Most online casino sites offer some kind of bonus for players. This could be free spins, an offer related to a popular slot game, or cashback for the sportsbook component of the site. But is offering one necessary? How important is the bonus for an online casino site?
Any sales promotion can be used to entice customers, according to fitsmallbusiness.com. Money off, added value, or gaining something extra are all examples of goodwill from the business to the customer. This helps foster strong relationships. For online casinos, a strong relationship is necessary so that they visit in the future. At its most basic level, a bonus is a sales promotion that can be used to attract players.
But the bonus can also be indicative of other aspects of the site. For instance, as onlinecasinos.co.uk shows, each site listed is given a score out of 10. This score is compiled based on many factors – reviews from customers, games on offer, accessibility of customer service, even sleekness of the website. The bonus is another factor in this aggregate score. The bonus is displayed as prominently as the rating, allowing customers to use both pieces of information to make up their mind on which site to use.
It could be argued that a bonus could make or break the decision for a customer to choose a certain provider of online casino games. They may be wanting a one-off experience. So, a bonus that gives them chances to win money back from a title they want to play could be the deciding factor. For customers who are wanting to create a longstanding relationship with a site, the promise of regular bonuses could sweeten the deal.
While most people refer to the welcome bonus when they talk about the offers online casino sites provide, there is also a range of weekly, monthly, and even seasonal bonuses. These offers extend more goodwill, especially once the customer moves out of being “new”. Many companies across a variety of sectors – most notably, telecoms – are often criticized for being favorable to new customers to the detriment of those who are loyal already. Regular bonuses mitigate against this.
Bonuses may be useful for complete novices who have no idea how the online casino world works. The bonuses offer them a chance to try some of the games without as much financial worry. Some of the no deposit bonuses mean that players can experience the gameplay without spending anything – and can decide if they want to continue with it or not. Indeed, Forbes.com suggests that free trials can be useful in converting people to loyal customers.
Bonuses are a staple of the online casino experience and have become expected. They help entice players and show what the site has to offer. They also act as an example of how the site’s relationship with the customer will progress going forwards. When deployed correctly, bonuses can be incredibly useful. However, if not followed up with good service and experience, they will fail to convert the customer.
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