Gamification is everywhere in today’s world. Want to learn a language? Want to exercise regularly? Want to improve your understanding of pretty much any topic ever? There’s an app to gamify it! Reward streaks, loyalty points, we all know the deal of how gamification works, and most of us also recognize why it’s so effective.
But what about in a world where the whole focus is already… games? What happens when you try to thread gamification into a casino environment, where people are already having fun and playing games? Let’s take a look!
It’s Highly Effective
You might not expect this, given that people are already playing plenty of games, but gamification works super well in this environment when it is implemented thoughtfully. People still enjoy seeing streaks and badges appearing that reflect their interactions with the game, and it’s for exactly the same reason we enjoy those appearances in other places. It feels like building a relationship with the platform, and it acknowledges our presence and time in a way that feels highly rewarding.
In fact, gamification might be an important element in many a mobile slots casino experience because it enhances the interactions and builds a sense of progress that’s not related to winning or losing. Unlucky streak for a few hours? You’re still getting badges, moving up tiers, and seeing other acknowledgments of your interaction! That creates a more satisfying relationship, where it feels like the casino “sees” you, regardless of how individual games turn out.
Of course, gamification needs to remain just one element of the whole experience, not a determining factor. The slots games themselves should form the core, and a casino that has a good selection of options, with many different features and bonus rounds, will always attract more visitors than a casino without. It also really helps if some of the offerings are seasonal, allowing people to engage with games that fit the time of year and their mood to a tee – such as Christmas-themed slots.
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Variety In Gamification Options And How Casinos Can Implement Them
So far, we’ve been using gamification as a catch-all term, but it’s actually an extremely varied concept, and there are a large number of ways that a casino can implement these ideas into their games.
First thing to look at: in-game versus platform-wide gamification elements. Some gamification approaches are specific to a certain game (think things like reach a certain goal, play a flush house, hit a jackpot, or even just spin a certain number of times), and these can be highly rewarding for players who are already fans of that title.
Other gamification approaches focus on things that can be done over the whole site (maybe trying out a certain number of games, or logging in each day over a specific period. These are often less targeted, but they can still be very effective, especially for players who prefer variety over always choosing a specific title.
Next, it’s worth looking at the specific kind of gamification element available. A popular one for casinos is to award points with each wager made. This can be very successful because it’s low stakes. The player doesn’t have to achieve something tricky or alter the way they play to fit with the gamification element’s objective. Points just quietly accumulate in the background whenever they play as a sign of customer appreciation from the casino. Of course, some players do want to optimize even if it isn’t required, which is where things like bonus points days or other ways of boosting their points can be implemented.
It’s also important to consider what the points are used for. Some players just like hoarding them and seeing the numbers go up, but others will inevitably question why they are collecting points if there isn’t something fun to do with them. Rewards for points can vary.
Sometimes, they might offer players things like bonus spins or other exciting treats, while on other occasions, the prizes for getting enough points are purely cosmetic. Still, don’t underestimate this. There’s a surprising amount of appeal in the status that a hard-to-achieve cosmetic can provide, especially on a site with a strong sense of community. Once one player in your social group has the shiny border around their username, everyone will want one.
On SlotsLV, as another example, points can be redeemed for bonuses, and you climb through a bunch of different levels, which successively increase the value of your points. You don’t lose a level when you spend points, making this a rewarding and satisfying setup. Other platforms are likely to have similar or slightly varied approaches.
Points are definitely an effective form of gamification, but there are other approaches that casinos can use. Some loyalty programs reward players not based on the amount wagered but on the frequency of interactions instead. Daily login bonuses can be a fun way to motivate players to keep a platform in mind, without requiring them to actually play.
Offering badges or other status symbols for long-term players is also a good approach. If your site awards anyone who reaches the 5-year mark with a shiny logo, it encourages new players to stick around in the hopes of acquiring one for themselves someday, and makes the veteran members feel appreciated and part of a special group for having joined a long time ago.
Overall, then, there’s a huge amount that casinos and casino-like platforms can do to gamify their systems and create even more fun for the people playing on their sites!
