Multiplayer Video Games & Multiplayer Online Casino Games - Exploring The Similarities

While on initial examination it might not seem like there's much in common between multiplayer video games and multiplayer online games, we have seen both industries grow increasingly alike over the last few years. While much of this has been from a marketing perspective, which is another point we are going to explore today, there's a growing number of people exploring what both sectors have in common.

Given that they are both global and can generate huge international audiences, this might seem like a rather obvious starting point. However, if we were to simply say that the main similarities between the two sectors are that they can generate a global audience, that would not even be the tip of the iceberg in explaining why multiplayer games are becoming one of the latest trends sweeping across the gaming landscape.

The Power Of Online Communities
Multiplayer video games, or those with an international audience, have cultivated online communities for over 30 years. Some do it via internet forums, but the more common and contemporary formats span platforms like Discord and Telegram, bringing together an international community that talks about their favorite games 24/7.

Many of these communities are as ardent and driven as you will get; they almost single-handedly drive the social media engagement that is associated with their chosen game, and while online casinos can often fork out thousands of dollars a day to get their marketing ideas out there, for some gaming companies, it is their players who do the heavy lifting. Usually, this is the cheapest form of promotion.

Of course, when it comes to online casino games, there are other considerations here. However, with more online casinos offering a range of different promotions and cost-effective ways to play their games, they are often able to attract some of the conventional video gaming market over to their platforms.

Capturing Social Media Trends
As you can see in the link below, if a post goes viral, it can bring millions of eyeballs to the brand or company associated with it. While it would be unfair to say that video gaming and online casino companies are the only ones exploring these avenues, the fact is that social media trends are among the most valuable forms of marketing on the planet.

There are a plethora of ways to do this. Some use leaderboards and rankings and post them to their Instagram and Facebook pages; others use clipped videos and post them on social media instead.

Again, these are ideas that work in multiplayer video and casino games, such as poker, where leaderboards, the biggest winners, and players with the most tournament wins can find themselves in line for further promotions and prizes.

The gamification of business and its use as a marketing strategy is not new. However, as multiplayer features like live in-game chats and social media communities become an even larger part of the market, industry bosses are spending more time and money looking for ways to make their promotions appeal to multiple players.

Individual promotions have always been a good source of generating new customers and promotional ideas. But community spaces can be amongst the most cost-effective and impactful marketing ideas for both multiplayer video games and multiplayer online casino games.

Organic Grassroots Marketing
Right across the world of entertainment, we now turn to social media to check out the latest releases, whether in gaming, movies, or TV series. The release of the new Super Mario film underscores just how much crossover there is between multiplayer video games and multiplayer online casino games.

Multiplayer video games have been harnessing the power of grassroots marketing for the best part of two decades. They are the lifeblood of the eSports industry, where sites like Twitch become hubs of activity, bringing people in from all over the world, regardless of how niche their game is.

Once a community comes together, it can be the best form of marketing. Online casinos may have different sets of gaming mechanics and marketing models, but the rise of refer-a-friend bonuses and those that bring groups together, such as poker promotions and codes, is becoming more commonplace in a market that is certainly not short of promotional ideas.

The Future Of Multiplayer Games
Because the internet is now so vast, there is no shortage of gaming ideas that gaming companies explore to expand their market share. Online casino games are continuing to innovate in how they reach their market, and multiplayer video games have long used their incredible ability to cultivate communities to continue growing.

Yes, ultimately, the main sticking point here is that online casino games carry more risk and video games tend not to involve the consistent costs that casino gaming can, but from the perspective of marketing and game design, there is an increasing similarity between the two, and as more prominent countries like the US and Canada begin to warm to the potential of the market, expect to see more familiarities emerge.