SLOTS DESIGN REPORT Competitive Research and Data Insights for Slots Designers TABLE of CONTENTS

SLOTS DESIGN REPORT Competitive Research and Data Insights for Slots Designers TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEW RELEASES 3 In-Machine Challenge Competition Mayan Millions in Big Fish Casino Product Insights Respins with Hidden Areas Treasure Blast in DoubleU Casino SLOTS TRENDS 9 SEPTEMBER Bonus Wheel Investment Number of Apps with Bonus Wheels Bonus Wheels by App Bonus Wheels by Type MARKET WATCH 14 2020 Notable Releases

APPENDIX 17 Liquid & Grit Slots Personas Premium Partnerships NEW RELEASES

Machines with unique features or fresh combinations of established mechanics

3 3 CASINO > CONTENT > SOCIAL In-Machine Challenge Competition Mayan Millions in Big Fish Casino

4 MECHANIC TEARDOWN 1

Players race to complete randomized challenges that award wheel spins.

Feature Details • A wheel spin determines a challenge for all players at the table (1 and video). • Challenges require landing a certain number of symbols in a single spin (2 and 3). • The first player to complete the challenge earns a wheel spin for a multiplier or jackpot (4 and 5). • Non-winning players are randomly awarded a pick'em bonus (6). 2 3 • Each completed challenge triggers a wheel spin for a new challenge. • Three or more pyramids trigger free spins with a bet multiplier (7). • Each free spin receives an additional 2–6x multiplier. • Landing three or more pyramids adds more free spins. Additional Information • See more images and videos in the Mayan Millions library. Additional Social Bonus References • Banana Bonanza in Big Fish Casino • Bubble Madness in POP! Slots • Win Zone FreePlay in POP! Slots 4 5 6 7 • Ruby VS Pearl in Slotomania

5 PRODUCT INSIGHTS 1

A wide range of challenges will drive engagement from arousal-oriented players. Mayan Millions' competitive bonuses and progressive jackpots based on other players' bets have a strong draw for Sensation Serena players, who are motivated by both arousal and social glory.1 However, all of its challenges have the same goal: landing a certain number of symbols in a single spin. Since Sensation Serena enjoys stimulating meta-features, a greater variety of challenges would likely prove even more appealing for these players. For example, Big Fish Casino's Banana Bonanza has players compete for bingos on a board above the reels (1), and POP! Slots' Win Zone offers timed high-score competitions. Collection challenges would also be a likely winner. Hiding competitor progress increases spins in all-or-nothing competitions. Challenges that can be won in a single spin ensure that players always have a chance to win, which is important when there is only one winner for each round. During longer challenges, underperforming players may stop spinning to wait for the next round if they feel they've fallen too far behind. 2 Hiding other players' scores is a simple but effective way to mitigate this effect. Researchers found that hiding competitor progress in an all-or-nothing tournament increased performance by 26%.2 Inexact representations of progress had a similar effect, so consider using ambiguous score indicators to maintain competitive pressure without discouraging low performers. Varied rewards for different challenges boost motivation and retention. All of Mayan Millions' challenges award the same wheel spin, potentially representing a missed opportunity to provide a greater variety of rewards. In one study, dividing rewards into multiple categories boosted task completion by more than 350%, motivation by 38%, and enjoyment by 35%.3 In addition to wheel spins, we recommend offering pick'ems, mini-steppers, or wilds for each different challenge—all favorites of Sensation Serena. For instance, Cash Frenzy's Wizards of Fortune awards eight distinct bonuses (2). Then, provide a big bonus for players who have won one of each reward. Not only will this prevent players from leaving the table to hunt for easier challenges, but research has shown that framing tasks as part of a set can increase engagement by nearly 50%.4

1 Liquid & Grit Slots Personas Report, p. 28–34 3 "I'll Have One of Each": How Separating Rewards Into (Meaningless) 2 The Effects of Disseminating Relative Performance Feedback in Tournament versus Individual Categories Increases Motivation, p. 4 6 Performance Compensation Plans, p. 20–21 4 Pseudo-Set Framing, p. 1464 CASINO > CONTENT > SOCIAL Respins with Hidden Areas Treasure Blast in DoubleU Casino

7 MECHANIC TEARDOWN 1

Bombs activate hidden reel areas during respins.

