Even if you think you have never visited an online casino in your life, you may be wrong. Thanks to gamification techniques and developing technology, the definition of online casinos and casino gaming, in general, has changed: you may have visited one without even realizing it, and you may have even had a great time there. This is called “social gambling”, and it has become increasingly widespread in recent years. It appeals to people who do not define themselves as “gamblers” and offers them the opportunity to try their luck without taking any risks. So, how exactly does it work, and why is it so popular?
What is a social casino?
Let’s start with the basics. A traditional online casino allows you to play games for real money after you sign up and deposit money into your account. The games you can play are quite diverse – slots, poker, roulette, blackjack, and jackpots… no matter which one you choose, you have a chance to win real money as long as you play for real money. Of course, the level of your chances and the amount of the payout vary from game to game, but the general principle is the same: you risk your own money, and in return, you get a chance to win real money (more than you deposited, if possible).
For the same reason, traditional online casinos are businesses that are almost as tightly regulated as financial institutions. They have to get a license, collect and store user information, prove that their games are fair, and work with different payment providers.
A social casino, on the other hand, does not have to do any of these things because:
- Social casinos do not offer real money games. You cannot make a deposit even if you want to, there is no such option;
- Since you cannot deposit money, you have no chance of winning real money. If you win in a game, the payout is made in virtual coins. These have no monetary value.
For these reasons, a social casino does not need to be licensed, store user information, or prove that its games are fair. They are no different than any other site where you can play free games online. Speaking of games and websites, the game collection of a social casino is pretty much the same as a traditional online casino. They also offer slots, poker, blackjack, and more. And they are not limited to just websites. In fact, they are often offered as a mobile app or via social media. If you are using Android, open the Play Store, or if you are using iOS, open the App Store, and search for “casino games.” You will see hundreds of results: none of them will support real money gameplay, but all of them will have dozens of games to play for fun. Of course, this is different from using the mobile app of a site like Verde Casino PL, where you have the opportunity to try all casino games in a demo mode or with real cash and enjoy your winning. So, why do social casinos exist?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no “sinister” purpose behind social casinos. The games don’t stop working at any moment and ask you to sign up for a real casino to continue. Their purpose is the same as any other free service: to show you ads and sell the user information they collect to a big data company. You know what they say: if a product is free, you are the product. However, since you are not required to share your real identity and financial data (for example, your credit card number), the information they can collect is quite limited compared to real casino sites.
The appeal of social gambling
These risk-free casino games appeal to a larger audience than one might think. There is a significant number of players who enjoy the colorful reels of slot games, the strategic gameplay of blackjack, and the spin of the roulette wheel but don’t want to risk their own money for any of these. Casino games provide instant gratification by design and the digital feedback they offer appeals especially to the new generation of players. You can spin a roulette wheel a thousand times and still feel the same excitement: social casino games are attractive for the same reason that mobile games are attractive. And you don’t have to do much to start playing them. Since you won’t be asked to verify your identity, you can sign up with a fake profile and start playing right away.
Just for fun?
The real issue here is whether social casino games are really just for fun. Since they are not regulated in any way, the games and services they offer do not have to meet certain standards. Even if they do not offer the option to play for real money, the advertisements they display are mostly from real casino sites and can be a gateway to real gambling.
Anyone who plays social casino games may consider trying their luck with real money at any time. Since these games are for entertainment purposes, their payout frequencies are unrealistic – they pay more often and larger. An inexperienced player may decide to join a casino that displays an advertisement, thinking that real games will do the same.
Of course, there is nothing stopping you if you reach the legal age of majority and comply with the laws of your country, but social casinos can make the transition to real casinos quite easy and increase the rate of problem gambling. They can also negatively affect underage players, as they do not verify the age of their members in any way. However, what they do is not illegal, and there is a demand for social casino games. In addition, in some scenarios, it is even possible to say that they help people with gambling problems. Like everything else in life, social gambling is neither absolutely bad nor absolutely good. All we can do is accept that the demand for them will not disappear and take the necessary measures to regulate this service.
