Holiday-themed slots explained for online casinos

Every February, online casino games fill with love hearts and cutesy designs, before transforming to bunnies and eggs around April, pumpkins and horror in October, and Santa Claus in December.

Developers follow the seasons and create a collection of slot games to match. Slot developers do this for various reasons, including engagement and relevancy. In this guide, we’ll discuss why and how slots incorporate seasonal holiday themes, and what difference it makes.

Key statistics and market insights

Holiday-themed slots increase player engagement and generate higher player numbers during their relevant season. Statistics vary, but they could increase engagement by up to 30%. Player numbers are also higher during certain holidays, with Christmas being the most high-traffic holiday season.

It makes sense, as those players have time off work, and many shops and attractions close, so players have more time to sit at home and play slots on their devices or laptops. It’s also why online casino games experienced a boost in activity during the lockdowns of 2020.

Furthermore, holiday season slots are often tied to casino branding, as well as various promotions. A Christmas-themed leaderboard event doesn’t seem as relevant if the qualifying slot machines have ancient Egyptian or Greek themes, but it fits perfectly if it uses a Christmas slot like X-mas Lucky Time Hold and Win.

Finally, holiday slots introduce a novelty aspect. Even if those slots are available year-round, casinos rarely highlight them outside of the season, giving them a limited feel and encouraging more plays and a higher average session length.

Holiday-themed slots have become the norm. Players expect them, and they might be a little surprised if their favorite casino doesn’t welcome the season with a slew of holiday slots. Giving them what they want should promote customer retention, especially if those holiday slots are used alongside seasonal promotions.

Holiday-themed slots vs non-themed games: Revenue and Engagement

Holiday season slots aren’t always 100% unique titles. Many times, slot developers adapt them from non-themed games, keeping the features and mechanics they know are popular, and simply changing the design so that it’s relevant to the season.

Despite this relatively simple approach, holiday-themed slots outperform non-themed games in all key metrics. After all, even if the slot isn’t unique, it’s using tried-and-tested features and a proven math model while also receiving an influx of new players.

It makes sense for the player, as well. If it’s an original title, they can explore unique features wrapped in a neat, holiday-themed bow. If not, they get to enjoy a title they liked under a new guise, making it fresher and potentially keeping them interested for longer.

Types of seasonal slot games

Seasonal slots, unsurprisingly, are often categorized by the season or holiday, with the former mainly focusing on summer and winter, and the latter highlighting key holidays such as Easter and Christmas. However, these names are used interchangeably, as many games combine aspects from both.

In December, for example, you’ll see slots adopting a winter theme, perhaps with the odd dusting of snow, and a nudge toward Christmas in the form of tinsel or firs. You’ll also see slots that go all-out with the Christmas theme and some that lean more into New Year’s.

Summer vs winter themes

Blue skies, bright colors, and fun vibes instill the spirit of the summer season, with developers releasing more titles that focus on café culture and nightlife, such as Gems of Love Hold and Win, as well as ocean, summer-themed slots like Dolphin's Wealth Hold and Win.

The color palette flips for winter-themed slots. These types of online slots use vibrant colors and typically feature decorated trees, a warm hearth, cookies, cozy fireplaces, and winter activities such as gifting. Lucky Xmas Box, for instance, takes players to a magical setting in the house.

Holiday-themed Slot Games

As the online slot game sector grows, we’re seeing a slew of new themes for the most popular holidays, including games based on specific events, like Oktoberfest, as well as ones set around Black Friday. The most popular of these holiday slot games usually fall into one of the following categories:

• Halloween-themed slot games: The holiday might not be as big as Christmas or as celebrated as New Year’s, but slot developers love it, and players love the games. It’s a great way for studios to experiment with horror themes, as well as the obligatory pumpkin. Top Halloween-themed slot games include Lucky Hell-O-Win or Mystical Luck Hold and Win.

• Christmas-themed slots: Design features on Christmas slots typically revolve around either presents and cozy nights in front of the fire, as in Lucky Xmas Box and Xmas Lucky Time, or Santa Claus and Elves, as in Lucky Snowlight.

• Valentine’s Day-themed slots: A relatively new holiday-themed slot category, Valentine’s Day slots feature bold reds, presents, candles, love hearts, and other romantic paraphernalia, such as the heart symbols in Gems of Love Hold and Win.

• New Year’s-themed slots: New Year’s is overshadowed by Christmas, and many developers choose to base slots on the whole holiday period, with a design that features partying, celebrations, and Christmas trees.

• Easter-themed slots: Eggs, bunnies, and plenty of chocolate—Easter slots like Easter Prize Hold and Win and Lucky Easter 27 Hold and Win focus on the more playful aspects of the holiday.

• Oktoberfest-themed slots: Based on the famous Munich festival, Oktoberfest-themed slots like Beersburg Fest Hold and Win are a party in malted barley, with plenty of steins and Bavarian outfits.

