In 1994, Microgaming presented players with the first ever online casino, commencing the ‘traditional casino goes online’ revolution. This was almost a decade after the internet was created.
Shortly after this revolutionary invention, online casino popularity blew through the roof, with prominent games such as online slots taking centre stage. The numbers depict this as over 1.6 billion players participate in online casino gaming, and over 80% account for mobile users.
Seeing all this, it’s pretty obvious that there are drivers to online casino popularity. With tech and the internet, convenience stands out, but there is something else: the range of bonuses available in popular casino games.
Drivers to online casino popularity
Between the 2000s and the present, a long interval captures the unending streak of advancements in the online casino industry. This streak is noted by Statista, which indicates that by 2029, the online casino market revenue will have reached 543.10 billion US dollars.
Some of the main reasons behind this growth are outlined below. Read on.
Convenience
Long before online casinos and the internet came around, traditional casinos have been a dominant way for players to enjoy their favourite titles. At present, traditional casinos are still there, but a superior way of accessing them has been discovered that makes them more convenient.
Online casinos bring these classic casinos right into your living room. Using the perspective of a gamer in 1970, this was their future, but players from 1994 to the present are indeed living in that future.
Apart from players travelling to play in land-based casinos, they have the option to play in front of their screens at home while sipping coffee. Now, this is convenience: having options.
Bonuses and promotions
Incentives play a key role as a remuneration strategy in favour of significant people in an industry, such as employees, customers, and the list continues. The same is true in the casino business.
The wide range of bonuses available in online casinos increases their popularity. Players love these bonuses. They play a significant role in incentivising novel players to join the site and retain existing players.
Rewards, for instance, welcome bonuses, draw players to platforms while other in-game incentives establish a loyal base. The statistics attest to the significance of these incentives, as 67% of players frequently use them.
Now, two parties are involved when it comes to the utilisation of bonuses: the operator and the player. Each of them is not left out on these benefits. Let’s find out how.
Benefit to players and operators
The benefits of the said parties cut across to ensure that satisfaction comes as an end product for them.
These are what players are in for:
- Risk-free Opportunities: Bonuses such as no deposit bonuses offer players the ability to play while essentially not using their funds. Bonuses also justify potential wins minus initial investment.
- Trying new games: Bonuses are an opening to walk around a vast library of games. This approach facilitates the discovery of new favourites for players.
- Loyalty rewards: Prominent casinos do have regular customers. As a way to appreciate them, these casinos offer VIP perks, among other benefits, preserving their long-term value.
On the other hand, these are benefits available for operators.
- Player acquisition: Lots of bonuses are often offered upon sign-up. This is a strategy used by operators to attract novel players.
- Player retention: Once players have joined a platform, found their favourite titles, and played, this type of bonus is there to retain them on the platform.
- Improved player experience: The operator’s perspective on bonus offerings focuses on enhancing customer experience. This is where player satisfaction and loyalty come in.
Types of casino bonuses
When venturing into gambling, players will encounter many types of bonuses. Here is a short list of the most common bonuses.
- Sign-up bonus: Often known as a welcome bonus, this incentive is pretty common in any online casino. Denoted from the name, players receive them once they have an account with the site. They can come as free spins, deposit match deals, or both.
- Deposit bonus: Once a player has joined a platform, this bonus equalises the percentage of deposits they make, increasing what is there to play with.
- No deposit bonus: Payers don’t have to deposit to claim this bonus. It always comes as an encouragement to play. Similarly, casinos often appreciate registered members with this type of bonus.
- Cashback bonus: Depicted as cashback, this bonus type is a remuneration of bets you have lost. However, to enjoy this, these factors are pertinent: amount deposited, VIP status, and overall losses.
- Free Spins: Now, the simplest bonuses to understand are free spins, as direct money is not involved. They come up as reload and sign-up bonuses for popularising new slots in town.
- Reload bonus: If you haven’t been active on a platform for a while, operators set this bonus to wait for you. Here, a percentage match is offered upon a new deposit.
- Seasonal Bonuses: You might have heard of this bonus mentioned when special events come up. Operators often encourage players using this type of bonus in varied periods such as seasonal holidays.
The list of bonuses that you will encounter when it comes to online casino gaming goes on. Other unmentioned ones include but are not limited to multiplier, game-specific, payment method, and achievement bonuses.
Final remarks
There is no doubt that the coming of online casinos meant good for the gambling industry. With traditional casinos still in place, what has changed is how players access them.
Speaking of access, which brings convenience to light, bonuses and promotions cannot be left out. As mentioned, these incentives play a significant role in enhancing player experience in these online casinos.
Bonuses have benefits that allow players to try out new games while also rewarding their presence on the platform. These benefits also extend to operators alike.
However, while the advantages of bonuses are inevitable, they often come with requirements. Thus, to effectively use them, players must carefully go through the terms and conditions explaining how to go about these bonuses.