Nutmeg State gamblers will soon have access to a type of real-money gaming they won’t find at the state’s retail casinos.
London-based Gaming Realms is a B2B online gaming supplier best known for its Slingo line of products. It announced today that it has obtained approval from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. The DCP regulates all gambling in the state, including online casinos.
With its Online Gaming Service Provider license in hand, Gaming Realms will be free to provide Slingo titles – and possibly other games – to Connecticut online casinos. In its press release, the company claims it expects this to happen before the end of 2022.
Gaming Realms is already live in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania but is sitting out the tiny markets of West Virginia and Delaware.
In a press release, Gaming Realms’ Executive Chairman Michael Buckley said:
The Company’s strategy to sign multi-state deals and direct integration agreements with some of the largest operators in the U.S has also put us in a stronger position for our Slingo content to go live in a shorter time frame and to capitalise on market growth as more states look to regulate iGaming.
Connecticut’s regulations limit it to two online casino brands: DraftKings Casino (in partnership with Foxwoods) and Mohegan Online Casino (powered by FanDuel).
Both operators already have existing relationships with Gaming Realms in other states. So, we can expect that Slingo games should become available on both sites more or less simultaneously.
How Does Slingo Work?
As the name suggests, Slingo is a game combining elements of bingo and slot machines. The concept dates back to 1994 when it was invented by New Jersey real estate developer Sal Falciglia Sr.
It has changed hands a couple of times since then. Gaming Realms acquired it in 2015 and achieved enough success in the UK market that it has made it the core of its business.
There are many variations on the concept. The core gameplay works like this:
- The player makes a bet and gets a bingo-like grid with 25 numbered spaces.
- The game draws sets of numbers, five at a time, and marks off the matching grid spaces, if any.
- Completing a row, column or diagonal results in a Slingo and advances the prize meter.
- After the specified number of draws, usually 10 or 11, the regular game ends. (Though the player may get the chance to pay for additional spins, see below.)
- Prizes are based on the total number of Slingos made during the game. In some versions, a single Slingo is enough to win a small prize; in others, several may be required. In all cases, filling the entire grid is called a Full House and wins the jackpot.
Slingo Classic
Give Slingo a try in demo practice mode, no signup needed. Simply click the play now button below to play the first iteration of Slingo, Slingo Classic, now on its 20th anniversary.
Why Play Slingo?
Unlike most slots, Slingo offers players some meaningful choices. Wilds can go in any space in the appropriate column. In some versions, Super Wilds can go anywhere in the grid.
At the end of the regular game, the player is usually offered one or more chances to spin again. The cost to do depends on the current state of the grid. The game calculates the price to provide a similar house edge to the base game.
Probably the nicest feature of Slingo is its entertainment value for your wager. A spin of a slot machine lasts only seconds, while a game of Slingo takes a minute or so, depending on how quickly you place your wilds.
About the Author