Feature Details • Coin symbols contain values and jackpots. • Six or more coins trigger a respin bonus with sticky coins (1, 2, and video). • During respins, the main reel set overlaps with four inactive reel areas. • Bomb symbols activate the overlapping areas where they land (3 and 4). 2 3 • Respins continue across all active areas (5). • At the end of respins, players earn the total value of all coins in active areas (6). Additional Information • See more images and videos in the Treasure Blast library. Additional Expanding Respin References • The King of Swing in House of Fun • Year of the Dog in House of Fun • Invincible Brave in Cash Frenzy

4 5 6

8 NEWSLOTS INNOVATIONS TRENDS

The latest developments in top-grossing apps

Tracked slots apps: Big Fish Casino, Caesars Slots, Cash Frenzy, Cashman Casino, DoubleDown, DoubleU Casino, Game of Thrones Slots, Gold Fish Casino, Heart of Vegas, Hit It Rich!, House of Fun, Huuuge Casino, Jackpot Magic Slots, Jackpot Party, Lightning Link Casino, Lotsa Slots, my KONAMI, myVEGAS, POP! Slots, Quick Hit Slots, Scatter Slots, Slotomania, and Wizard of Oz: Casino Slots

9 9 BONUS WHEEL INVESTMENTS REBOUND

After declining in the last third of 2019, monthly releases with wheel spin bonuses have grown steadily since January 2020. Bonus Wheel Investment

6 Number of Releases

Sep '19 Oct Nov Dec Jan '20 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

10 MORE APPS INVESTING IN BONUS WHEELS

The past three months averaged 8.7 apps with bonus wheel releases per month—the most of any three- month period in the past year. Number of Apps with Bonus Wheels

4 Number ofApps

Sep '19 Oct Nov Dec Jan '20 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug

11 MOST APPS RELEASE FEW BONUS WHEELS

Tracked apps averaged 1.8 bonus wheel releases per app in the past 12 months. Quick Hit Slots and Cash Frenzy were notable outliers in an otherwise relatively even distribution.

Bonus Wheels by App (Past 12 Months)

Quick Hit Slots Cash Frenzy Big Fish Casino Caesars Slots DoubleU Casino Gold Fish Casino Jackpot Magic Slots Lotsa Slots Scatter Slots Cashman Casino Game of Thrones Slots Average Huuuge Casino Jackpot Party Lightning Link Casino my KONAMI myVEGAS Slotomania

1 2 3 4 5 6

Number of Releases 12 WHEEL BONUSES FAVOR MULTIPLIERS AND WILDS

Multipliers and wilds led bonus wheel investments in the past three months. However, multiple, social, and player choice bonuses made up a nearly equal number of releases when combined.

Bonus Wheels by Type (Past 3 Months)

4 Number of Releases 2

Wilds Social

Pick'em

Multipliers Mini-Game

Player Choice

Multiple Bonuses

Extra Reels/Lines/Pays 13 MARKET WATCH

Other new and notable releases

14 1 NOTABLE RELEASES I

App Machine Description

• Six horse symbols trigger three respins with sticky horses. • Horses fall into empty positions after each spin. Caesars Slots Trifecta Derby 2 • Filling the bottom row awards all values in the row, resets the respin counter, and advances corresponding horses on a racetrack for jackpot multipliers or free spins (1 and video).

• Three or more phoenix symbols trigger up to 30 free spins. Fire Riches • Spins in the base game or during free spins can randomly trigger a wild bonus. • Completing a certain number of spins unlocks a social tournament with sticky wilds (2 and video).

Cash Frenzy • Four or more lava symbols trigger respins. • Splendid Collecting lava symbols unlocks additional rows (3). 3 Island Deluxe • Yellow lava symbols randomly add coins to red lava symbols. • Respins fill a meter to trigger super respins with more lava symbols and greater values (video).

• Spins occur in series of eight. • For the first seven spins, door symbols are added to covered positions above the reels (4 and video). Cashman Gates of • The eighth spin converts doors to extra reel positions and adds jackpot and multiplier symbols. Casino Prosperity • Three or more scatter symbols trigger up to 24 free spins with jackpot and multiplier symbols. • Doors convert into expanded reel positions during free spins. 4 • Filling reel 1 with gold rose symbols triggers two respins with sticky roses and wilds. • A switch increases bets by 50% and expands gold roses to fill the reel (video). The Legend of DoubleDown • Three or more red rose symbols trigger up to 20 free spins. Z: Gold Roses • Multiplier wilds increase the number of free spins. • Players can exchange 20 free spins for one of three free spin bonuses or an instant prize.

