First of all, let us crack this modern-day term gamification. Gamification is the application of typical elements in a game that encourages the player to engage him/her in the game so as to feel the game in reality through some virtual elements. In simple words, gamification involves the stimulation of some gaming elements or rules like sharing the game for an extra bonus, watching a video to claim the reward, and following the rules of the game in order to keep progressing in it. Basically, gamification is the integration of the gaming environment (virtual) with the non-gaming environment (real world) or activities that encourage and amplify the interaction and engagement with the game.
Some of these elements are points, goals, challenges, badges, level-ups, leader boards, community, collaboration, etc.
How are gamification and casinos related?
Gamification in an online casino and can be seen as a game in a game. Every individual online casino has its own set of gamification elements. Gamification changes the player’s playing experience into a journey where active players are rewarded for their engagement and participation in the game. Online casinos offer live online casino games such as online Blackjack, online Poker, and mobile casino games where the player can play the game and even participate in different types of challenges made by the online casino to amplify the user pleasure and engagement in the game.
There are certain choices that the player can make while playing the game that customizes the experience by changing the user interface of the game. Of course, there are levels in a game, and the gamification elements get active at this point by encouraging the player to complete each level and progress towards the higher and difficult levels.
Challenges in gambling are a common term, and thus online casinos have got the best challenges for players. Players tend to accept challenges for winning rewards or for taking their name at the top of the leader-board. Rewards contain the casino bonuses, casino currencies, free spins in case of online Roulette and online slot games. Unlocking high levels is also a reward that is offered by winning challenges.
Why online casinos and gamification fit together?
The concept of gamification may be unfamiliar with many gambling players, but they don’t realize that they have been experiencing gamification since they started online gambling. Gamification and online casinos together because there was a need for change in the user experience ten years back. The sole purpose of the online casinos a decade ago was just offering different live casino games and casino table games so that the player can comfortably enjoy them from anywhere, But to make the user interface and the gaming experience more interesting and engaging, there was a need to set some domains that are user or player-friendly and enhance their interest in the game. So, the gamification elements were introduced. These elements that act as game engagers can also be seen as an evolution of innovation in Computer Science.
The online gaming industry is about two-decade-old, and to keep it alive in the market, some innovative measures are required. Players get bored of the same thing every time they log in to the online casino; therefore, updates are required to keep the players happy. Just like other games, the online casino games require updates and changes so that the player has something different at regular intervals apart from the gambling portion. These gamification elements are like add-on features to online casino games. So now, the rate of player retention is high; the gamification factors are overly concerned by the online casino owners. A usual normal online casino offering some roulette, slots, and table games will be, of course, not recommended by a player if he/she is already enjoying the magic of gamification at some other online game.
Gamification a trend or need?
Gamification is required to keep the audience engaged in the game. Engaging is not a single purpose, but players’ convenience is also a factor that determines how gamification elements are embedded in the game. If a player feels good when he/she receives notifications about any online challenges from the best pay-out casino game, then why would the player go with a simpler choice? If gamification is user friendly and makes the user interface of the online casino more appealing, then the role of gamification is just not restricted to a trend. Gamification has become a need because now updated and advanced versions of the gamification elements are deployed into the gaming culture. A GTA fan will throw the monitor out of the balcony if CJ denies flying the biggest plane AT-400. Though that huge airplane is useless, the experience has to be lived by the fan, and that is why that plane is present in a hangar at the Las Ventura’s Airport.
Gamification is a result of the requirements of the user, and these requirements keep changing as the factors affecting the game changes. There is merely no one who can deny a good experience and user interface at some sort of an online game.