be viewed as a form of entertainment. If you like to play games and love football, then you should give them a try. Manage your bankroll and set a time limit, then dive into one of these exciting titles.
