Social Network Dedicated for the iGaming Industry

[evilgenius]

For many years now since the advent of social network/media I've been expecting that someone would eventually give birth to a Social Network for our industry. Nothing seems to popup. The closest thing I came across with is bettingexpert.com, it has some social aspects in it but not totally.

I've been wondering WHY?

- Is it because market is not big enough that development is not worth the effort?
- Is it because there is a concern on its legality?

What do you think? Almost all other industries on the internet have their segment of social network. Even swimmers and dog lovers for instance have their own social network.

Think Facebook as a way of connecting with other people, Twitter to follow brands, Yelp as a review site and Yahoo as a portal and other social aspects you can incorporate it with. Lets say we have this for the iGaming industry (Casino, Sports betting, Poker), would it be a viable "product"? More so, do you think it will help our industry in any way?

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

[Gamer]

Interesting idea. However, how do you want to implement this?
Such site need dedicated server, staff, etc. It costs money!

[evilgenius]

@Gamer It's a general question for everyone, regardless of the cost and what it takes to run such site.

[gillies8888]

I think sports lobster aimed towards this. Had millions of investment and looked very gambling orientated.

would be a great community to have though.

[TheGooner]

Twitter / LinkedIn / Facebook / Email / Forums all have their strengths and servicing particular needs .

Twitter - one liner notifications / advertising
Facebook - more detailed personal contacts
LinkedIn - more detailed business contacts
Email - Specific 1-to-1 communication ... or SPAM (if you're doing it badly)
Forums - Detailed conversations and discussions.

What other industries have a viable single social network platform?
IMO - it's not a viable product for two reasons :

1/ an all-in-one site cannot keep pace with the developments going on in the rest of the net.
2/ a new social network for JUST your gambling contacts will be visited less frequently and is less effective.

We've seen that trend with gambling sites that lived off their forums. They can't stay as current with developments and the majoriy of meembers have drifted away. Yes there are still some hard-core members that take part but they are a small segment of the overall forum registration. It's even true of the GPWA - and it's servicing a direct industry need.

Additionally, trying to integrate that all functionality into a single platform would be very difficult, techincally, and logically in terms of presentation, and even if you did manage it, you would miss the mark for a lot of people who don't want that level of integration and mixed levels of communication in a single platform.

(E.G I don't want to know what my Casino rewards AM Renee (for example ) has had for breakfast - if I did I would FRIEND her on facebook.)

The strength of facebook, is that you can communicate with ALL your friends on one place. It works because people check in regularly for different reasons and so becomes a viable place to make contact with friends. If you attempt to segment these contacts - eg. a new social network for JUST your gambling contacts then you will find that it is visited less frequently and is less effective.

At least that's how I see it.

[sampendleton]

The idea is actually interesting but I think we can just leave it to the gambling sites hahaha

[BetterNick]

It does seem like a few have attempted it - I seem to remember a start-up attempting a betting exchange style social media site. Bet against your mates type thing with the social stuff as well.

In terms of sports betting I think something that integrates tipping/social must have some potential, bettingkingdom, pyckio etc. For betting in general I do wonder if alot of people prefer to keep that private.

[F-L-C]

Some have attempted it, you do see them pop up now and again then never hear anything after that so I assume they all failed, I really don't think there is a need for it. Between forums and existing social networks there is enough social interaction with our community

[dfiocch]

Uhm... mumble... uhm...

I'm thinking about it...