How gamification is redefining the online casino experience for gamers

Online casinos are taking a page from the world of gaming, blurring lines between quests, XP, avatars and other social functionality with traditional slots and other casino classics. The outcome will be a hybrid form of entertainment that no longer represents traditional gambling, but rather a form of online role-playing with a monetary twist.

If you’re like me, you opened an online casino in the past decade and experienced a twinge of deja vu. Now, your slots look like hubs. Your loyalty programs are like battle passes. Heck, your blackjack looks like it has seasonal events.

This isn’t a rebrand. The online gambling industry has completely integrated gamification, and for those who came of age with PlayStation trophies and XP for unlocking rare skins, this all looks and feels very familiar. This isn’t a place where people come just to gamble; this is a place where people are world-building, providing progression, taking up challenges and rewarding every spin with a mission.

The trick? A new world where players are slowly setting foot in online casinos and realizing that it no longer feels like a foreign gamble but rather a game environment with bonuses, tactics and a constant supply of dopamine.

From slots to seasons and the rising influence of gaming mechanics in casinos

“Gamification” wasn’t a sudden development. In the early days of online casinos, it was all very simple; traditional slots design, simple interfaces and not a lot happening beyond the “bet” button. At the same time, the gambling industry was booming with innovative progression rewards, achievements, daily login rewards and battle passes. The world of casinos took notice. Now, when you log into an online casino, you are likely to find:

XP bars displaying reward progression.
Achievement badges for reaching certain milestones.
Holiday and major sports events that are season-related.
Tiered loyalty programs that simulate rungs on a ladder.
Avatars, skins and cosmetic unlocks.

This offers a lot of interactivity that has never been seen in casinos before. Rather than simply placing a bet and waiting for it to pay off, players are doing mission objectives, leveling up their accounts, using perks and leveraging systems that simulate the kinds of progression systems that video games have perfected.

Gamers understand this immediately. The synergy is intuitive: Challenge plus reward equals satisfaction.

Bonuses, rewards and fun in online casinos

Another important aspect of online casinos that players find attractive is the level of creativity and fun that has been incorporated into online bonuses. Online bonuses and promotions are now more than just reading and understanding terms and conditions locked into tiny texts. These are now right before one’s eyes and are more so like rewards waiting to be unlocked and claimed, instead of being used as promotional or advertising tools. Something like a BetMGM casino bonus code is more like embarking on an adventure instead of an advertisement.

These rewards are usually linked to the overall gamified environment that exists on these online gambling sites. Finish a task and win a reward in return. Login regularly and rewards start to stack up on you. There are some online gambling sites that offer rewards on a seasonal basis to keep things interesting for their visitors. This has brought about a sense of generosity and interactivity on online gambling sites, especially if we consider online gamers in general.

Why gamers are suddenly so interested in online casino sites

A lot of gamers are finding their way into online casinos, not in search of jackpots but because casinos are finally conversant in their language.

There’s a sense of progression

Just as in a role-playing game, you now have goals in online casinos. Reach level 10, finish all your missions for the week or unlock a new benefit in the VIP tier. This sense of momentum keeps playing entertaining even when you are being cagey with your finances.

There are now skill-based and hybrid games

Although slots are still quite large, new titles incorporate reflex, timing, puzzle-solving and gambling. Crash gambling, live gambling and arcade-style gambling games are very much focused on exploiting those mechanics which gamers are already familiar with.

The UX finally feels modern

Interfaces are now designed with a sleek look that involves animation, audio and other attraction capabilities. This looks much better than that of the old-school gambling sites.

Entertainment-centric

A lot of new players are not necessarily playing for monetary gain. They are looking for fun, progression and discovery, all of which are reasons that lead them to playing in the first place.

Gamification

Gamification refers to using game design elements in online casinos. To see this, you must consider each of the individual tools casinos are using, most of which are taken straight from gaming culture.

Leveling systems

XP will be earned for every bet and every completed mission. Reach certain points and you can claim rewards in the form of free spins, bonuses and even elite games. This is like leveling up in Call of Duty.

Achievements and badges

Casinos now offer rewards for every imaginable milestone, from winning streaks to playing different games. They’re usually shown in your profile page.