Influence of social functions: ratings, gifts, competitions

Introduction

Social casinos build retention and monetization not only on game mechanics, but also on social functions: public ratings, opportunities to give chips to friends and regular competitions. These tools encourage users to return, interact and microtransact. Below is a detailed analysis of each function and its impact on player behavior and business performance.

1. Ratings (Leaderboards)

Rating types:
  • Daily (amount of bets or winnings in 24 hours).
  • Weekly/monthly (more time to achieve goals).
  • Regional and global (comparison with friends and the entire gaming community).

Scoring mechanics:
  • 1 point = 1,000 bet chips or 1 winning spin.
  • Top 10-50 entry award: chips, tournament passes, skins.

Impact on players:
  • Competitive element: aiming to climb the table.
  • Sessions boost: Players return daily to hold position.
  • Increased engagement: discussing results in chats, inviting friends.

2. Gifts (Gifting)

Types of gifts:
  • Chips and credit packages: the ability to send up to X chips to a friend.
  • Scratch cards and Wheel of Fortune spins as a gift.
  • VIP passes and bonus codes for exclusive events.

Restrictions and conditions:
  • Daily gift limit (e.g. 3-5 times).
  • Low commission or free shipping up to a certain amount.

Positive effects:
  • Viral growth: New users are attracted by gifts from friends.
  • Withholding: The recipient returns to spend or return the gift.
  • Social attachment: strengthening ties within guilds and clans.

3. Competitions (Competitions & Tournaments)

Formats:
  • Qualifying selections: a series of rounds that form top players.
  • Mass events: all users place bets in one slot; winners share the prize pool.
  • Group tournaments: Teams (guilds) compete for the overall result.

Prizes and motivation:
  • Virtual chips, NFT passes, skins, access to VIP rooms.
  • Prizes may include real-world merch or certificates from partners.

Impact on metrics:
  • DAU/MAU growth: spike activity during the tournament period by 20-50%.
  • ARPU and LTV: Paid passes to tournaments boost revenue.
  • Social engagement: tournament chat rooms, inter-clan competition.

4. The complex effect of social mechanics

1. Network engagement: ratings and gifts create a reason to communicate and play together.
2. Increasing retention: Daily competitions form a habit of returning.
3. Incentive for microtransactions: gift events and tournament tickets are paid, but are perceived as a tool for promotion in the ratings.
4. Community and loyalty: Collective goals (guild events) strengthen internal culture and reduce churn.

Conclusion

Ratings, gifts and competitions are an integral part of social casinos, transforming them from sets of slots and roulettes into dynamic communities. Well-tuned social functions increase engagement, stimulate microtransactions and create a stable audience without real-money risks.