The meteoric rise of social media platforms such as Facebook a decade back also opened up space for a social gaming niche. This category was populated by games like Farmville, Mighty Pirate, Free Realms, etc. But another category found its way into this mix – social casino games.

Titles like myVegas Slots, Zynga Poker, and Doubledown Casino were at the center of the stage here. You couldn’t win real money with these. Yet, players logged into these online games (through their Facebook accounts) in the hundreds of thousands daily.

In-game purchases also began taking off with ground-breaking titles like Battlefield Play 4 Free (which many see as a precursor to Fortnite), Free Realms, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, and almost all Zyga Games. Thus, the question arose: Why would anyone spend real money on virtual goods?

And more importantly, why do people gamble on these social casino games if they don’t offer cash rewards?

To answer this, researchers published a scientific dissertation in 2013, classifying the intents of social casino gamblers.

Let’s discuss these intents one by one!

https://unsplash.com/

Seeking Excitement

The vast majority of players log into these sites simply for the thrills. Most of these players may never have actually visited a casino or placed a bet for real on anything. Some can even be teenagers (since social media platforms have next to no age verification protocols).

The thrill of winning and the fear of losing keep players on the edge for the entire game. This means that they’ll continue to play just for the thrills even if they can’t get real money out of their victories.

Plus, social media platforms offer bragging rights to players. For instance, players can post their finest victories on their Facebook wall. They can thus advertise their wins to all their friends. That in itself boosts the level of excitement and dopamine associated with such games.

More than a quarter, 27.5% to be precise, of all social casino gamers fall within this category.

Since most of them don’t spend real money (only a small fraction does) on these games, this approach is financially viable for the short term. However, in the long term, the association of excitement and thrill to unrealistic outcomes for gambling can lead to addiction.

Playing For Relaxation

The second biggest category, marked by 25.5% of all players, is of those who are simply seeking relaxation. Students and job holders must face the vicissitudes and burdens associated with their stringent routines.

Based on a recent statistical report, exposure to stress and anxiety is much more severe than previously anticipated:

• For the age group 18 to 24, almost 66% suffer from stress, and 12% are afflicted by anxiety.
• This number is 64% and 10%, respectively, for the 25 to 34 age group.
• For the 35 to 44 age group, it is 57% and 8%, respectively.

For people aged between 45 and 54, the number is 49% and 5%, respectively.

The prospect of relaxation, available easily with just a couple of clicks and taps, is quite desirable and, paysafecard online casinos give you that option. You can compare this category with people who read fiction books, comic enthusiasts, and videogamers.

The intent is the same, but it comes at a price — most players buy premium perks for gameplay advantages. This costs them real money. But, of course, they do so to calm their nerves and cope with the troubles of their routine.

Escapism

People also play social casino games to escape from the realities of their lives. Not everyone can afford to gamble with thousands of dollars without consequence. Being born into challenging circumstances can take a toll on one’s mind.

However, there is an escape.

Why do you think games like Call of Duty and The Sims are so popular?

Do you think that most players fighting the Nazis in Call of Duty would be able to do something like that in an actual pitched battle? Or would a person dripping with excitement over building their mansion in The Sims probably ever get to own one in real life?

For most, the answer is no.

However, the feeling of doing these things virtually, even at the expense of real money, offers the same injection of dopamine as it would in reality. It also helps people navigate the challenging waters of their lives until they’re in a position to change things.

Socialization

The social aspect of social casino games can also not be understated. We all remember how we bragged about how awesome our farm was in front of our classmates. And then we’d get together to play the game on the internet (virtually, of course).

The chat and socialization features allow you to keep regularly in touch with your “game friends.” You can also socialize with other like-minded people. Of course, this has also raised concerns among parents, who fear that their children might be targeted by predators disguised as kids.

Parental oversight in such matters (for children) is a must.

Social media sites generally recommend that you only connect with people you know in real life.

Killing Time

A lot of people are not truly committed to social casino games and only log in to kill time, others, who are into gambling, try online pokies as a way to relax. This may not be the most productive time to spend hours and hours on end, but for some, it’s better than sitting around idly in their homes, doing absolutely nothing.

Winning Real Money

Lastly, it’s all about money. While most social casino games don’t offer real cash rewards, some online casinos have adopted a social approach. This means that people who prefer to socialize and play on these platforms are primarily motivated by the prospect of winning real money.

But, of course, it also comes with the concern of being forced into poor decisions by unrealistic expectations and the hopes of quickly getting money from casinos.

The spiraling pit of gambling addiction is only a gallop away from here!