Do not reinvent the wheel. Instead, improve BlackJack and other originals. Seriously.

Although the wheel is one of the original games widely played around the world, that’s not the point. Attempts to bring "uber-mega-crazy" innovative gaming concepts are as old as gambling and iGaming themselves. Yet, few of them have ever succeeded. What is a utility-based approach, and why does improving or repackaging things that already work yield the best results? Find out!

We have already addressed some of the brilliant founding fathers of microeconomics in our previous considerations, but practice makes perfect. If you are gambling-addict or simply want to gamble, your desire is met with satisfaction once you’ve actually spent some time playing. This is called utility. But every time you play, utility slightly drops. Think of it like starving and gorging on hamburgers. The first one brings you the most utility. The second is great, but slightly less satisfying. By the fourth one, you're done. Microeconomists defined this as the law of diminishing marginal utility.

Figure 1. Your diminishing marginal gambling utility

If you play too much, your utility can even turn negative. At a certain point, it becomes physically or mentally draining to keep “consuming.”

That law was a subject of fearsome and relentless ideological attacks from the opposing economic schools. However, the basic logic holds firm. One important thing to notice throughout the ages is that utility has never changed its underlying definition. People come to satisfy their need to gamble, nothing more. They aren’t looking for passive entertainment like watching a movie or killing time with idle distractions. They are there for the action.

We’ve seen numerous attempts to innovate in iGaming, particularly by introducing completely new games and gaming concepts. People were trying all sorts of wheel over-engineering layering convoluted mechanics on top of an RGS on a micro level. In the end, most of these "revolutions" fall flat because success is built on raw, fundamental utility.

While you never know exactly what will work (or what kind of "little genius" in your studio is endlessly proposing "wonderful" stuff), empirical observations are ruthless. The obvious mistake usually comes from the new, ambitious, but less experienced studios. For some reason, they tend to think that something no one has ever seen before is the ultimate path to success. The problem is that they are searching for a different utility. Satisfaction from a "new amazing thing" is entirely different from gambling satisfaction. Practice teaches us that innovations are usually either natural (creatively destroying previous production drivers¹), or the result of slow, progressively applied internal improvements. Any experienced manager knows: if you want to try something new, the only way to do it is through minimal, step-by-step trials that avoid destabilizing the system.

Yet, there are successful cases where "out-of-nowhere" trials led to major success. In one sunny Israeli city, a young group of prospective entrepreneurs visited a well-known online gambling mogul. Their idea was simple: What if we make people play slots, but with no real money involved?

“So how do you make money?” - he asked with utmost curiosity

“We think the upcoming generation just wants to play, regardless of whether real money is involved. The gambling mechanics will make them stay” they answered honestly

He refused them and didn't invest at the time. The value of their “strange” idea was estimated at $1 billion just a year later. Ultimately, they sold their business for 4 billion USD little later. However, no wheel was reinvented. They simply repackaged slots and presented them in a new way. They demonstrated the ultimate blueprint for success. Improve existing mechanics. Don't struggle to create a brand-new universe.

The Playtika deal happened in 2016, and the iGaming world has come a long way since. We’ve seen the surge of crypto casinos, the era of streamers, and market consolidation toward big players. We have also seen the rise of fast, adrenaline-based games and the expansion of what we call “original games.”

Through all these shifts, the golden rule remains: you don't need to invent a new reason for people to play. The concept of utility hasn't changed. The winners are simply those who take existing stuff and make it hit harder, move faster, and feel better.

The recently launched Double Down BlackJack Madness by Yoriginal games is a perfect example of how improving a well-known concept bears real fruit. The game is showing strong results across different geos, particularly in South-East Asia and the CIS. We took a card game that has been around for centuries and added a feature that only slightly tweaks the mechanics. However, at the same time it provides a massive burst of explosive gambling, allowing players to "martingale" wildly. It’s a small step for the game, but a giant leap for the concept of iterative improvement, you got it.

At Yoriginal games we are synthesising the very best that the iGaming industry is known for. Our dynamic portfolio of original games includes full customization options and branding. Our YoRGS allows external teams to build top-notch titles, including high-quality slots. Last but not least, we are shortly revealing something that many of our partners have long been waiting for. Are you excited?

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