Global social casino games market projected to reach $9.82B by 2028

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Social casinos have grown by leaps and bounds in the last decade due to their unique features and advantages. Unlike real-money casinos, these platforms allow players to enjoy casino games for free. What’s more, per the top social casino reviews, these platforms allow players to participate in tournaments, which makes the games even more exciting. Players stand the chance to win top positions, collect tokens to use in other games, and make friends on these platforms. So, how has this popularity affected this industry?

Players in social casinos do not need to pay to enjoy the games. So, how do the social casinos make money?

1. Ad revenues: Players using social casinos often need to watch ads to enjoy perks such as more tokens or lives to use in the games. These 10- to 30-second ads allow businesses to showcase their products to gaming audiences at a cost.
2. Item purchases: While players can enjoy games for free, tokens and lives are not unlimited. As such, if a player suffers a losing streak, they can end up without the resources to enjoy the game. One option is to complete challenges, such as watching ads or waiting for their tokens to refill. The other option is to buy more from the social casino at a cash price – players can do this using payment methods such as card payments and e-wallets.

So, how much does this amount to? In 2020, the global social casino market was worth $5.6 billion. And with a CAGR of 6.23% calculated in 2024, predictions show that this market will be worth $9.82 billion in 2028.

Every market is subject to factors that elevate or diminish its growth. And for social casino stakeholders, the determinants below hold the most water:

1. The growth of the gaming industry: Gone are the days when gaming was just for professionals. In the digital age, gaming is a pastime for anyone, regardless of age, gender and other socio-economic factors. Many people enjoy gaming on the go, which has propelled social casino games as they are free and easy to play.
2. The proliferation of smart devices: Social casino games are available on multiple platforms, including desktop and mobile websites. Many operators also offer apps dedicated to these games. Since billions of people now own smartphones, accessing social games is at the tap of a button.
3. Increased internet access: Many smartphone users have access to free or cheap internet. And with the increased use of 5G, accessibility has never been this good. Even better, many social casino games include offline versions that allow people to complete challenges even when they do not have internet access.
4. Increased advertising: Social casino operators have not only been launching mobile ads but also working with influencers to spread the word about the free-to-play games.

Most of this industry’s growth owes to the COVID-19 era where people sought new ways to occupy their time under quarantine. But unlike some businesses which lost their audiences after this pandemic, social casino games have only been getting more popular, as more people advertise them on their social media pages.

While slots have a large following due to their simple and fast gameplay, games of skill have also been gaining traction. So, which markets top the rankings?

1. North America: The high number of smartphone and tablet users coupled with the increased 5G technology use have pushed this market to the top.
2. Europe: The presence of key market players in this region have eased access to games. Moreover, this region also has increased access to technological advancements.
3. Asia: Projections show that the Asia-Pacific region will contribute to the highest growth in the market between 2024 and 2028.

South America, Middle East, and Africa are not far behind.

As the market grows, casino operators will need to be more innovative in their approaches. Many have already been including augmented reality, virtual reality, and cloud gaming as some of their key features to appeal to the high demand for technologically advanced products.