There are an estimated 1 billion online gamers worldwide, according to Statista.
The online gaming market is booming and how! It is estimated that there will be more than 1.3 billion online gamers by 2025.
This is the digital era, and the Internet is the biggest gift we are experiencing today. With widespread Internet connectivity, it has emerged as our medium to socialise and unwind.
No wonder, gaming enthusiasts have taken to online gaming in a big way. What’s more, there is a lot in store for the online gamers, with new games being launched every other day!
What Makes Online Games Popular
There are many reasons online gaming is becoming increasingly popular. After all, the online gaming platforms have a lot to offer.
A Community of Gaming Enthusiasts
Just like every other field of interest, online gamers have an online community. This allows you to connect with gaming enthusiasts from any part of the globe for real-time gameplay.
Convenience
What better way to indulge in your favourite game than right from the comfort of your own home? Online gaming platforms offer you thousands of free games at your fingertips to choose from.
Enhanced Experience
The new age online games offer multiple play modes and options. The games are far more engaging in terms of gameplay and visuals.
The focus is on designing games that the targeted age group can easily navigate through.
Mobile Compatibility
The smartphone has redefined accessibility, bringing everything to our fingertips! Needless to say, it has been instrumental in the spectacular rise in the popularity of online gaming.
The pandemic and the resulting social distancing norms have drawn people to online gaming like never before.
The Online Gaming Scenario in 2022
Like we have already learnt, online gaming is big right now. This exponential growth has had a significant impact on the number of gaming portals in the market.
The entry of new gaming platforms has changed the game and it is highly competitive now. Today, it is their need of the hour to stand out from the crowd.
One of the remarkable ways gaming platforms are doing this is through bonuses and promotions. They offer you an attractive bonus to invite you to try their game.
Bonuses are not just for the new users. You also have rewards and promotions for loyalists to encourage them to keep on playing.
Understanding the Freemium Game Model
Among the many different gaming bonuses, promotions and schemes, the Freemium model stands out. It has proved to be immensely successful as it allows users a first-hand gaming experience without the need to pay.
What is a freemium model? As the name suggests, it is derived from the words ‘free’ and ‘premium’.
It allows users to download a free version of the game that also offers optional in-app purchases/upgrades.
The biggest advantage of the freemium model is that it boosts user engagement. Once the user is on board, they often choose to pay to unlock levels or access additional features.
The freemium model can really help in spreading the word and gaming apps are all for it. The users are also happy to spend on a game they know they would enjoy.
For example, a popular game like Candy Crush Saga offers a freemium model. It allows you to move through levels without the need to pay.
However, paying upfront allows you to unlock bonus packs, skip levels, add more “lives” instantly, and more.
Online Gaming Promotions and Bonus Schemes
Bonus schemes and promotions also work well to attract new users and retain existing ones. Some examples are as follows:
- Loyalty points or rewards for coming back to the game regularly every day.
- Bonus for inviting friends to join the game.
- Bonus to watch advertisements on a freemium gaming model.
- Bonus rewarded for signing up as a registered user.
When talking about bonuses and promotions, the online casino platforms are a great example. The online casino industry has emerged to be highly competitive over the last few years and now casino sites offer various bonuses and promotions to new players to attract them to their site.
Gone are the early days when there used to be only a few online casinos. Today we have many online casinos available.
The multi-billion-dollar industry uses diverse bonuses and promotions to build their user base. Here we shall look at a few of them.
Welcome Bonus
As the name suggests, the welcome bonus is what you get on signing up with online casinos. It is usually double the registration amount.
Deposit Bonus
This is similar to the welcome bonus and is meant for new players. However, the deposit bonus can multiply your deposit amount three, four or even five times.
Free Spins
Some casinos use the free spins scheme when promoting slot machines. However, new players get it too.
It is all about rewarding the player with free chances to try their luck. This way, the player gets a free chance at winning.
Loyalty Rewards
This is reserved for the loyal patrons of the online casino who have been playing for years. Loyalty rewards can be in multiple forms and varies with the benchmark attained.
Referral Bonus
This is common with most gaming apps and casinos are no different. After all, referrals are a great way to increase the user base.
If a player brings in more new players to the platform, they are rewarded with a bonus.
Conclusion
Online casinos are making the extra effort to expand their user base. The goal is to offer more to every user with bonuses for new and existing players alike. Also, the use of the latest advanced technology is adding to the user experience like never before.