For many years, online casinos and online gaming hubs such as Steam have taken very different approaches in how they lay out their digital offerings for their loyal player bases. As player preferences change and evolve with the seasons, it’s becoming apparent that on the gambling side, online casinos are shedding their traditional image and transforming into vibrant digital entertainment destinations.
New generations of gamers are largely unimpressed by basic websites and confusing interfaces. For this reason, it looks like some platforms offering a taste of the Vegas Strip have drawn inspiration from the largest internet video gaming giants. For a variety of reasons, this move has been great for business. Beyond the aesthetic upgrades, casinos that put effort into their overall look and feel are routinely managing to stand out in this famously oversaturated market. Here’s a look at what they’re doing right.
A new look to match the times
Not all online platforms have made the switch to offer a more modern gaming experience. But, the ones that have put time and consideration into a user’s experience now feature clean lines, intuitive navigation, and a focus on showcasing the games themselves in all their thrilling glory.
These aesthetic enhancements can be seen in many modern casino games as well. Individuals who explore the extensive libraries of an online casino pulling out all the stops to feel like a modern gaming hub will find options with high-quality visuals and stunning 3D animations at every turn.
Perhaps the rise of mobile entertainment is the cause. Cluttered menus and frustrating interfaces are falling away and being replaced with clearly defined categories and search filters made popular by popular video gaming platforms. All this means that every time a new player stumbles upon a user-friendly platform, they’re much more likely to stay a while and explore what’s on offer.
It’s no industry secret that the vast majority of gamers and gamblers prefer to engage with their preferred entertainment using their smartphone. By taking a mobile-first approach when designing platform interfaces, casinos are following mobile gaming trends with great success.
Gamification is on the rise
The introduction of achievement badges, progress bars, and leaderboards within digital casino environments suggests that online casinos have also been taking pages from online gaming playbooks. This is a smart business move because while these added elements may seem ineffectual in isolation, together, they boost engagement levels and do a lot to encourage casual players to come back for another session.
It’s no accident that casinos have been inspired to add these motivating features. Numerous studies and reports over the years have shown that adding achievement milestones can positively boost engagement. There’s a reason why they constantly show up in free-to-play mobile titles after all. When engagement is the aim, these details matter.
Showcasing the games on offer
Many casino enthusiasts alive today will probably be able to remember a time when online casinos only offered a handful of gaming options. Most commonly, these games would primarily focus on either table games or a handful of slot machine options. In the blink of an eye, the offerings of modern platforms have expanded. Today, sophisticated sites offer hundreds of different games.
To present this buffet of options to players in a way that’s easy to navigate, it’s perhaps unsurprising that online casino-gaming websites and apps have borrowed so heavily from video game platforms.
Storytelling over simple thrills
To keep up with changing preferences, operators now partner with casino game developers who know how to weave a compelling narrative into a game. This means that online slots are no longer just about spinning reels and hoping for the best. Among the countless themed options available, almost every title makes use of an interesting or amusing narrative that makes casino games feel more immersive.
For gamers used to playing video and mobile games with a good storyline, themed slots suddenly feel more alive and are much more appealing to play. And gamers who have exacting preferences are catered to as well. Nowadays, there seems to be a slot title to match almost every interest.
Why a good experience is so important
It’s a smart move to ensure that the experience a platform provides is the best it can possibly be. Unlike other industries that can promote or advertise their offerings online or use elaborate promotional stunts, online casino operators must rely on word-of-mouth to reach new players.
Across the globe, online gambling is a heavily regulated industry. With advertising restrictions to contend with, it’s simpler to focus on offering a great, easy-to-use platform that players will want to tell their friends and colleagues about. If a platform manages to delight its players, their reviews and recommendations will attract new business.
Will casinos continue to borrow from other industries?
To stay ahead of the curve and provide premium feeling experiences for online gamblers, it’s a safe bet to assume the industry will continue to borrow from video games and other industries whenever possible. By staying adaptable and open to new preferences, online casinos can continue to thrive.
Soon, operators will probably borrow and blend innovations from many other sectors. Whenever a trend promises more engagement and more excitement for players, the casino industry will be there to take it on board.
