What Are Social Casinos
Written by: Filip Gromovic Reviewed by: Nashon Khamala
Read time: 12 minutes
Social casinos have gained control over the US iGaming market in recent years with their worth soaring above $6 billion. There are different types of gambling sites with overlapping business models that have left many players wondering what they really are. How do social casinos work? This piece will sift through the noise to tell you all the details.
Understanding Social Casinos
These are casino sites created with the primary purpose of giving users the opportunity to relive the experiences of traditional gambling houses through classic table games, blackjack, online slots, scratchcards, bingo, roulette and poker without using real money. The emphasis is usually on building community and fostering interaction between players. It is no surprise that its origin has been traced back to social media, with popular titles like Mafia Wars and Farmville.
The games on these websites are advertised as free-to-play. However, leveraging a freemium model, the operators offer in-game currencies as packages that users can purchase using real cash – although casual players may never need to make purchases because of the staggering welcome bonus that usually comes with sign-up, as well as the different other ways they can get more in-game coins for free.
The most popular ways users can farm the virtual currency needed to play the different games on the platform are through referral programs, daily log-in rewards, plus participating in tournaments and various other events.
Since wagering in the titles advertised by recreational gambling sites is done using virtual currencies, they have been able to circumvent the strict regulatory roadblocks on the path of seamless operations of brick-and-mortar gambling houses.
Players are usually attracted to recreational gambling platforms because of their competitive nature and leaderboards. The urge to become the best gamer in a particular title keeps recreational punters coming back. Those who take the challenge too seriously end up finding themselves spending cash to get more in-game coins that will allow them to extend their playtime because the free coins offered by the site will no longer be enough.
Other elements that keep users engaged include leagues and tournaments where gamers compete with rivals from all over the world. However, the only reward for winning is the thrill because users cannot convert their in-game currency to real cash or gift cards. No form of withdrawal is allowed on these platforms.
Since social casino games mirror those of classic gambling that use random number generators to decide the winning combination, the strategy to edge out rivals in the contests is mostly to invest more time in playing and placing bigger bets. This is another reason why users who want to be at the top of the leaderboard must invest more playtime. Slightly different versions of these websites have emerged over the years, and players’ interpretation of what are social casinos will depend on the version they experienced.
Social Casinos vs. Real Money Casinos
Virtually all gambling platforms have the same collection of games. Where they differ significantly is how they handle deposits, purchases and winnings. Social casinos don’t include withdrawals or options to redeem coins for cash or prizes, but real money wagering platforms do. In fact, the primary focus of gambling sites that use virtual currencies is entertainment, while that of those that use real money is to make more money. The table below will help you understand the differences between the two so that you can approach either with the right mindset.
| Differences | Social Casino | Real Money Casino |
| Offers the potential to make money | No | Yes |
| Intention | The focus is on entertainment by offering punters casino-style games for free. | The focus is on making more money from your bets. |
| Cash deposits | Does not allow cash deposits. Instead, real money is used to purchase virtual currencies. | Accepts cash deposits. Real money is used for wagering. |
| No deposit bonus | Upon registration, players receive free gold tokens which they can immediately use to wager in slots and table games. | It also offers some form of bonus to players, but they are usually required to make a cash deposit above a certain amount to access the bonus. |
| Withdrawals | Users cannot withdraw their winnings or redeem them as cash or gift cards. | Users can withdraw their winnings through different financial methods. |
| Wagering requirement | Users have no wagering requirement to fulfill. | A playthrough requirement is attached to every winning, which can be as high as 40x the size of your win. |
| Risk of losing money | No | Yes |
| Availability | Online recreational gambling sites can be accessed from any part of the world. | Usually restricted to regions where they are licensed to operate. |
| Legal status | Not restricted in almost every region around the globe. | Heavily restricted and operators must be licensed by relevant authorities to function. |
| Monetization | Operators make money by selling in-game coins and other virtual items and ad placements. | Make money from players who fail to win their bets in games. |
| Social interaction | Incorporates multiplayer elements that let users play with friends, send gifts, or share achievements and chat during gameplay. | Social interaction is often limited to live dealer games. The quest for big wins often overshadows its social angle. |
Features of Social Casino Games
Your knowledge of what is a social casino site will be challenged when you compare it with real money casinos based on games. The reason is that the types of games you will find there will be reminiscent of classic gambling house varieties. The only difference when you launch them is that you will be playing with virtual currencies rather than being required to make real money deposits. The popular range of games you will find on recreational wagering platforms include:
Slots
It remains the most popular game you will find on any gambling site, with some platforms like WOW Vegas having over 1,000 slots of varying themes. Perhaps, one of the reasons why it is so popular is because of how easy it is to play. All you need to do is place your bet and hit the spin button. If the reels stop on a winning payline, your bet will be multiplied by the size of the pay table.
Blackjack
It is often considered the king of card games. The aim is for the sum of the total of cards owned by the user to be above the dealer’s hand without going over 21. In social gaming, it is played for points that will help the gamer ascend the leaderboard or for more virtual currencies.
Poker
On recreational sites, gamers are allowed to compete against each other for pride or cooperate in tournaments. The rules are the same with punters aiming to make the best possible 5 cards to earn the pot. The only difference in this setting is the use of virtual chips with no real monetary value.
Roulette
Roulette has been a popular casino game for centuries, with a fascinating history behind its origins and development. Just like in land-based gambling houses, users will bet on the number they think the ball will land after the wheel rolls and stops. In-game chips not tied to real money are used for betting on free-to-play platforms.
