Gamification for Responsible Gambling: A Guide for Online Casinos

The online gambling industry is witnessing significant growth, powered by advancements in technology and the allure of easy access. However, with increased participation comes the increased responsibility for online casinos to ensure that players gamble in a safe and controlled environment. One intriguing solution lies in the application of gamification, traditionally employed to enhance user engagement, to promote responsible gambling.

Understanding Gamification for Responsible Gambling

Gamification refers to the incorporation of game-like features into non-game applications. When applied to responsible gambling, the aim is to use these game-like elements to motivate and reward players for adhering to safe gambling practices.

Concrete Suggestions for Employing Gamification for Responsible Gambling

1. Progress Bars and Limits: Implement a progress bar that shows how much a player has spent or how long they’ve played. Once they reach their predetermined limit, they can be rewarded with ‘cooling-off’ badges or other non-monetary rewards.
2. Achievements for Safe Play: Award badges or trophies for players who sets deposit limits and consistently does not hit them, take regular breaks, or complete responsible gambling tutorials.
3. Time-Based Challenges: Create challenges that reward players for taking breaks. For instance, if a player logs off for an hour after a continuous 30-minute play, they might earn ‘refresh’ points or tokens.
4. Educational Games: Design mini-games that educate players about the risks of gambling addiction. Players can earn points or rewards for completing these games, making the learning process fun and interactive.
5. Feedback Mechanisms: Offer immediate feedback in the form of pop-ups or notifications when players set their limits or when they’re approaching them.
6. Personalized Dashboards: Allow players to have a dashboard where they can track their gambling habits over time, helping them become more self-aware.
7. Responsible Gambling Surveys and Safe Play Quizzes: Introduce surveys where the player are offered a way to share their thoughts and help them think about responsible gaming. Safe Play quizzes can also be a way to introduce a reward for players who answer correct on how to stay within their planned gambling.

Comparing Traditional Online Casino Rewards to Gamified Loyalty Rewards

• Deposit Bonuses vs. Gamified Rewards: Traditional deposit bonuses offer players additional money based on the amount they deposit. While enticing, it can also encourage players to deposit more money than they initially intended, potentially leading to irresponsible gambling. On the other hand, gamified rewards, like achievements for setting and adhering to limits, encourage safer play without directly enticing more deposits.
• Cashback Offers vs. Gamified Rewards: Cashback offers return a portion of lost funds to players, which might inadvertently encourage them to chase their losses, thinking they have a safety net. Gamified loyalty rewards, like badges or trophies for taking breaks, promote healthy habits without the risk of pushing players to bet more.

In essence, while deposit bonuses and cashback offers are designed to increase deposits and playtime, gamified loyalty rewards can be crafted to encourage breaks, limit adherence, and safe gambling education.

The Potential Impact on Responsible Play

1. Increased Awareness: By constantly seeing their habits through gamified dashboards or receiving feedback, players become more aware of their gambling behaviors.
2. Shift in Focus: Instead of being enticed solely by potential winnings, players also engage with the platform for the experience, achievements, and the satisfaction of playing responsibly.
3. Incentivizing Control: Gamified features that reward breaks or setting limits make players feel valued for their restraint, unlike traditional rewards which often incentivize continuous play.

Conclusion

The online gambling landscape is ripe for innovation, especially when it comes to promoting responsible gambling. Gamification for responsible gambling provides a unique opportunity for online casinos to make responsible gambling engaging and rewarding. By shifting away from the conventional deposit bonuses and cashback offers, and moving towards gamified loyalty rewards, online casinos can strike a balance – offering an enticing user experience while ensuring that players remain informed and in control.

Some organisations focused on promoting safer gambling are GambleAware, Gamblers Anonymous and GamCare. Reach out to them for more information if you or someone you know have problems controlling their gambling.

Do you want to know more about how Unibo can help create engaging campaigns which also help increase the longevity of your players? Reach out to Alexis Wicen, or simply press the button in the upper right corner.