15 1 NOTABLE RELEASES II

App Machine Description

Egypt • Two winning streak symbols trigger a respin bonus. Gold Fish Winning • Wins are added to a tower of increasing multipliers and award one more respin (1 and video). Casino 2 Streak • Respins end when a spin does not result in a win.

• Lucky symbols increase multipliers above the reels (2 and video). • Multiplier progress is saved for each bet amount. Chunky House of Fun • Six or more gold pot symbols trigger seven respins with sticky gold pots. Charms • Landing +1 symbols during respins awards additional respins. • Filling a reel awards the multiplier above that reel.

• Three frog symbols trigger a pick'em bonus. 3 Huuuge The Cursed • Players choose one of four areas to pick a frog (3 and video). Casino Prince • Pick'em prizes are added to a progressive jackpot. • Finding the prince awards the jackpot.

• Five or more orange crystal ball symbols trigger three respins. • Orange crystal balls unlock up to seven additional rows (4 and video). Lotsa Slots Fortune Ball • Green crystal balls fill a meter to unlock a bonus for a chance to win the grand jackpot. • Orange and green crystal balls reset the respin counter. 4 • Landing a sea witch fully on reel 1 triggers respins and causes water to slowly fill the reel set. Underwater Scatter Slots • Wild symbols lock in place on underwater reel positions (video). Treasure • Respins stop once the reel set is completely submerged.

Quickly review all features and machines

Filter the Library Tool by month and year to see all new releases. 16 APPENDIX

17 LIQUID & GRIT SLOTS PERSONAS

Participants from the U.K. and U.S. (N=1,299) were surveyed about their mobile gaming use. The data produced five personas with distinct slots preferences and playing habits.

Demographics

Fame Frank Money Mike Daydreamer Denise Gambler Gail Sensation Serena

Size 21% 22% 27% 19% 11%

Women 50% 51% 66% 60% 55%

Age 32 mean / 30 median 34 mean / 32 median 35 mean / 34 median 35 mean / 33 median 35 mean / 32 median

Education 3.5 3.3 3.5 3.2 3.3

Money Spent 4.2 4.9 3.5 5.4 5.8

Play Time 5.0 4.5 5.0 4.9 6.5

* The education, money spent, and play time numbers represent the relative value of each category compared to other player personas. 18 PREMIUM PARTNERSHIPS

Liquid & Grit partners with these premier market research and analytics companies to infuse our reports with the most relevant and detailed gaming user personas, data, and statistics available.

Quadrant Strategies Kinrate Analytics Sensor Tower Market Research Player Personas Mobile App Store Intelligence Quadrant Strategies Kinrate Analytics Sensor Tower Quadrant Strategies is a market research Kinrate Analytics offers game developers, Sensor Tower is relied upon by financial analysts, consultancy that uses research to help the world's consultants, publishers, and cloud gaming VCs, and publishers who need to leverage data to most prominent technology, gaming, and operators the best cross-platform game identify the fastest-growing apps, emerging entertainment companies develop strategies for recommendation engine for targeted marketing, as markets, and more. building their user base, increasing user well as a novel profiling-as-a-service solution for Clients harness Sensor Tower's suite of app engagement and spend, and strengthening their intelligent market segmentation and social intelligence tools to: marketing and brand plans. networking. ‣ Evaluate app economies and app vitality. We do that using a range of quantitative and Other services include advanced market prediction qualitative methodologies, including gamer analyses for identifying emergent gaming trends ‣ Drive organic growth with the leading App Store segmentation and persona development, feature and access to unique AI-enhanced data of 140 Optimization platform. testing, message creation, and loyalty and thousand game titles and 48 million game players. ‣ Get the best global download and revenue engagement modeling. The work of our senior The products of Kinrate Analytics have been estimates for the App Store and Google Play. leadership goes back many years, and includes developed in university-led research projects in long-term engagements for console and gaming- ‣ Discover top creatives and better shape user collaboration with economists, psychologists, game PC hardware-makers, individual games in a range acquisition strategy. scholars, and data scientists. of genres, and across consoles, PCs, and mobile, and for some of the top game franchises.

19 “Creativity is that marvelous capacity to grasp mutually distinct realities and draw a spark from their juxtaposition." — Max Ernst

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