Industries need to evolve to survive the ever-changing needs of consumers, and the gambling industry is no stranger to this. Over the years, the iGaming industry has built a reputation for being able to adapt to the latest technologies and harshest conditions. Even the economic downturn that came with the 2020 pandemic lockdown couldn’t affect it.
When the internet wave first began in the late 90s, talks of online casinos had already started, and the same happened with mobile gaming during the rise of mobile phones in the early 2010s. Now, in a bid to increase customer satisfaction and retain players, there’s an increase in the gamification of online casinos. This article explores the concept of gamification in online casinos and how video games are changing the gambling industry.
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What is Gamification?
Gamification can be defined as applying general game elements like competition with others, point scoring, and other rules of play to other areas of activity mostly unrelated to gaming. This is a marketing technique typically used to encourage more participation and engagement.
In addition to being a good marketing technique, it also helps in improving the player experience by providing pleasure. As the year goes by and the industry evolves, online casino players are increasingly getting harder to please. Also, the competition is higher than ever before, and to stay ahead, casinos have to find creative ways to attract and retain players. This has led to the introduction of several game elements to online casino games.
Gamification Elements Used By Online Casinos
Here are some of the most common game elements that are now being used by online casinos.
1. Storytelling
Everyone loves a good adventure, and one of the best ways to experience this is through video games. When casino games began in the early 2000s, they were all about pressing buttons or pushing levers. There was no substance; it was mainly about the outcome.
Now, they have upgraded and are now including storylines in their games. You can have murder mystery-themed slot games where players have to solve puzzles and complete tasks. In addition to the cash rewards they stand to win, players will be motivated to enjoy the fun too.
2. Mission Based Games
This is another branch of storytelling and can help in improving immersion. Casino games now allow players to activate specific missions during gameplay, and these missions can also have rewards attached to them. For example, in themed slot games, players can take the role of a warrior who has to rescue his kingdom from attacks, and so he defeats several evil enemies and wins prizes.
3. Leaderboards
Leaderboards are very common in both arcade and modern games; it’s an essential feature in most multiplayer games and one that has been around for decades. Almost everyone has a competitive side, and online casinos are tapping into it by incorporating leaderboards into their offerings.
This is even perfect for gambling sites where competitions and tournaments are already ongoing. Some online casinos even have loyalty programs that reward players with specific incentives for reaching certain levels.
4. Social Media Gaming and Streaming
The lockdown saw an astronomical spike in the number of video game streamers on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. The video game streaming industry has become very profitable and now plays a vital role in promoting games. The casino industry has adopted this, and we now have many online casino streamers with thousands of fans.
Furthermore, social media games through platforms like Facebook have been around for a while, and they share many similarities with most online casino games. The major difference is the actual betting on an outcome because these games still involve in-app purchases. Gambling sites have capitalized on this and are now devising ways social media users can wager on their favorite games.
Is Gamification Good for Online Casinos?
Customer satisfaction is paramount to the success of any business, online casinos including. By introducing game elements to online casinos, you’re improving player experience and immersion, which are invaluable.
A player who enjoys a casino game will play again even if he wasn’t successful because he isn’t just playing for the prize but also the thrills. Lack of immersion has been a big challenge for games like slots, and gamification helps solve this.
The Bottom Line
Only a few sectors in the world today can boast of high levels of innovation, like the online casino industry. In their quest for success, online casinos have begun integrating several gaming elements into their design in a process called gamification. This article looked at some of the most common gaming elements used by internet gambling sites and how they continue to help the industry.
