In the gambling world, the trend of playing or betting without real money is gaining popularity. If you analyze the catalysts behind this trend, they are social casinos and sweepstakes software. Social casino apps allow users to play casino games without using any real money and they have become an excellent alternative to online gambling.
Social casinos serve as a great alternative because they allow social interactions, offer a safe environment, and have responsible gaming features to avoid overuse. In this blog, you will learn how social casinos compare to online gambling and why they are an awesome alternative.
What are Social Casinos?
Social casinos are the gaming model that mimics the look and feel of online casinos, without using real money. This gives social casinos their key characteristic of “Safety” for the people who want to have a feel of the casino games or those who want to hone their gambling skills.
The currency used in online social casinos is known as virtual currency which is usually in the form of gold coins. Players can wager these coins to play and win games. Social casinos provide this currency in the form of daily spins and bonuses. There are almost all the games in a social casino, such as
- Slots
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Baccarat
What are the Benefits of Social Casinos?
There are several benefits and reasons that make social casino apps attractive to operators. Here are some of those!
Social Interactions
A social casino is a place where people from around the world compete with each other. This generates an opportunity to socialize, making gameplay more fun and entertaining. The mix of socialization and entertainment on the same platform enables faster customer acquisition for the operators.
No Need For a License
Generally, there is no need for a gambling-specific license to operate a social casino in most jurisdictions as they do not handle real money payouts. But as an operator, you still have to abide by the compliance laws and app store policies. You also need to be aware of the grey areas.
Higher Engagement
Compared to traditional online casinos where players may lose interest after losing money, social casinos boost engagement and ensure higher retention and playtime by introducing features, such as daily rewards, leaderboards, and social sharing. As there is no money to lose, players keep coming back to play.
Multiple Monetization Models
As an operator, social casino apps can be a great earning source too. Operators can monetize their social casino apps by providing in-app purchases, running ads, offering weekly or monthly subscriptions, and via referrals and social sharing bonuses.
Social Casinos vs Online Gambling | Key Differences
Social casino apps serve as an alternative to online casinos or online gambling due to a number of differences between the two.
| Factor | Social Casinos | Online Gambling |
| Currency | Social casino involves the use of virtual currency, such as gold coins that can be used to play, but cannot be cashed out. | Online gambling involves the use of real money. Players have to make deposits, place wagers, and if they win can withdraw their winnings. |
| Monetization Model | Social casinos rely on various aspects to make money, such as Running adsOffering subscriptionsIn-app purchasesReferrals | Online gambling casinos make money via transaction fees, house edge, and player microtransactions. |
| Legal and Regulatory Requirements | Social casinos do not require any license. Therefore, they are easier to launch and operate in most jurisdictions. | On the other hand, online gambling platforms include gambling with real money, making it necessary for the operators to get a license and abide by compliance rules regarding fair play, responsible gaming, and anti-money laundering (AML). |
| Audience Scope | The scope of online social casinos is wide. Whether it is a casual player or an experienced one, they can easily and safely engage with the social casino platform. | In contrast, online gambling always poses a risk of actual money loss. Therefore, the scope here reduces to professional gamblers. |
The Future of Social Casino Apps
The global social casino market stood at $8.51 billion in 2024 and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2025 to 2030. These numbers suggest healthy growth and with this new trends are also expected to arise in the future. Some of the trends that will shape the social casino market in the future are AR/VR, blockchain technology, NFT technology, 6G, etc.
Conclusion
Social casino apps do not involve any money and have a simple establishing process, making them an ideal casino business for an operator to start with. But besides legal and regulatory requirements, there is a whole process of social casino development that can be tough to navigate voluntarily.
To ensure that your social casino business is up and running in minimum time, you can choose TRUEiGTECH. They are one of the best online social casino development agencies with over 10 years of market experience. TRUEiGTECH has an expert team that offers you top-notch services with timely communication and user experience.
