Just when you think that the online gambling industry has reached a point where the advancements will start to slow down, we have another breakthrough that might revolutionize the entire industry.
We are talking about social casino games. This is the new trend that has turned the entire online gambling industry in a different direction. The direction that most people appreciate.
Unlike traditional online casino games, social casino games have removed the monetary element from games. In other words, people don’t have the risk of losing money.
So, how do they wager or games? – Well, with each signup, you are given free virtual money (that doesn’t have any real-world value), and you use it for some of the most popular casino games like poker, slots, blackjack, or roulette.
This niche of the gambling industry has managed to change how people see and interact with casino games. Up until now, the main focus of casino games was to earn money, but we have started to see a shift towards entertainment and the popularity of social casino games proves this.
With social casino games, people don’t get to win anything. They just play for fun. To be honest, they are closer to regular video games rather than traditional casino games.
Let’s learn more about social casino games, find out how they really work, what are the benefits of playing such games, are whether or not you should convert to this relatively new model.
What Are Social Casinos?
To put it simply, social casino games are basically simulations of real-world casino experiences, but without the financial risk. As we mentioned before, they operate on a virtual currency model, which means that players use virtual tokens instead of real money.
But that’s not the only driving factor of these games. Social casino games are also focused on social interaction. After all, it is embedded in their name.
They act as virtual hubs, and their accessibility and strict regulations allow these games to be present everywhere. You can engage with such games directly on the casino website, on a mobile app, or on social media platforms like Facebook.
So, can you imagine logging on to your Facebook account just to find that your best friend sent you an invitation to a free poker tournament? It’s like inviting your friends over for some gambling. You get to communicate with other people, make friends, and enjoy different gamification elements such as achievements, daily objectives, leveling up, sending gifts, and much more.
How Do They Work?
Since social casino games don’t use real money, how does it make them profitable for the company? They cannot be doing this for free, right?
That’s true. Social casino games are based on multiple monetization strategies. Their primary way of getting money is through in-game purchases where players can buy skins or increase their virtual bankroll with real money.
It is also worth mentioning that social casinos have dual-currency systems depending on their category.
On one hand, we have social casinos that use gold coins, which is an in-game currency that cannot be cashed out and doesn’t hold any real-world value.
On the other hand, we have sweep coins, which can be bought with real money and used in the process of gambling. These sweeps coins allow you to redeem real prizes, but this casino is usually called a sweepstakes casino.
The idea here is to give incentives apart from making the process entertaining where people can redeem gifts like vouchers, gift cards, and in some cases crypto.
What Makes Social Casinos So Popular?
Accessibility and Inclusivity
As we mentioned before, they are accessible virtually anywhere. They can be played on multiple platforms and any device possible. Plus, since they don’t come with any financial risk and can be considered as video games, they aren’t bound to Gambling Laws, meaning that they are legal in every part of the world.
Therefore, social casinos have opened up a path to a wider audience, which includes people who might be hesitant to gamble with real money or afraid that gambling might disrupt their financial lives.
Social Interaction
Another thing important to mention is the social interaction part. Social casinos are built with the goal of acting as virtual hubs where people can communicate through text/voice chat, send gifts to each other, and create a sense of community.
Plus, we have tournaments and leaderboards which spikes up the competition and incentivizes people to come back for more.
Social interaction was the only thing that the traditional online gambling industry was missing, and it seems like social casinos might have filled in that piece of the puzzle.
Mental Well-being
We can all agree that social casino games lean towards traditional video games, then casino games. And we know for a fact that there are plenty of cozy video games that will help you relax. Therefore, they provide a great mental escape and a way for people to de-stress and unwind.
You don’t have to think about losing money, and you get to play your favorite casino games. Sounds like a recipe for a relaxing afternoon to me.
The Debate: Entertainment or Gambling?
So, the big question is, can social casinos be considered as a form of entertainment or gambling? Well, the classification here doesn’t really matter. In my opinion, they are the best of both worlds and they provide another alternative for people who never really engaged with casino games.
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