All wrestling fans will be well aware that companies, especially behemoth ones like the WWE, like to get their branding on merchandise, basically anything from lunchboxes to action figures to NFTs, but that stretches to other areas, too, including, more recently, casino games. Of course, if you say “blackjack” to a typical wrestling fan, the first thing that might pop to mind is the legendary tag team featuring Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza. Yet, the WWE recently announced a bunch of new officially-branded online casino games, including its signature WWE Blackjack.

You can appreciate that fans who enjoy a flutter on casino games will see appeal in playing WWE-branded games, but is it a gimmick (in the non-wrestling sense), or are these games worth your attention? It’s an interesting question, not least because, like all casino games, wrestling-themed ones can vary in quality, style, and might not necessarily match up with your personal taste.

It’s also worth noting that there are many other games to explore beyond the corporate-backed releases from WWE and its iGaming partners (Booming Games, Games Global). For example, Legends of Lucha Libre Superstars by Everi Digital can be accessed at several top online casinos and is a good illustration of an organically popular game, rising to the top due to player engagement.

Below, we take a look at some of the best options, including some of the best official ones from the WWE:

Legends of Lucha Libre Superstars

There are actually three versions of this game, found in both online and offline casinos. Everi has partnered with Masked Republic, allowing the games to feature the images of legendary luchadores, including Psychosis, Ultimo Dragon, and Mascarita Dorada. Gameplay will keep players’ attention, as there are several wrestling-themed bonus features and modifiers to experience.

WWE Legends: Link & Win

This game was one of the first experiments from the WWE in bringing branded material to the casino. It features many of the all-time greats from the promotion, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan, and others. It is arguably more aesthetically pleasing than it is entertaining, but it’s not a bad slot game by any stretch. Note that image rights and licensing scenarios mean that the game is not available in all territories.

Wrestling Queen

This title from KA Gaming is not very official, but we do suspect that the title character might be somewhat based on Becky Lynch. Nonetheless, this game carries all the hallmarks of classic slots play – Free Spins, Expanding Wilds, Multi-Way Reels, etc. – and we can see it appealing to players who enjoy wrestling but don’t want all the faff with branded games.

Lucha Maniacs

For our money, this is probably the most popular non-branded wrestling casino game that’s popped up in the last decade. Lucha Maniacs comes from the globally recognized studio at Yggdrasil, and it has lots of ways to keep you on the edge of your seat, including with its unique Golden Bet feature.

WWE: Clash of the Wilds

We will finish with another one from the WWE. This game is arguably its most modern release, with imagery from contemporary stars like Roman Reigns, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, and John Cena. There are loads of special features, often to do with Wild Symbols, as well as a Ladder Match themed Free Spins Bonus Game.