The social games industry and the casino industry are going through a change, driven by numerous factors in the past 18 months. The traditional casino industry has been hit long before the pandemic, thanks to the resurgence of the online gaming industry. What's more, Forbes issued a report in 2018 outlining decreasing revenues. The hit on the land-based industry has been even more evident in 2020 due to restrictions, with many people turning to online social games.
Since physical competitors are out of the game, the online social gaming market has been rising in popularity. But which factors have contributed to the sudden increase in interest in online social games this year? Let's find out.
Variety of Choice
If we compare the online social gaming industry to its physical counterparts, it's evident that online gaming attracts more users. One reason for that is the abundance of choice. Take, for example, the online casino industry. You'll find a wider variety of online slots if you visit House of Fun: free casino slots & casino games than if you go to your local casino. For that reason, land-based casinos need to make careful choices to decide which games to feature.
On the other hand, online platforms offer a broad spectrum of themes and interests — titles that appeal to thousands, even hundreds of thousands of players. This is one of the main reasons why online providers have a considerable advantage over land-based providers. And this is not only true for casino venues but many other gaming-oriented businesses, like video games studios, arcade shops, etc.
Ease of Access
Last year has been challenging for all of us, especially people who are used to going out and making the most of their every day. 2020 has proved that accessibility matters, which places online service above any service provided in a physical location. Let's go back to the example of land-based casinos. If you want to spin the roulette wheel or play a hand of poker, you may need to travel to a distant location, spending additional money on gas and other necessities. And although you may have a great night, it might not turn out to be worth the hassle.
Online casinos take all of that out of the equation, allowing players to access games from any place and any device. You don't even need to sit at your computer — just open an app on your smartphone and play Poker Heat for hours on end. The same goes if you're stuck in traffic, on a long train ride, or waiting in line at the DMV.
Accessing any type of game online allows players to explore their options even if they have zero experience playing games. Social games are a great option to indulge in a social pastime without stepping out of your comfort zone.
Flexibility
Flexibility goes two ways when it comes to social gaming. Namely, physical social gaming locations do not have a lot of flexibility when it comes to introducing new trends. Even with today's digital games, it is challenging to move one out and set another into motion.
Where online social games stand out is their flexibility to quickly and easily adapt to new things. That's why it is incredibly easy to introduce a new game and promote it if it turns out to be popular with players. Similarly, operators can just as quickly pull out a game if it proves not to be of interest to players.
Although there is still room for physical locations to grow and introduce much-needed changes, the past 18 months have proved that the rise of online social gaming is not slowing down.
