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Games provider White Hat Studios specializes in creating content centered around global household names.
After launching in Rhode Island in March, White Hat Studios became the first supplier to enter all seven regulated online casino states.
Since White Hat Studios’ first launch in Michigan in 2022, the company has gained substantial experience that has helped with every US online casino market entry. During this time, the game supplier has been improving its operational efficiencies and celebrating new game launches.
White Hat online casino partnerships
Some of the latest White Hat Studios partnerships include deals with:
- Caesars in West Virginia, Michigan, and New Jersey
- FanDuel (Connecticut and Pennsylvania)
- BetRivers’ launch in Delaware
- Bally’s (Rhode Island)
White Hat has more than 20 IP slots and table games, with brand collaborations and game releases announced monthly. The company’s branded games, named the House of Brands, play a significant role in its expansion throughout the US.
The studio has partnered with notable brands like Peaky Blinders, The Goonies and Ted. In fact, two of the company’s IP-branded slots — The Goonies Hey You Guys and Ted Cashlock — as well as its Almighty Buffalo Megaways, are its top-performing slots.
In 2021, White Hat Studios was formed by Blueprint Gaming’s acquisition of the RGS (Remote Gaming Server) brand and gaming collection.
New game inspired by Black Mirror
Continuing its launch of branded online casino content, the supplier has recently announced its latest game inspired by Black Mirror, a popular sci-fi TV show that debuted in 2011.
PlayUSA recently talked to Armen Tatarevic, White Hat Studios’ VP of Gaming, to learn more about its Black Mirror Jackpot Royale and gain insight into how the provider created its unique jackpot network.
Q: What did White Hat Studios see in the Black Mirror brand that inspired it to create an IP slot game, and what references to the show can fans look forward to in gameplay?
Tatarevic: “Black Mirror captured the world’s imagination by leveraging the power of the unknown. Set in a dystopian future, the sci-fi topics are familiar enough to appear plausible in the viewer’s lifetime and shocking enough to evoke an array of emotions. At White Hat Studios, we wanted to capture the essence of the show, providing fans with a unique and engaging new way to interact with the brand.
As a result, there are numerous direct references to the show within gameplay, including pigs, an homage to Black Mirror’s debut episode ‘The National Anthem,’ Waldo symbols, taken from series two’s ‘The Waldo Moment’ where a computer-animated bear takes part in a political campaign, and bees, representing the autonomous drone insects in series three’s ‘Hated in the Nation.’
There is also a bonus feature dedicated to one of Black Mirror’s most popular episodes, the double Emmy award-winning ‘San Junipero,’ which explores simulated reality. The feature is an extension of the Hot Shot Spins cash collect bonus, where cash prizes are increased from a maximum of 20x up to 500x, boosting win potential.
Although gameplay has been tailored to resonate with Black Mirror fans, it is not essential to have seen the show to enjoy Black Mirror Jackpot Royale. One of the biggest challenges when creating IP content is balancing how much emphasis to place on the brand and the extent to which gameplay is the key focus.
The product team has done an exceptional job ensuring gameplay is engaging and immersive to appeal to a broad player base. The sci-fi theme and eerie visuals enhance the experience, with the base game mystery symbols and cash collect bonuses promising excitement, regardless of prior exposure to the Black Mirror brand.”
Q: How has the jackpot mechanic been optimized to drive player engagement in Black Mirror Jackpot Royale?
Tatarevic: “The Jackpot Royale mechanic is a great way of enhancing a title, with the added anticipation generated by huge win potential providing an extra layer of excitement. With any given spin, players could find themselves transported to the jackpot bonus round. This keeps players on the edge of their seats, even in the base game, where the hunt for the Cash Collect feature would typically be the main focus.
On top of the Cash Collect bonus round, Black Mirror Jackpot Royale fans can now go in search of even bigger wins, with the average Jackpot Royale payout at $175,000. White Hat Studios consistently looks for opportunities to implement new games into the network, and it is important that the synergy of the title aligns with the Jackpot Royale mechanic to deliver a gaming experience.
White Hat Studios has optimized the jackpot mechanic to provide the most entertaining experience for players, in turn acting as a key revenue stream for operator partners. In Black Mirror Jackpot Royale and across the wider network of games, a jackpot ticker shows the rising value of all three pots, giving players a direct indication of the payouts on offer should they trigger the bonus round.
Engagement is also driven by showcasing the previous drop amounts of the Major and Maxi jackpots, which pay out, on average, $25,000 and $5,000, respectively. This ensures each spin is filled with suspense, as well as providing players with an indication of when jackpots are likely to next drop.”
Q: What makes the Jackpot Royale mechanic valuable to WHS’ operator partners?
Tatarevic: “The Jackpot Royale network was created not just with the player in mind, but White Hat Studios’ operator partners, too. It has been optimized to maximize operational efficiency, with 1% of every bet on network games contributing to the $2,000, $7,500, and $70,000 reseed values of corresponding jackpots. This self-sufficient model negates operator costs and makes it a valuable product that can amplify player engagement with no additional expenditure.
From a player’s perspective, it’s crucial to strike a balance between the frequency of jackpot drops and the value of those payouts. Preferences regarding which is more important are constantly shifting. Enormous jackpots that very rarely drop are unlikely to hold players’ attention and result in short game sessions, while jackpots that drop very frequently with low payouts will not garner enough attention from a wide range of players.
Ease of integration is one of the key aspects of creating a successful jackpot network with operators. Being able to link games to the Jackpot Royale network quickly and smoothly ensures that White Hat Studios’ most popular games can be enhanced with minimal effort, improving the overall player experience.”
Q: Will Black Mirror Jackpot Royale be available simultaneously to online casino players in all seven iGaming states where White Hat Studios operates?
Tatarevic: “The game has now launched in six of the seven regulated US iGaming states: New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Connecticut and Delaware.
White Hat Studios’ current focus is ensuring the smooth rollout of the title across these states in order to provide our valued operator partners with yet another game that drives engagement and customer satisfaction.
However, there is always potential to expand in the future and the team will continue to monitor the landscape to capitalize on any opportunities that may arise.”
