Social Casinos

Certain countries have quite rigorous laws regarding online gambling, but that doesn’t prevent people from those territories from looking for ways to engage in this form of entertainment. To make it possible for them to enjoy it without legal consequences, the industry’s creative minds came up with a unique solution called social casinos.

Offering online casino-style games that simulate real gambling experiences but do not involve real-money winnings, social casinos are growing in popularity at the speed of light, especially in the United States. Accessible via the internet, social media platforms like Facebook, and app stores, such casinos give consumers a unique opportunity to enjoy a high level of social interaction and entertainment while exploring a variety of games.

Although there’s a certain level of resemblance, they are not to be mixed with real money casinos at all. Social casinos can be downloaded and played at for free, but they include in-game purchases, which are not mandatory, though. Another notable difference is that winnings cannot be withdrawn or traded between players, but only used as a means to purchase certain assets or features.

Talking about reasons why people are attracted to this form of entertainment, social interaction is the number one reason. Aside from that, social casinos capture players’ attention because they provide fun, entertainment, challenges, and opportunities to practice and improve skills and get some prizes. On top of that, they are more affordable.

Moon Active, Aristocrat, SciPlay, Playtika, and Zynga are some of the biggest social casino companies. Some of these are focused on social gaming exclusively, while others generate revenue from other types of digital entertainment as well.

Main Characteristics of Social Casinos

Getting started with social casinos is quite simple. All it takes is to choose a reputable social casino platform, open an account using e-mail, Apple ID, or Google Play account and create a profile. But how to be sure you’ve picked the right platform is a topic that will be discussed a bit later.

Unlike online casinos which involve real money gambling and withdrawals, social casinos use virtual currency and provide great opportunity to sharpen gambling skills without any financial risk. These virtual currencies (tokens, credits, whatever you like) represent some sort of internal tokens that can be used within these digital domains but they are not withdrawable.

So, it is safe to say that such credits represent a perfect blend of gaming and gambling, and what’s most important, an activity consumers can enjoy within the legal boundaries.

What comes to one’s mind is how casinos monetize this and how they earn the revenue after all?

The catch, to say so, is in the in-app advertising and in-app purchases. In order to play free games in social casinos, players need to obtain virtual currencies, which are purchased by real money. This means that a consumer is actually spending money to buy credits for playing games, not to gamble. The difference is huge in the eyes of the law.

In addition to these special tokens, in-app purchases include subscriptions, collectibles, and limited-time events. These assets serve to show players that some accomplishment and progress has been made while playing games, encouraging continued use and loyalty.

The most common types of mechanics include album collectibles, guild mechanics, and battle passes. Album collectibles are usually collected and displayed in the in-game album, whereas guilds can be joined, similar to how they function in real life. Battle passes are available in two variants- free passes with less valuable rewards and premium passes with more valuable rewards and items.

Popular Games in Social Casinos

A huge game variety is one of the crucial reasons for the exploding popularity of social casinos. They offer online games similar to those featured in a real casino, such as slot titles, blackjack, and roulette. Live games are not as common as those listed previously but can be found on certain platforms. The only difference is that games in social casinos are not played with real money, but with virtual currencies.

Some of the most popular slots available on these platforms include numerous works of art by Playson, such as the Hold and Win series including 3 Pots Riches Extra, Buffalo Power 2, Coin Strike, Energy Joker, and Diamond Power, as well as installments developed by Greentube, such as Diamond Cash ™ and Cash Connection ™. Aside from these two studios, 3 Oaks Gaming and Thunderkick are also dedicated to creating social casino-compatible content.

Usually combined with fruit-themed games, or slots inspired by American or Irish culture, Hold and Win turned out to be a perfect fit with social casinos. That’s because they provide an immense level of gamification, which is also a reason why these entertainment platforms resonate well with the audience.

As soon as they register with the selected platform, players typically start with a set amount of free chips or credits, which can be periodically replenished. Additional credits can be purchased with real money for extended play or higher-stakes bets. Virtual credits may also be used to unlock features, purchase items, compete on leaderboards, or engage in social play with others.

What Are the Age Requirements for Social Casinos?

US gambling law dictates the minimum age limits for real money gambling, and the same goes for other countries. At the time being, only players who are 21+ can gamble online in the United States, whereas limits for other types of gambling differ, ranging from 18-21.

Having in mind that social casinos are not the same as real money gambling, they are not encompassed by these restrictions, despite being an online product per se. Yet, the fact that they do involve gambling-like content comes with certain restraints.

US clients who are 18+ are allowed to access both social casinos and sweepstakes casinos. The only exceptions are Connecticut and Nevada, as the minimum age to access a social casino in these states is 21.

As for other gambling markets, in the vast majority of them, the limit is set at 18+, but players are, of course, advised to check it before creating an account.

Why Have Social Casinos Become Huge Thing in the United States?

When the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA/ Bradley Act) of 1992 was judicially overturned in 2018, the gambling industry in the United States began to flourish. This led to the rapid growth in the legalization of not only sports betting but other forms of gambling as well, namely online and mobile.

However, not all the states have embraced it, and some went to the extent to outright ban it. That’s precisely what inspired the birth of an alternative, allowing consumers to enjoy casino-like games without getting involved in real-money gambling.

Some refer to it as exploiting certain loopholes, pointing out that real cash is involved to a significant extent, but it’s still far away from how things work with real casinos. Yes, a consumer does spend money on purchasing in-game credits, but only if they want to play more or play longer. They are granted to them either way around.

When visiting a social casino, a player gets to spend their money on purchasing virtual currencies in bundles, special offers, and so on. There are also rewards programs, bringing a dose of exclusivity and prestige. All these monetization strategies are continuously improved and upgraded, ensuring operators' continuous increase in generating revenue.

Finally, another reason why social casinos have become a huge thing is that they allow players to boost their knowledge, sharpen their skills, and experiment with different strategies at no cost at all.

Things to Pay Attention to When Selecting a Social Casino

Social casinos represent a connected gaming experience, giving participants a chance to be part of virtual communities and enjoy shared experiences. Often including tournaments and leaderboards, they provide a solid competitive edge, inspiring consumers to be engaged continuously.

While social casinos are usually advertised as risk-free platforms, that doesn’t mean players should jump into the first one they spot without thinking at all. Although sometimes small, the differences are not to be overseen, as they help players evaluate which one’s best for them.

Before registering on a certain social casino, do the following:

• Get to know the virtual currency system in place
• Check the prizes of coins and other assets that can be purchased to ensure they are compatible with the budget you plan on using while exploring games
• Analyze the payment methods selection- although no real money is involved, purchases are, so it’s important to be given as versatile options as possible; some of the most popular payment methods in social casinos include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal, Skrill, and Apple Pay.
• Take a look at the chat feature (yet bear in mind that sometimes it may not be available to visitors but only to registered users) and customer support services so to be clear on whether someone will be there to assist you when an issue emerges
• Inspect which security measures are in place, to eliminate the possibility of unauthorized charges
• Explore the game catalog, to see whether the featured releases are the ones you personally find interesting; if, for example, you are a fan of table games, there’s no point in registering with a social casino that offers slot games solely
• Cross-check the quality of the app to ensure that the operator offers a seamless and user-friendly experience on both desktops and mobile phones

All there’s left to say- enjoy social casinos and play responsibly!