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How do you capture the magic of the Love Island villa? According to former contestant Kaylor Martin, it comes down to the unpredictability: the emotional highs and lows, unexpected twists and, most importantly, the texts.
“I’ve always said someone should make a game out of Love Island because that’s what it feels like watching it,” Martin said. “You’re following everyone’s journey around the villa. This is the closest thing to that.”
FanDuel Casino has turned that idea into reality through its exclusive partnership with ITV Studios and the Love Island franchise. The collaboration has produced three exclusive online slot games inspired by the hit reality series:
- Love Island Reel Vibes
- Love Island Unlocked and
- Love Island Step Into Love
The games are designed to recreate the drama, relationships and memorable moments that keep fans following the show throughout the season. Since launching the partnership, FanDuel Casino has continued expanding its Love Island offerings, introducing new slot releases and promotions tied to the popular franchise.
FanDuel expands Love Island experience beyond television
FanDuel Casino created the Love Island slots to give fans another way to engage with the franchise long after episodes air. Each game features unique characters, bonus rounds and gameplay elements inspired by the villa experience.
The partnership began with Love Island Reel Vibes, which introduced the franchise to U.S. online casino players. FanDuel later expanded the collection with Love Island Unlocked, a title featuring familiar elements from the show, including text messages, coupling decisions and bombshell arrivals.
Martin said she was surprised by how closely the games captured the atmosphere of the villa. “I thought, ‘There’s no way they can make this game feel so much like the villa,’ but they did! It feels so realistic.”
Former Season 3 contestant Shannon St. Clair agreed, pointing to Love Island Unlocked as her favorite title.
“FanDuel Casino hit the nail on the head, especially my favorite game, Love Island Unlocked. I’ve got a text, coupling up, picking your bombshell … it really brings the villa magic into the game.”
While both contestants praised the games’ authenticity, they also shared ideas for future additions. St. Clair said the Heart Rate Challenge would make a strong feature, while Martin suggested incorporating the show’s famous food challenge.
Jessica Lee, senior director of brand strategy at FanDuel Casino, said the partnership allows the company to connect with audiences outside traditional casino spaces.
“Partnering with Love Island allows our Casino brand to be in new spaces — whether that’s pop culture media or just joining the social conversation.”
FanDuel said internal research shows more than half of its casino customers regularly watch reality television, making Love Island a natural fit for the brand.
The operator has also used the partnership to create additional engagement opportunities. Alongside the slot releases, FanDuel introduced Love Island-themed promotions, giving casino players new ways to interact with the franchise beyond gameplay.
Love Island partnership extends beyond online slots
For St. Clair, the appeal of Love Island comes from the personal connection viewers develop with the contestants.
“Love Island is on so many days a week that fans really get connected with the Islanders. They watch us wake up, brush our teeth. They watch us cry. They watch us fall in love. They watch us break up.”
FanDuel Casino aimed to bring that same sense of community beyond its real-money online casino platform by hosting a Finale Fortune celebration. The event featured themed food, interactive games and meet-and-greets with Martin and St. Clair.
According to the FanDuel press release, the event also included a major prize opportunity, with one attendee getting the chance to win $100,000 — matching the grand prize awarded to the winning couple on Love Island.
Lee said the goal behind the partnership remains focused on entertainment and creating memorable experiences for fans.
“FanDuel Casino stands for fun. Everything we do is to bring fun and entertainment into our players’ lives.”
