Slot games are known for drawing inspiration from all sorts of concepts and trying to attract players from all walks of life. As a result, you’ll easily find slots themed after popular movies, video games, sports mythologies, fairy tales, celebrities, and hobbies.
Now it’s easy to see that developers are trying to target a specific user group depending on the slot theme. They are aimed at geeks, anglers, car enthusiasts, sports fans, etc. But then you notice themes like Dentistry, which makes you stop and wonder - who are they trying to attract? Is this for people who love to go to the dentist, or for gamblers who studied dentistry? Well, the answer is probably both, as well as many other slot players. Here we will discuss, why dentist-themed slots aren’t exactly a super narrow niche theme.
Dentistry is More Popular Than You Think
At first glance, dentist-themed slots seem to target a small subset of players, but that’s not necessarily the case. Jobs related to oral hygiene and health, as well as cosmetic dentistry are among the top career choices on the market. It’s safe to assume that many young people pursue these career paths, and they start learning about dentistry.
Of course, not all of them become professionals or continue on the same path but they still find this branch of science or medicine interesting. So it would be wrong to assume that only people who work as dentists are the relevant target group for the games with this theme.
Additionally, kids love toys that have to do with fixing or cleaning teeth. So, seeing a game about it can bring up some nostalgic feelings. Nostalgia is a big factor in advertising, and many businesses in the entertainment space try to cash in on that nostalgia.
Finally, for certain versions of slots this theme works perfectly. Namely, there are slot games based on scratch cards, and players can choose to manually reveal the fields just like they are scratching in real life. If you replace fields with teeth and use a toothbrush for the cursor, then it feels like you are removing stains to reveal the prize hidden underneath.
Innovation Requires Experimentation
Another important element in this equation is the need for innovation. There are thousands of slots out there and not all of them are big hits. Studio often uses data analysis to figure out which releases perform well and try to replicate that success in future releases. But studios also need to try new things to see how players will react.
To put it simply, they make dentist-themed slots to test whether players love this theme, and measure use engagement. Of course, it’s difficult for a new slot game to get noticed in a big game catalog, so an additional push is needed.
A good way for studios to get players to try their game is through a promotion, specifically free spins. Slot players love these, and it’s possible to find dozens of available free spins bonuses through online reviews. In essence, this is a gamified user incentive and the wins you get from free spins are treated as bonus funds that you can use on other games. But, it’s also a perfect way to draw attention to certain slots that have largely gone unnoticed.
If players continue to play the game even after the promotion is over, the studio might create one with a similar theme or mechanics. If not, then they might try a different approach.
It Could Be Used for Marketing Purposes
One thing a lot of gamers have in common is that they are often too absorbed in their hobby. Oral health does require you to be more committed to cleaning your teeth thoroughly. What’s more junk food, sugary drinks, and stressful teeth-grinding don’t help your teeth stay healthy. Coincidently sweets, fizzy drinks, and teeth-grinding are common elements in gamers’ lives. In other words, having a slot with a dentist theme could be a good reminder for gamers to go and have a check-up.
Now partnerships between dentists and gaming studios aren’t really a trend in the gambling industry. Typically, companies create partnerships to get some exclusive IP rights for specific themes like NFL, NBA, movie characters, and so on. Also, gambling sponsorships are common, especially in sports like football. Businesses often sponsor teams to get more brand presence and reach bettors as this is a highly relevant demographic for them.
That said, a slot game sponsored by a big dentistry brand could be a unique marketing move. They would have their logo displayed and as mentioned reach their potential audience, in this instance gamers. But as we’ve already mentioned, it’s really difficult for slots to get noticed in a lobby with thousands of other games. Therefore, it wouldn’t be the wisest approach to marketing, unless that slot is also heavily promoted by the casinos.
They Might Be Aimed at Dentists
A lot of gaming businesses want to cater to those players who are big spenders. We see that casinos put a lot of effort into creating enticing VIP programs as they want to attract as many high-paying customers as possible. Certain dental specialties have annual salaries that go above $200k:
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeon
- Orthodontist
- Periodontist
- Prosthodontist
- Endodontist
Realistically speaking those would be players with enough disposable income to spend on gambling and qualify for VIP membership. So, hosting games that would appeal to those types of gamblers would be a wise move.
Conclusion
Clearly there could be many reasons behind creating a slot with this theme. It can bring up nostalgia, it’s a popular career path, and dentists are potentially high-paying customers. So, it makes sense to go with that theme.
But it’s important to acknowledge that maybe the reasoning is straightforward. As mentioned, there are all sorts of themes in this category. So the lead designer, developer, or project manager might be a fan of dentistry and decided to go with that theme.