A collaboration between a popular slots influencer and a leading game manufacturer can now be seen on casino floors across the US.
And three of those floors are in California.
Brian Christopher, better known as BCSlots on social media and YouTube, worked with Las Vegas-based Gaming Arts to create Pop’N Pays More. The California resident says he had a hand it creating every aspect of the slot machine.
It even features his likeness in cartoon styling.
Why is a slots influencer getting his own slot machine?
In California, you can play Pop’N Pays More only at the three Agua Caliente casinos. The new game is an incredibly unique offering. It shows that the casino industry is beginning to make better use of social media and influencers who bring with them a large following. Christopher, for example, has 1.1 million followers and 300 million worldwide views.
For some who do not follow casino gambling influencers like Christopher, this might seem like a strange deviation. But for slot machine manufacturers and casinos, appealing to new potential players will be a new way forward.
The California casinos market has been thriving for years and shows no signs of slowing up, but utilizing social media and influencers like Christopher could continue to build the market into an even stronger version of itself.
When Christopher livestreamed the release of his slot machine at the Palms in Las Vegas, he had 19,000 live viewers. By the time the day had ended, there were hundreds of thousands of views. Each of them was watching the new slot machine in action at the Palms, which is incredible advertising for all parties.
Embracing changing times and social media
One of the casinos that has added Christopher’s Pop’N Pays More slot machine is the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The Plaza is on the cutting edge of adapting its casino to the times. It pitches itself as the first smoke-free and social media-friendly casino in downtown Las Vegas. That made Pop’N Pays More slot machine an ideal fit.
Plaza Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Jossel recently talked to the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the changing times and impact of social media on casino gambling.
“I think it’s important to adapt with the time and social media. YouTubers are very important features in today’s society. Nobody isn’t taking pictures of everything that they see, so why deny that? Obviously, you have to follow game protection, you have to respect people’s privacy. But as long as you’re doing it within your own space, we want to encourage it and embrace it. That’s what we do.”
Gaming Arts has the same thought process. Gaming Arts Chief Executive Officer Mike Dreitzer says staying interesting to gamblers is what is most important.
“As a slot manufacturer, we keep our ear to the ground and see what’s going on out there. This market is very competitive. We’re obviously looking for ways to bring interesting value to buyers. They want good content, and it’s always getting better and better. We thought that this was a great way, given where social media is.”
So, what seems strange now could become commonplace down the road.
CA resident Christopher is living the dream
Despite this game being intrinsically tied to Christopher’s own brand, anyone can enjoy them, even if BCSlots is unknown to them. Fans of BCSlots, however, will feel Christopher’s presence while playing Pop’N Play Pays More.
Christopher says he’s proud of what he and Gaming Arts produced.
“I worked with them on every aspect, to the images, to the music that was inside of it, and the features of the game as well.”
Christopher felt like he had to jump at the opportunity to build his own slot machine game when Gaming Arts reached out to him with the idea of collaboration. He sees it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Pop’N Play Pays More machines are featured in several casinos in Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, Oklahoma and now in his home state of California. All three Agua Caliente casinos in California – Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs and Cathedral City – feature the new slot machine.
For Christopher, he is living a dream.
“This career that I have, it never used to be a career. The path just got created for me as I went along. I had no plans of making this a job, and this just kind of fell into my lap as I started gambling and posting videos for fun.”
Christopher was named by CDC Gaming Reports as one of the most influential people in the gaming industry. Pop’N Pays More won Slot Collaboration of the Year, awarded by CasinoBeats.
Christopher also was named Streamer of the Year by SBC.