Playtech Withdraws Lakshmi Gold Online Slot

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Some time back the leading casino games software developer Playtech had released an online slot game titled Lakshmi Gold. The slot game featured icons of Hindu deities as symbols on the reels. It now appears that Playtech has quietly withdrawn this slot game because it is no longer available at the online casinos where it had gone live. As yet there has been no statement issued by Playtech or by the online casinos.

No sooner had Lakshmi Gold gone live at Playtech online casinos there were objections from sections of Hindus, who considered the use of their deities on gambling games offensive. Lakshmi slot uses Lakshmi as the bonus symbol, Ganesh as a wild symbol, and also the cow that is an animal sacred to Hindus. Taking the lead in protesting was Rajan Zed, the Nevada-based Hindu chaplain and president of the Universal Society of Hinduism. He said, "Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh were meant to be worshiped in temples or home shrines and not for promoting gambling on an online slot for mercantile greed of an online gaming company." He further asked Playtech to issue a public apology and also recall the game. Lakshmi Gold has been recalled but the apology has not been forthcoming. Will Zed let matters lie or will he insist on a statement from Playtech.

The Calvin Ayre blog site had more to say on the matter. It could be argued that the Scandinavians and Greeks are comfortable with their mythological symbols being used on slot games. But then neither the Scandinavians nor the Greeks follow their old religions any more. On the other hand there are over a billion people actively pursuing Hinduism. The bog site went on to say, "[It is] rarely a good idea to appropriate the language or iconography of another culture without a thought as to how that culture will interpret such artistic or commercial license."

The Calvin Ayre blog site also questioned whether Playtech would have used themes from the other world religions for their slot games. Playtech has a strong Israeli connection, particularly through majority owner Teddy Sagi. Would Playtech have released a "Jehovah Jackpot slot featuring icons of the tablets Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai"? Playtech would not have done so for fear of offending Israel's ultra-conservative Haredim. Similarly, there could not be slot games based on Christian or Islamic icons. The Calvin Ayre blog site concludes, "Bottom line, we know the well of slot themes has been drained nearly dry, but some ideas deserve staying in the bucket."

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