People who frequent online casinos such as Online Casino Mr Bet, Syndicate, and many more will most likely have come across the term “gamification.” Even if it is a term you have never heard before, there’s a high chance you’ve come across the concept as it has infiltrated the online gambling space(s) and other areas of gaming. Continue reading to discover more about this latest gaming trend and how it will affect how you play casino games online.
What Is Gamification?
Gamification involves adding certain aspects of game mechanics into what are usually considered non-gaming environments. It could be introducing badges, leaderboards, or points, along with incorporating information or feedback concerning the next steps along the way. All this is done in a bid to encourage players to “progress” towards a goal. The ultimate goal of gamification is to make the gameplay as interactive and exciting as possible.
While the gamification concept has become quite popular in the online casino industry, it has also spread beyond the virtual walls of the casinos. It is quickly popping up in all sorts of businesses, often to optimize productivity and participation among employees. It can also be seen on websites, online communities, learning management systems, and more. Today, gamification can be seen in different industries, from e-commerce and retail to politics and healthcare.
Gamification Techniques and Methods in Online Casinos
To have a clear understanding of the gamification concept, it’s ideal we consider its practical application. In this case, we should consider the online casino industry, where the idea is quite widespread.
Most online casinos offer a wide variety of slots, which is what most people prefer playing. While there are online slots with classic themes and features, some turn up the heat by adding tasty rewards and free spins to ensure a more entertaining experience. While most online casinos incorporate the gamification concept in different ways, we will consider some of the most potent techniques and methods that have a far-fetched impact on players and drive them to return for more action.
Unlockable Content
You’ll be amazed to know this, but there is no bigger excitement in a player’s journey than unlocking new content while playing casino games. Unlocking new content means passing one level of the game and moving to a new one. This automatically means one thing: a special points package, new game features, and better rewards. Unlockable content has been incorporated into both regular casino play as well as online slot games.
Tournaments
The thrill of competing against other players has always captured the attention of many. It doesn’t matter if there’s a prize or bragging rights on the line or if it is simply for fun. Like any other tournament, online casinos have competitions where players can compete for prizes and other goodies. Based on the number of participants, leaderboards are usually set up at the end of the game, and winners are awarded. Tournaments are quite easy to set up, and the benefits are endless.
Leaderboards
If you have ever visited classic game arcades and played Space Invaders, you might recall that everyone’s goal was to top the scoreboard. Today, they are no longer referred to as scoreboards but leaderboards. Online casinos and other businesses incorporate leaderboards to bring out people’s competitive nature. People must participate in certain competitions in order to be ranked in the leaderboards. The better your performance, the higher you rank in the leaderboard. To attract more players to leaderboards, some online casinos have the “share” feature, which allows their players to share their scores on social media pages.
Mission-Based Accomplishments
This type of gamification is becoming quite common in the online gambling industry. When applied to online casino games, these elements evoke a feeling similar to first-person shooters (FPS), role-playing video games (RPGs), adventures, and many other popular types of games.
Missions come in different forms and shapes. You can complete in-game tasks or take on the role of saving the main star from the clutches of evil. A good example where you can complete missions for rewards can be seen in Mystery Mission To The Moon by Push Gaming.
Loyalty Programs
At the start of this article, we mentioned there are many aspects of gamification in our day-to-day lives. Some are so deeply entrenched we have no idea they are gamified concepts. One such concept is the loyalty program. It is part and parcel of our day-to-day lives and is featured in almost every industry where services are offered.
Basically, loyalty programs are meant to encourage people to continue playing their games or seek their services with the brand and spend money while on it. In return, they earn points and other comp-based points, which they can later redeem for goodies. Most programs are tiered, and you must progress from one tier to another by accumulating the required points. Each time you rank up, you unlock new features, which are more rewarding than the previous tier.
Gamification Is the Future for Online Gambling Games
There’s no denying the fact that there are many gamblers who believed (and still believe) that gamification is a passing trend. However, seeing how deeply entrenched it has become in our day-to-day activities, there is no doubt it is here to stay!
