The launch of new games and features always intrigues online casino audiences as they search for the next experience that will elevate their enjoyment of slot content. The surge in popularity of complementary tournaments epitomises how this particular engagement tool has breathed new life into gameplay and enhances online experiences.
Tournaments in online casino have tremendously impacted the industry and their importance within the iGaming ecosystem cannot be understated. After seeing the popularity of tournament poker, the smartest providers and operators realised that enjoyment does not only centre around the game itself, but also around the sense of competition. This has since been replicated within the slots environment, with LatAm operators increasingly identifying the product as an important tool to enhance engagement.
By simply awakening the competitive spirit of players, tournaments present a more exciting event which also increases the KPIs for casinos. Interactivity between players is incredibly crucial - the more the audience engage, the better it is for the operators. There is clear evidence that Tournaments boost retention and revenue.
Room for improvement
For any operator looking to integrate tournament functionality into their offering, several considerations need to be made. As competition grows ever fiercer in the iGaming space, and particularly in the LatAm region, operators simply cannot afford to deliver a subpar experience and expect to retain players.
Many tournaments found in today’s online casino marketplace fail to maximise the potential for operators to reach a wider audience. That is largely down to the mechanics involved of online tournaments, which do not analyse or adapt to casual player trends.
Some products lack exciting mechanics such as highest multiplier or payout per round and do not effectively combine with other tools like challenges and prize drops. Successfully coupling mechanics can maximise the potential of Tournaments and this is something within our own offering that we are continuing to enhance.
Understanding tournament mechanics and the balance required between enticing VIP customers and recreational players are key to ensuring that slot competitions become far more attractive for various audience segments.
As well as the deep competition between operators, there are thousands of games for players to engage with. Adding Tournament functionality to a small number of titles will not achieve maximum engagement and limit the offering’s potential. Player tastes vary greatly, therefore large integrations which cover as many of these preferences as possible is a must.
A user-friendly interface is also imperative. A clean, intuitive platform is the cornerstone of any successful online casino. Research shows that 38% of players will leave a casino and never return after one negative experience, while 75% of players admitted to making judgements on operators based on website design alone, so it is crucial to present a polished home for content.
This is taken a step further with customisable, personalised layout options. Content libraries should follow similar models of other entertainment industries, making recommendations based on past behaviours and understanding individuals.
Leading the way
To further improve the impact of Tournaments, these tools should see constant rollouts of upgraded features.
At Infingame, not only are we continually upgrading Tournaments, but we ensure a solid foundation to improve on, with every modification designed to meet an operator’s individual needs.
A clear differentiator of our interface is its clean and easy to navigate design, with content and messaging in multiple languages providing audiences with a simple, logical journey throughout their play sessions. We also have functionality that can reward players in seven different ways, ranging from free spins to branded merchandise, keeping the excitement high for players with intrigue around their next award.
We have over 10,000 games integrated with Tournaments, covering a wide range of themes which ensure a broad spectrum of player preferences are met, maximising enjoyment. There is an ever-increasing demand amongst audiences for providers to differentiate and our tool addresses this comfortably.
By intricately understanding tastes from all regions, suppliers can immediately appeal to players with different interests, which is well looked upon by operator partners. This is evident in the constant drive for innovation across the wider global iGaming industry, which focus with all stakeholders striving to develop entertaining and engaging products and services.
Tournaments should be an integral part of any online casino. Operators that choose to ignore the format are missing an opportunity to attract new customers, retain existing ones and increase revenue, the basics of any successful business.
Yevhenii Bondarets,
Product Manager at Infingame
