Thunderkick is a Swedish online casino game developer that has been creating video slots that truly stand out since 2012. The company has captured players' interest with game themes found nowhere else in the industry, astonishing art, and mechanics that ensure highly engaging gameplay.
It is fair to say that behind every great slot game is an equally great slots developer. How would we have such entertaining slots as the gripping Thunderstruck 2 or the incredibly absorbing Starburst without the creative talents and mathematical formulas devised by the makers of these games, Microgaming and Net Ent respecfully. Or should I say the staff at these companies. These two games are just a couple of examples of the hundreds of great video slots that have really captured the players imaginations.
What makes a great slot?
Arguably every slot will appeal to different players in different ways, but there are definitely some slots that really stand out from the crowd. One example might be Cleopatra from IGT. This particular slot game has migrated from the land based casinos to the online casinos and even further onto mobile devices in more recent times. It’s an extremely simple formula for a game – one bonus round, triggered by 3 scatters anywhere in view. The reward is 15 free spins with 3x multiplier. It is so simple the game has been mimicked countless times, but time and again players will return back to this classic, rather than sticking with any number of Cleopatra clones. Why?
The answer isn’t exactly obvious, but the Egyptian-theme, combined with a seductive voice (presumably lady Cleopatra) and some extra features chucked in for good measure seem to combine beautifully. It is also well known that the better the math, the better the user experience and it is well documented that IGT and in particular Aristocrat make this a key component of their slots. In fact it is believed that Aristocrat will spend the best part of three years tweaking with the mathematical equations driving the slot game before they are ready to release it. That is probably several years and months longer than many other slots developers.
Strong competition
Having spent many years following the growth of the slots industry, the Gamingslots team agree that there isn’t a better time to be playing slots. What used to be a handful of slots developers has turned into a huge market. Some developers are big, some are small, some only build mobile slots, some only focus on slots for land based casinos. However the great news for players is there is bags of variety and some really clever games being produced. We really hope that there are even more great slots developed, making things even more enjoyable for all of us players.
When we think about jobs relating to the casino industry, our first thoughts might be towards front-line roles in exotic locations like Las Vegas or Macau, maybe even working in the gaming lounge of a luxurious cruise ship.
One role that instantly springs to mind is that of the croupier, the friendly face dealing cards at the gaming tables or making sure the roulette game keeps on spinning. Another would be the responsible position of being the pit boss, walking the casino floor and ensuring all the gaming action keeps running smoothly, overseeing the work of the dealers and croupiers. For those with higher ambitions, perhaps even running the whole show as a casino manager.
These are all roles we associate with physical casino properties, however, in the digital realm of online casinos, there are quite literally endless possibilities when it comes to employment opportunities, covering numerous disciplines and vocations. Let’s take a look at some of the roles you might find, when delving into the online casino industry job market.
Online Casino Live Host
Just because an online casino works in the digital space via the internet or mobile connections, doesn’t mean they don’t need real people to work as card dealers or croupiers. Over the last few years thanks to the widespread availability of high-speed internet connections, the quality of online streaming content has vastly improved.
Live casino games like those found at Virgin Games give players a taste of the real-world casino experience. Instead of random number generating algorithms and computer programs running the show behind the scenes, popular card games like poker and blackjack are hosted by a real person. This is essentially the role of an online casino live host, although there’s much more to the job than dealing cards or spinning the roulette wheel.
Along with providing commentary of games as the action unfolds, genuinely great online casino live hosts will aim to keep the players engaged and entertained. They will typically have an outgoing personality, be keen to ensure players know exactly what’s happening during every game, and they will thrive when interacting with an audience. They’ll know the rules, be willing to explain how games work, while being comfortable doing so in front of the camera.
Data Engineer
Beyond the front-end appearance of what many of us take for granted when playing games at an online casino, behind the scenes, there’s a huge amount of data management and programming required to keep everything ticking like clockwork. This is where the role of data engineer comes in, managing batch and streaming data pipelines, feeding valuable information to gaming and cloud-based platforms, mostly used for marketing and reporting.
As one of the biggest companies at the cutting edge of online gaming technology, Gamesys Group have recently advertised Data Engineer jobs. Of course, it goes without saying they are looking for highly motivated and professional people, fully qualified with all the technical competencies and programming experience required for such a role. This includes excellent coding knowledge with SQL, Python, Java, and scripting with Unix.
Just as important is the capacity to work as part of a strong and cohesive team is, whilst also being able to effectively communicate technical concepts and ideas, whether that’s internally to colleagues or in presentations to stakeholders. Interestingly, what this particular company prized above anything else is that successful candidates “stay wonderfully weird” and be themselves, indicating they strongly value individual personality and initiative.
Compliance Officer
While the online gambling industry is firmly established in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe, with stringent laws and gaming regulations ensuring that everything is monitored and safe for players, newer markets are rapidly opening up in other locations around the world. One such location is the United States, where online and mobile sports betting is gradually being legalised throughout the country, which has also opened the door for online casinos.
This is where the role of compliance officer has become absolutely essential for all the leading casino gaming companies. Their task is to handle any licensing issues, whilst also ensuring that games and software complies with local gaming regulations and laws, meeting all required licensing and accreditation requirements. Naturally, part of the job is evaluating any potential risks to the company and their gaming licenses, via ongoing and thorough reviews.
NetEnt software and games have made the Swedish developer a renowned name in the online casino industry. Like many European gaming companies, they’re expanding into the new but already flourishing American online casino market. For the compliance officer jobs they currently have open, exceptional interpersonal and communicative skills are considered essential requirements for any candidate, along with a keen eye for details given the regulatory nature of the job.
Casino Gaming Companies
Countless Opportunities
Considering the online casino industry has shown constant growth over the last two decades, more and more jobs are always becoming available. In the midst of a communications technology boom that continues to propel the industry ever onwards and upwards, the variety of different roles and vocations available is practically endless. From corporate services to customer experience, data management to game design, finance to compliance; the list of jobs and roles is practically endless.
Casino Companies Stocks
Given the practical nature of online gaming in the casino industry, it goes without saying, there’s a lot of jobs available in IT and development, which includes managing the infrastructure and security of gaming websites. Likewise, getting the brand out there is just as important, which means plenty of marketing and PR job opportunities, along with customer services to retain clients and manage their needs.
Public Casino Companies
No matter your vocational background and qualifications, the online casino industry has a constant demand for both new and established talents, regardless of whether your prior experience comes from within the industry or not. Demanding and challenging, yet at the same time potentially rewarding in both remuneration and job satisfaction, the online casino industry might well offer the next career step you’re looking for.