Online slot machines are definitely a mixed bag. Some are enjoyable and rewarding, others a little less so, but every now and then, we witness games that walk the thin line of good taste. As online gaming providers strive to find their place under the sun, they often push limits and end up creating downright offensive and morally dubious games. And while we can appreciate artistic freedom and freedom of speech, we can’t understand who approved of these titles.
Let’s check out some of the most controversial games in recent online casino history.
Lakshmi’s Gold by Playtech
In 2012, Lakshmi's Gold from Playtech was pulled from online casinos in 2012, after the game was scrutinized by Hindu statesman Rajan Zed who called it “highly inappropriate”. This is one of the first examples of an online slot game being deemed too offensive, but it's been over 10 years and Playtech hasn't made the same mistake since.
Lakshmi’s Gold was problematic in many ways. It featured the deity Ganesh, as well as cows (that are sacred to Hindus), and even religious hymns devoted to Lakshmi. When slots developers create games based on different cultures, we expect them to be more of an homage and using directly religious material was not a good way for Playtech to do this.
Karen Maneater by Nolimit City
Karen Maneater is a lot in every way. Like many other Nolimit City releases, it is very gory and provocative, but dare we say here, maybe even too much. This 6-reeled slot is a story about Karen, a middle-aged blonde lady who enjoys her men deep-fried. Like chauvinism and ageism aren’t enough, Nolimit City also decided to toss some cannibalism into the mix as well.
Sausages and intestines hanging from the grid make Karen Maneater as appalling as it can be. It might seem like a silly over-the-top joke theme for some, but for many others, it is simply too much and downright offensive.
40 Shades of Santa by Paddy Power
50 Shades of Grey has reached cult status as a “movie we like to hate”, but its attempt at making BDSM mainstream also made an impact on online gaming. 40 Shades of Santa is exactly what you think it is - a slot machine about Santa who is more naughty than nice. If that is your kink, you do you!
However, many eyebrows were raised on this one, and with a good reason. No one wants to see their childhood hero getting all frisky. Simply put, this Santa slot shouldn’t have entered Casino Town.
Fruity Boobs by 5 Men Gaming
When a company called 5 Men Gaming releases a slot named Fruity Boobs, it can mean only one thing. This slot machine is neither sexy nor provocative but simply a result of bad taste. The graphics are not tempting enough to convince adults to play, which leaves us puzzled with an important question - who is the target audience of Fruity Boobs?
And do we even need such slot machines in the 21st century? Needless to say, the rest of the company’s portfolio is equally unimpressive, so no wonder it failed to take a prominent spot on the market.
Mental by Nolimit City
Yeah, Nolimit City managed to land another spot on our list of most notorious slot machines that ever existed. This time, it’s Mental, a slot about a mental asylum in which patients are tortured in the most horrible ways.
An extra distasteful bonus is the fact that you can hear screams and see disturbing images of patients being either tortured or completely broken. In this day and age, when mental health is a burning topic and the taboo surrounding it is finally gone, this game has been considered distasteful by many players.
Twerk by Endorphina
Endorphina has had a fair number of successful slot machines, but it does seem like it scraped the bottom of the barrel to create this one. Twerk is, as the name implies, a slot machine about the popular dance move. However, it doesn’t include much besides female behinds.
To each their own, but we can’t say we are surprised that this was never a mega-hit, although Endorphina clearly hoped it to be. To make things worse, the developers also added some dubious features, such as Twerk Battles. Released in 2016, it had to face the judgment that came with the rise of the #MeToo movement. We are sure Endorphina would pretty much like us all to forget it was ever released, but the internet always remembers.
Virus Invasion by Gameplay Interactive
Sometimes there is such a thing as bad timing, but Virus Invasion by Gameplay Interactive was released amidst the global pandemic so we have to wonder if they planned for the release about a virus to coincide with the height of coronavirus? Intentional or not, that is not something for us to decide. However, we have to say that someone on the design or marketing team should have intervened, saying, "maybe we should save this release for a few years from now".
July 2020 was the time when the entire world stopped to prevent the rapid expansion of COVID-19. Truth be told, Virus Invasion is much more lighthearted than the virus that caused the pandemic. Viruses are designed in a cartoonish, almost likeable manner. The background music is upbeat and cheerful. Even so, when the entire world was scared of a new virus that proved to be deadly for many, maybe it would have been better if they decided to scratch this idea altogether.
Are there any slots themes that you think should have been given a second thought? Leave us a comment on Facebook and let us know!
