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It's hard to keep up with all of the changes happening in the gaming industry. As soon as a new trend emerges, it often seems like another is already taking its place. However, over the past decade one gaming trend has proven to have staying power — online gaming. Online gaming has made it possible for players to play games in all new ways, whether that's tackling a mission in Destiny 2 with a group of friends or building worlds in Minecraft alongside players from around the globe.
In the midst of all of this change, social casinos have come on the scene, giving players a way to enjoy traditional casino games without wagering any money. Unlike the regular casinos most people are familiar with, social casinos use virtual currency instead of real money. Social casinos bring all of the fun of traditional casinos to a player's screen while allowing players to connect with others and compete in a social environment. In this article, we look at the impact social casinos have had on online gaming.
Expanding the Audience
Not long ago, gaming wasn't thought of as a mainstream leisure activity. However, the rise of smartphones and high-speed internet changed all of that, making gaming more affordable and accessible to the masses. Social casinos have played a role in opening up the online gaming world to those who never considered themselves gamers.
Long before the internet, casinos were entertainment hubs, with people traveling hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles, to visit cities like Las Vegas, where they could enjoy any casino game they could imagine. With social casinos, players can enjoy all of the excitement of a traditional casino in a low-stakes, user-friendly online environment. Many US social gaming sites are listed on Oddschecker along with welcome bonuses they offer new players. Many platforms give new players free coins when they sign up to get them started on their social casino journey.
In a social casino, visitors can play many of the same games they'd find in a traditional casino, like slots and poker, making it an attractive option for players of all levels. They can access these websites on their smartphones or via web-based platforms, making it easy for them to play on the go.
Social Interaction Adds to the Appeal
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Gaming has become more social over the years, so it's not surprising that it has become an important part of social casinos. While many traditional online casinos focus on solitary play, in a social casino, players use interactive features like leaderboards, chat functionalities, virtual gifting, and multiplayer modes to engage with others while online.
For many players, being able to compete against friends and strangers is a big part of the fun of social casinos and makes them want to return for more. These shared social experiences have created a sense of community on these platforms and helped set them apart from traditional casinos.
Impact on Traditional Online Casinos
Social casinos occupy a different space in the gaming industry than traditional online casinos. Both types of casinos have their place and a lot of it comes down to the preferences of individual players. If a player is interested in wagering money on a game, they'll likely gravitate to traditional online casinos. In contrast, if a player values a social experience where there's no expectation that they'll bet real money, a social casino may be their choice.
Of course, it's not always that cut and dried. You'll often find that people frequent both social casinos and traditional casinos depending on what type of gaming they're in the mood for on a particular day. For many, a social casino is a way to get their feet wet and learn more about online casinos and how they work. As they get better at a particular game, they may decide to give real-money gaming a try.
The success of social gaming has convinced many traditional online casinos to adopt their social features like leaderboards, social media integration, and community-driven events. As time goes on, both types of platforms will likely have more overlap with gamers from one spending time on the other.