The psychology of holiday slots and how they increase player engagement

We all have an emotional connection to a specific holiday, from those unforgettable family Christmases that make the festive season cozy and uplifting to the Valentine’s Days that make us think of loved ones.

These connections are why and how slots incorporate seasonal holiday themes. Developers don’t just slap some tinsel on a fir tree and call it Christmas; they aim for the psychological triggers that stir positive memories—nights by the fireplace, gifts under the tree.

The limited availability of some holiday slots also creates a FOMO (fear of missing out) effect, and as any marketer will tell you, nothing drives engagement quite like FOMO.

The goal of a slot developer is not just to make an attractive, fun game; it’s to appeal to as many players as possible, encourage player retention, and give casinos something they are proud to spotlight on their game pages. As a result, they consider everything from player behavior and the psychological triggers that change it, to current/future trends.

Setting the scene with design, features, and storytelling

Creating holiday-themed slots is as complex a process as creating any other slot, especially if those games are developed from scratch and aren’t merely a reskin of another title.

Developers use thoughtful design to craft visuals that celebrate the joys of the season—the cozy ambiance of Christmas, the spooky shocks of Halloween. They then use thematic features to craft an immersive story. After all, if the gaming experience extends beyond merely spinning the reels and waiting for wins to drop, players are more likely to stay engaged.

Even the sound plays a role. The player might not realize it, but they’re less likely to keep spinning if they’re forced to mute a repetitive tune, but will likely stick around if the music is original, interesting, not too intrusive, and suited to the theme.

Bonus features in seasonal slot machines

One of the most interesting ways that developers put their own spin on the season is via bonus features. We see the best example of this in Halloween and Christmas-themed slots.

Whether it’s a pumpkin-picking mini game, a Santa or sleigh-based money trail, a bonus game set on a ghost train, or simply wilds/scatters in the form of pumpkins, reindeer, presents, and elves, bonuses elevate the experience, increase immersion, and improve player engagement.

Modern slot players don’t just want bonus features; they expect them, and if there’s not a free spin feature or Hold and Win bonus to chase, they may give up after a few spins.

Timing the release strategy of holiday slot games

Timing is critical when it comes to holiday-themed slot games, more so than for any other type of slot. It’s integrated into the slot game development process from day one, with the studio setting strict timeframes and aiming to release at least a few weeks before the holiday.

If it’s released too late, it may land in a saturated market where players have already had their fill. It’s like being presented with a second Christmas dinner after already having your fill—it would have been an enticing prospect earlier, but not now.

If it’s released too early, it may be ignored. The average person doesn’t want to hear Christmas music while shopping in November, and they don’t want to see Christmas adverts right after Halloween. For the same reason, they likely won’t embrace a Christmas slot released long before the big day itself, and when they finally get excited about the season, the novelty of the release has died down.

The customization features shaping seasonal slot games

As the slot market trends toward greater customization and interactivity, seasonal slot developers are taking note. Providers are adding personalization twists and gamification elements to their slot machines, whether it’s a meter that grows with every Christmas present they collect, a Halloween slot where players can choose between a devil and an angel, or simply an option to change the volatility level.

The more interaction that a player has with a slot machine, the more engaged they are, and that’s good news for both the studio and the casino.

Key takeaways

Seasonal and holiday-themed slots benefit everyone in the development chain. For developers, it’s a way to redesign a popular slot or explore new designs with a limited release. For casinos, greater engagement levels mean improved online gaming customer retention and higher revenue, especially during periods of high activity, such as Christmas.

As for the player, they get a game based on their favorite season, a spooky Halloween slot they can enjoy on a dark October night, or a Christmas slot to spin before enjoying a feast of turkey and stuffing.

1spin4win has an extensive gaming roster that covers most popular holidays and seasons—to learn more about our portfolio and how you can work with us, contact us today.

FAQs

What are holiday-themed games?

They are games with themes that match specific holidays, such as Easter and Christmas.

What are the most popular holiday-themed games?

Xmas Lucky Time Hold and Win is a notable Christmas-themed title, packed with features such as bonus round, x2 multipliers, wild symbol and a high RTP of 97.2%.

Which holiday slot themes generate the highest engagement?

Christmas games usually perform the best, but players also seem to love Halloween-themed slot games.

How to boost your casino with holiday-themed games?

Work with top developers that create seasonal slots, such as 1spin4win, and tie these games to holiday-themed promotions and bonuses.

Can holiday-themed slots attract new players to an online casino?

Yes, definitely, and they’re also easier to add to marketing campaigns and promotions, such as a spooky Halloween commercial or a jolly Christmas promo.

How can operators use holiday slots for promotional campaigns?

Operators can user slot tournaments with holiday-themed slots as the qualifying games, or simply offer free spins.

Where do I find the best holiday-themed games provider?

It’s subjective, and every casino and player has their favorite, but at 1spin4win, we aim to please both sides by offering features and themes that players love, alongside the reliable math models that casinos need.