Online casinos have gone from strength to strength over the decades, growing from humble beginnings into a $60 billion industry with global appeal and millions of players. There are plenty of drivers behind this enormous growth — the accessibility people have from being able to play on their mobile devices, for example.
But one of the primary factors behind this success is the ever-increasing power of mobile technology, and what this means for operators and game developers. Gone are the days of simple slot machines or one-dimensional poker — now we see gamified titles emerging every week with more in common with traditional video gaming than ever before. Let’s take a look at how our online casinos are being gamified.
What is Online Casino Gamification?
Gamification in the context of online casinos simply means the incorporation of more game-like elements into the structure and user experience of casino games to increase player engagement, retention, and enjoyment. This could include any number of things, such as new level-ups, badges and awards, more immersive gameplay, etc. Rather than simply offering a casino game, operators are now taking cues from other video games and popular mobile apps.
Why Gamify?
Gamification is a way of taking the online casino gaming experience to the next level. The watchword on everyone’s lips in the industry is ‘immersive’, and that’s just what it brings to the table — real, quality, immersive games that players will return to time and again, and be able to engage with beyond a simple spin. From leveling systems to achievement badges, gamification is changing how people engage with online casinos. We can see that at SkyCity Online Casino, which incorporates a sleek loyalty rewards program that keeps regular players engaged far beyond the welcome bonus.
Examples of Gamification
We’ve mentioned a couple of examples already, but let’s delve a little deeper into some examples of gamification in online casinos.
Progress Bars / Levelling up
As with regular video games, it’s engaging and fun to keep making progress and being able to track your achievements within a game. Progress bars and levelling up are commonly used in new games to keep players coming back for more, earning experience points and unlocking new content — everyone loves new challenges, and getting to a stage where you can unlock new content within a game is exciting for players, and testament to their progress within the game itself. These methods add excitement and immersion for players.
Missions and Challenges
Again, taking cues from regular video gaming, accepting missions and challenges within a game adds some drama and a sense of continuity to proceedings. Players can find daily or weekly objectives, such as ‘play ten slot games today’ or ‘win five times in a row’. These challenges and missions are often rewarded with badges and trophies, highlighting a player’s progress through the game. These methods build on the intrinsic simplicity of slot games and forge new possibilities for players to enjoy.
Leaderboards
If you’ve ever enjoyed classic arcade games, you’ll know about the all-important points leaderboard. Leaderboards are a way for players to measure their success against other fans of the same games and bring out a competitive streak. They are also a good fit with online casinos due to the emergence and popularity of online tournaments, and some online casinos are building in social media aspects to their apps to make sharing results easier — more on both of these elements in just a moment.
Tournament Play
Many online casinos now feature tournaments that pit players directly against one another. Tournaments are popular across the world of video gaming, but perhaps in this case, they are especially exciting since real money is on the line. Based on the number of tournament participants, leaderboards are set up at the end of the game, and the winners are given their rewards. The competitive environment plus the thrill of recognition keep players coming back for more.
Narratives and Storylines
One of the best things about slots is their versatility — we mentioned the simplicity of the setup itself, but this gives game designers and developers something of a blank canvas to work with. By introducing new levels with new missions and quests within, developers can open up an entirely new immersive style of video game, and one that happens to give cash prizes. It also transforms the gameplay into something more than simply pushing a button, as players are required to use more dexterity to make their way through the narrative of the game.
Gamification in online casinos is a major development in the industry’s history. By combining the excitement and immediacy of slot machines with the rich details of video gaming and competitive elements of tournament play, the games are taken to a whole new level of engagement and immersion.
Online gambling is regulated differently in various countries and regions, so please observe local laws when pursuing the pleasures of gambling.
