There’s big business in franchise-based online slots these days; three new deals perpetuate the trend with new games based on Hulk Hogan (!), David Hasselhoff (!!!) and the latest Batman movie trilogy announced for 2012 release.

The “Hulkamania” and “The Hoff” online slots games will be released on the OpenBet platform; as subcontractor MX Gaming has already released a real-life online casinos version of Hulkamania, we can assume this will be the first of the titles to see the light of day.

Currently debuting at the 2012 ICE Totally Gaming Show in England, the Hulkamania online slot is being touted by MX Gaming and OpenBet for its use of original and exclusive video material to be incorporated into gameplay. While Ike McFadden stated that “My personal feeling is that the special appeal of the game has nothing in particular to do with symbols or multipliers,” the video bonus rounds may be of note. The second of two such rounds has Hogan fighting an opponent in fashion similar to Mortal Kombat, via the new footage and subsequent digitization.

Similarly to the Dennis Rodman online slot released by Vegas Technology a few years back, the Hulkamania casino game would appear to be a case of “How the mighty have fallen” after an expensive divorce settlement, countersuits involving allegations of homosexual philandery and a couple of failed TV shows, Hogan clearly needs a few bucks to pump the bank account a bit. (Guess he’s not making as much scratch in his “sport” as he once did…)  

Meanwhile, OpenBet apparently believes it can further cash in on the success of its “Baywatch” slot game with “The Hoff,” which will also get a scratch card version. According to PR, “the main concept of the games will be to help David Hasselhoff’s character along his eternal quest of becoming a millionaire celebrity and will include humorous twists along the way.”

Several different skins and bonus rounds are promised with “The Hoff,” presumably matching Hasselhoff’s character arc from “Knight Rider” to “Baywatch” to “America’s Got Talent.” LiveCasinoDirect, for one, can’t wait to see how the software producer will incorporate this particular star turn. 

Finally, industry leaders Microgaming aren’t messing around with B-listers and those past their primes. The internet casino software giant recently announced its signing of a licensing agreement with the even bigger Warner group to create a series of online slots based on “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” First of the games is due out this summer, while the “Dark Knight Rises” online slot will be available for play in early 2013.