The demarcation lines between video games and online gambling are becoming indistinct as casinos more and more readily put into practice entertainment-oriented design principles and gamification components inspired by famous gaming series. Traditional land-based casinos frequently use loyalty programs to encourage regular play, while online casinos are now borrowing from video game progression systems to create more immersive and habit-forming experiences.
Instinctively appealing video games such as Call of Duty and Clash of Clans habituate players to continuously pursue measurable growth and dopamine-releasing rewards. Online casinos are built in a way to make them as addictive as possible, so the players keep coming back. The strategy appears to be working: in 2020, it has been revealed that most of millennial gamblers believe that the gamification features were making them spend much more time and money on the casino.
A particular technique used in gaming is the level or tier system. XP equals the ability to access new features in the video game, the same way that leveling up in a gamified casino offers perks such as free spins and a wider game library. Progress bars that track players’ performance by leveling up arouse desire for visible progress. If you want to see which platforms can offer VIP treatment, privileges and customized rewards to special customers, then nhregister has a great list for online casino sites.
The same happens with the achievement and quest systems, incremental goals are also a way to motivate players towards a certain direction. Stars badges are given for gameplay milestones such as number of spins or games played. Daily objectives fulfilled with personalized challenges will give you tokens or credits, which you can redeem for bonuses. This results in a gathering mentality and achievement feeling as players cross items out from the list.
The integration does not end at gamification and that’s because from a conceptual level the casinos are actually using video game aesthetics and brands. Platforms make it possible to customize avatars that are similar to RPG characters, which level up as they conquer various games. Visuals and sound effects are more likely to be similar to the popular game worlds of Candy Crush or Angry Birds, rather than the traditional casino setup.
For example, some casinos have slot machines branded after entertainment industries based on popular franchises with loyal fan bases (e.g. Game of Thrones or Call of Duty). Well-known intellectual property and mechanics make nice entry points for gamers. Companies are likely to obtain more video game IP deals as the mainstream pop culture is taken over by interactive entertainment.
Enticing the loyalty of casino customers is not a novel concept, but now, they have been using data to give the customers battle-pass-like incentives. Platforms target their promotions to specific players who have particular behavior patterns such as frequency of play, average wager amounts and game preferences in order to maximize engagement. Daily login bonuses, special events or challenges may be used as a means to help players who stop playing to come back to resume playing.
Users will undoubtedly see the appeal of classic video game clichés in a gambling atmosphere. However, casino’s motives are more intricate: gamification tools are used firstly to attract and retain players, but also seem connected to the problems of irresponsible gaming that has been increasing lately. Some critics claim that covering with layers of sophisticated and psychologically manipulative bonuses makes gambling even more addictive and engulfing.
Game developers oppose this view and say that such features are just innocent entertainment that brings satisfaction to the recreational players. A lot of advocates of responsible gaming are concerned with the implementation of strict controls like session time and spending limits, timeouts and self-exclusion options. The key point is to make it easy for players to operate these tools in order to prevent immersion in virtual reality.
Further on, we might see joint ventures of casinos and video game consoles as entertainment companies are trying to capitalize on existing audiences. Imagine Activision incorporating real money betting into Call of Duty for players to bet on in-game events. The path to this forward-looking future, however, is laden with regulatory issues but also mirrors an evolving trend of digital entertainment.
As a new generation grows, who are brought up on video games, and become the core online gambling market, casinos will probably further promote gamification and fit in the gaming industry. Nevertheless, the challenges of managing measures to prevent addiction is a major issue as the line that differentiates game and gambling becomes blurred.