Free Play and Loyalty

Free play at an online or mobile casino is given in many different ways. It can be provided at the registration stage as a signup bonus and free spins, or it can be given as a continuous bonus to returning players. Free play is any gift from the casino that enhances play, gives more money or free spins, and encourages the player to enjoy the casino for longer. The idea behind the free play comes from the casino management and marketing teams, who believed until recently that the more that is offered, the more likely a player is to stay at the casino and place further bets. Casinos have been using this theory for many years, developing new bonus offers and creative ways to entice players to the casino and keep them there with return betting.

Changing the Theory That Free Play Brings More Players

Recent studies have shown that players lose loyalty to a casino only if the full free play is taken away. What this means is that the casino can offer a reduced bonus offer, costing them less but still giving something for free. In a recent test, four hundred players were given $15 to use at an online casino in the first weeks. They all played. In the latter weeks, the amounts of funds given varied between $0 to $15, and there was no significant change in the frequency of play for those with $15 to $5, but those who did not have any free money stopped playing. The statistics showed that there was a 20% reduction only in play for those with free money. What this concludes is that casinos can now offer lower bonus promotions with the same frequency. This costs the casino significantly less and, in the long run, increases their profits. Players remain loyal to a casino even if the bonuses are reduced, but when taken away completely, the player will start looking for another casino.