What is Social Gaming?

[Scampi]

What is social gaming and how does it differ from regular online gaming? How would you monetise it?

[chaumi]

I take it as a generic term covering the platforms where you can play free, get given free chips...but can buy extra if you want to. So you're not playing for real money, but to build up loads of chips (and demonstrate to your social 'friends' how good you are).

Monetising is not easy/obvious...because the players you attract are obviously attracted because it's free (and the legality slant would be an accractor for people in some regions as well).

The industry in general will have been putting a lot of thought into whether (once you have got someone on to a social gaming network) , you could then find effective ways to get them into real money gaming (and make some return).

Percentage conversion from that perspective will always be low I suspect...but it's all down to volume/numbers. A small percent of millions could make some good returns.

For now, the only one I've seen which does pay commission is Pureplay...at the rate of $1.50 per registration (and visitors do convert from my limited experience)

[Casino Online Rating]

Monetising is not easy/obvious...because the players you attract are obviously attracted because it's free (and the legality slant would be an accractor for people in some regions as well).

While it sounds as the most logical though at first, there are also groups of F2P players that do go on crazy spending sprees in social games. Such examples can be observed in social games on Facebook or in F2P MMO games. People love buying vanity items, gifts and such for their virtual avatars and their friends. However, most of the time they are not the same people that would be ready to deposit their money in an online casino, which I guess continues to your point that they are hard to convert.

[chaumi]

While it sounds as the most logical though at first, there are also groups of F2P players that do go on crazy spending sprees in social games. Such examples can be observed in social games on Facebook or in F2P MMO games. People love buying vanity items, gifts and such for their virtual avatars and their friends. However, most of the time they are not the same people that would be ready to deposit their money in an online casino, which I guess continues to your point that they are hard to convert.

This is a good point...the social gaming operators are clearly not just worried about whether they can convert players to real money gaming, they'd appear to have other avenues too

[Scampi]

Thanks for the detailed answers. I'm going to look more into PurePlay, it seems an interesting avenue to explore.

[paul28]

Hey thanks for sharing such informative post! It is something new for me too.

[vpp]

Social gaming involves playing games that are generally free, but provide the ability for players to purchase items, power ups and other things that can help them complete quests and levels. This is where money can be made. With social gaming, friends will be competing and these games are often quite addicting. Think of the huge success of Candy Crush. With this game, thousands of players play every day and purchase items, generating revenue. When promoting social gaming, focus on the hottest games that are attractive players as this is where possible money can be made.

[KimKim]

Social gaming has more social context. It's so hard not to interact with the game, when you see on your news feed on Facebook that your best friend just bit, for example, your hater to turn into a beast lol And of course it's more pleasant to play a game with people you actually know or who are sitting with you at the same table during dinner!

[pokeraussie]

This is a good point...the social gaming operators are clearly not just worried about whether they can convert players to real money gaming, they'd appear to have other avenues too

Such as what? Buying play money chips?

[KimKim]

This is a good point...the social gaming operators are clearly not just worried about whether they can convert players to real money gaming, they'd appear to have other avenues too

Agree. I think they are not. I think they're just interested in promotng social apps, not real money gaming

[gamerbud]

Its most basic, a game is any non-obligatory activity that is performed for fun, and this certainly describes many of the pastimes on social networks.

[betblog]

Social gaming means that you are allowed or required to communicate with other players. It is the opposite of playing games in solitude.