CryptoLogic Online Casinos Unsure of Disney-Marvel Deal Effect
One of the biggest draws and novelties for patrons of CryptoLogic online casinos are the slot machines featuring characters from the Marvel Comics group. So the announcement yesterday that Disney had acquired Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion has Internet gaming insiders and players alike speculating on how the deal will affect CryptoLogic gaming in the future."CryptoLogic and Marvel have existing contracts that will keep the superheroes patrolling online slots for another couple years," says Online Casino Advisory senior gaming analyst Sherman Bradley. "Like movie studios involved in character franchises, there won't be any immediate impact."
But Bradley went on to point out Disney's self-perpetuated reputation as a family concern, and said future gaming deals may be contingent on how closely Marvel operations are drawn into Disney's core presentation.
"Disney is not necessarily against adult content, although it prefers to package such things under names less associated with the central company, like the R-rated films it releases under studios other than Disney. But, if Spider-Man and the Hulk become more developed as children's theme park symbols, the company may decide they are no more appropriate than Mickey Mouse slots might be."
Players were largely unaware of the deal, and expressed hope that CryptoLogic could retain the Internet casino rights for the superhero characters.
"I only play at CryptoLogic games, and it's always the Marvel games like X-Men that draw me," says player Gretchen C.