Bingo
The goal is to be the first to complete a specific pattern on a card. As the card is randomly drawn by a caller, bettors will mark off numbers on them until a winner emerges. Online bingo rooms allow players to chat and socialize while they play.
Baccarat
This card game is similar to Blackjack but this time, the aim is for the gamer to have the hand with the highest score that doesn’t exceed 9. Baccarat has simple rules but allows for various betting strategies for players to try to gain an advantage.
Scratchcards
There are variations to this game, but in the simplest version, players are required to scratch three or more areas with hidden symbols or numbers. If all the items received match, the punter wins. Some platforms like Pulsz social casino offer scratchcard games.
Social Casino Monetization and Rewards
What are social casino games to operators? It is a way to overcome the legal restrictions of classic gambling titles. However, since the platforms are advertised as free-to-play, it is unlikely they will attract high punters. The vast majority of users would be there for fun and may not spend a penny to purchase packages.
To stimulate players to spend, the sites reward paying users with exclusive in-game items and more play time – which may be all they need to have a competitive edge over their rivals on leaderboards. It is important for social gambling sites to have multiple monetizing channels. Some of the most popular options include:
Virtual Currency Packages
Since recreational betting platforms don’t use real money for wagering, high punters may need to purchase extra gold coins (GC) to continue their game – if they cannot wait till the next day to get more free coins. Those who make the purchase are rewarded with bonus coins to encourage them to purchase more.
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Subscription Services
Knowing how annoying it is for your gameplay to be interrupted by ads, some websites will offer you the opportunity to get rid of them by purchasing a GC package or opting into a monthly subscription. Other rewards like higher daily virtual currency allowances are sometimes thrown as extra benefits to subscribers.
Hosting Timed Events
Timed events with unique rewards are often the motivations that players need to spend real money on making purchases to be at the top of the leaderboard and receive the rewards. Creating a sense of urgency is a strategy that drives spending and engagement.
Tiered Reward Systems
This includes tiered loyalty programs (like VIPs) where gamers unlock exclusive rewards including unique avatars and frames, bonus coins or chips or access to exclusive tournaments or games. The higher the VIP ladder the user climbs, the more the size of their rewards.
Legal Framework and Safety
Recreational betting platforms offer legal access to popular traditional gambling games including slots, poker, roulette and blackjack to punters across the globe. By switching the model from playing with real money to wagering with virtual currencies and not offering options for players to redeem their winnings as cash. They overcome the legal constraints that face gambling.
Another form of recreational betting platform is the sweepstakes casinos, which use a dual-coin system. The GC is strictly for entertainment like on every other recreational gambling website, but the second currency called the Sweeps Coin (SC) offers users the chance to redeem their winnings into real cash or gift cards.
Sweepstakes betting platforms face stricter regulatory scrutiny and their operators must abide by local laws. This includes ensuring the platform and games are free to use for all, fully disclosing the chances of winning, plus highlighting the rules on how to win or exchange SC for prizes.
Social casinos are usually safer than traditional gambling sites. Since the platforms don’t use real money, there is no risk that your account may be compromised and your account balance emptied.
Spending gamers will discover that the platform has reputable payment methods including credit and debit cards which have good fraud protection systems. Alternatively, the use of e-wallets like Skrill means you don’t have to enter your card details online.
To further ensure the protection of users’ data, most online betting platforms use SSL encryption technology to secure the communication between your device and the platform. It has become a standard in the iGaming industry, and you should only interact with platforms that have the seal.
Future of Social Casinos
Social casino what is it in the future? It is projected that the social gaming market will continue to grow in the coming years due to the rise in the popularity of mobile gaming as well as the ease of access to these gambling sites through mobile phones. Users from regions where real gambling is restricted are particularly drawn to these platforms in their quest to get the casino experience.
With evolving technology, including virtual and augmented reality, gambling games will likely become more immersive and find more ways to keep users engaged. Tournaments and leagues can be made more engaging using newer technologies and better build connections between users.
Older demographics are more committed to mobile games, probably as a way to shake off the feeling of loneliness or just for entertainment. Perhaps, this is because it is the popular form of entertainment they grew up with, considering how entertaining it was to be in traditional betting houses.
There is still a lack of consistency in defining what are social casinos. That is why there are still no regulatory bodies overwatching their operations in many regions across the globe. There is a growing call in the United States for the regulation of recreational gambling sites, especially those that offer sweepstakes.
As more states and regions continue to scrutinize the operations of recreational gambling platforms, there may come a time when their activities may become restricted, too. For the foreseeable future, they will remain the best shot for most people around the globe to soak in the casino experience.
Filip Gromovic is a senior slots reviewer here at FreeSlots99 with over five years of experience evaluating the latest drops in the world of iGaming.
Being a slot fan himself, Filip approaches slot ratings just the way we like it – professionally, but also from a player’s standpoint.
That enables him to give his unbiased take on the slot’s features, gameplay and design, while only recommending top-tier releases to our readers.
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Having served FreeSlots99 for more than 5 years as a senior content editor and reviewer, Nashon Khamala has extensive knowledge in game slots and iGaming.
His membership in the Editorial Freelancers Association helps him deliver content that reaches both editorial excellence standards and an engaging information level.
By using his expertise in slots games combined with player-focused analysis, Nashon delivers a professional evaluation of slot features and player experiences in his reviews.
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