Anton Ivannikov, Product Owner at Playson, puts the growth of 3 pots in the spotlight as online casino lobbies become inundated with titles incorporating perceived persistence mechanics.

iGaming Expert: What factors are fuelling the growing popularity of perceived persistence mechanics within online slot titles, and how do they influence player retention rates?

Anton Ivannikov: Perceived persistence mechanics are gaining traction in online slots because they align perfectly with player psychology and session behaviour. At their core, these mechanics tap into the natural human inclination — the need to complete unfinished actions. When players see ongoing progress — whether it’s a visual meter filling up or a feature building toward a bonus — they feel compelled to stay and ‘see it through.’

We first noticed this effect with early implementations in titles like Lion Gems and Royal Coins 2, and quickly validated its impact in later hits like Coin Strike and our 3 Pots series. These games showed a measurable increase in player session duration and return rates.

There are various factors that make this work. First appeals to sensory anticipation hooks. Players are visually shown progression toward a potential bonus feature, even if it has no real effect on the math of the game session. This builds emotional investment.

Another one is that persistent progress that creates a personal ‘unfinished journey.’ The system remembers where players left off — even if they come back a day, a week, or months later, keeping the session continuity.

We should not forget about the possibility of increased rewards, which in games are represented as bonus enhancements. For example, starting with multiple collect symbols as in Coin Strike or Royal Coins 2, or multipliers in the case of Energy Joker or Supercharged Clovers. 

We’ve confirmed across our portfolio through years that games featuring perceived persistence perform better on engagement and loyalty metrics, helping both players and operators get #MORE out of every session.

iGX: How has the transition from land-based to a more digital environment shaped the evolution of the mechanic, including Playson’s 3 Pots feature?

AI: In land-based slots, progression mechanics is often tied directly to the bet level. For instance, a player might walk up to a machine and see a visibly ‘loaded’ jackpot or feature bar — progress built up by previous players. But there are factors that can upset a person, as this progress was bet-dependent, and changing your stake could reset the progress.

Also such progress remains ‘casino-owned’ or ‘machine-owned’ and influences patrons to increase their bet or choose specific machine to gamble at. It is tied to the physical place and is impersonalised. It is players who need to adapt for a mechanic.

Online changed this.

In the digital environment, progress is personalised, session-persistent, and device-agnostic. At Playson, this inspired us to reimagine persistence mechanics with a player-first mindset — leading to titles like the 3 Pots.

In games with such a math model progress is tracked individually per player and per pot. If one or two pots trigger a bonus, the others retain their progress, keeping the session alive. 3 Pots titles offer multiple, parallel goals — not just one bar to chase, but three potential bonus paths. It creates a deeper sense of continuity and motivation to return. 

That’s how we’ve taken the classic ‘persistence feel’ from casino floors and turned it into a scalable digital engagement tool — one that fuels both retention and satisfaction in today’s fast-moving iGaming world.

iGX: In what ways are slot suppliers innovating with the perceived persistence format to keep gameplay fresh, whilst balancing the tension between predictability and anticipation?

AI: We avoid repetitiveness by varying the visual presentation and functionality across games. For example, in some titles like Royal Coins 2 and Coin Strike, the extra bonus game presents players with a chance to start a bonus round with a bigger number of collect symbols.

Others, like Pink Joker, Energy Joker, increase chances of starting a randomly triggered bonus game with higher multipliers, hence earned through longer gameplay. Recent additions like 3 Chillies and Jokers and 3xCatch accumulate progress for each Pot and randomly trigger bonus rounds.

In short, innovation in perceived persistence is not about chasing novelty for novelty’s sake. It’s about layering psychological engagement, visual anticipation, and gameplay satisfaction — all while preserving the element of surprise that defines truly memorable slot experiences.

iGX: How do regulatory frameworks and responsible gaming considerations influence the design and rollout of such games? 

AI: These mechanics can be powerful engagement tools, but with that comes the responsibility to ensure they are transparent, fair, and properly communicated to both players and regulators. 

First and foremost, we make it explicitly clear in our game rules and documentation that perceived persistence progressions are entirely visual and do not influence actual probability.

The events triggering bonus rounds are completely random. The visible progress is just that — a visual indicator of a possible event, not a guarantee or a factor that increases odds. This transparency is critical for certification, especially in strict regulatory markets.

Ultimately, our goal is to create engaging, long-term entertainment — not short-term compulsion. Compliance teams are deeply involved through development, ensuring that every new feature not only meets local regulatory standards, but also supports player well-being. That’s a standard we apply across the board at Playson, regardless of market.

Source