Before online casinos were available, people would go to land-based casinos, which boasted relaxed environments that enabled them to interact with others and form lasting connections. Then came online casinos, and people no longer needed to leave their homes to play. Even better, they could join just about any casino – a UK player could use an online casino in Australia as geographical barriers no longer existed! However, while online casinos were convenient and had more variety, the question of socialization often came up – how did casinos solve this?
Socializing in Online Casinos
Making friends in traditional casinos was easy. You would walk up to a table, start playing, and soon enough, you would be part of the conversation. As a result of this ease, most people would visit casinos whenever they wanted to be around others. When online casino Australia started operating, their lack of social interactions was their greatest downside. Operators soon found a way around this by offering the following options:
1. In-Game Chats
Many people like playing online as they can do so around the clock. And while many people are in it just to play, some want someone to talk to and hopefully make friends. In recent years, online casinos have doubled down on in-game chats that allow players to interact with each other in the following ways:
- Texts: Players can send messages to each other during the game. For example, players in a bingo game may want to discuss other matters while they mark their cards. Such interactions take them back to traditional bingo, where players often hold lengthy conversations while waiting for the final call.
- Voice: Some casinos allow players to talk to each other. This interaction suits games where texting would be too much of a hassle. For example, poker players may want to concentrate more on their cards than on the texts from other players. Talking is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.
- Video: Seeing other players while you talk to them serves many purposes. For example, if a blackjack player can see the dealer during the game, they can use their expressions to determine if they have an advantage. Video chats also work for other social games like bingo and poker.
Often, online casinos will have live chats for online games and will offer voice and video options for live games. Players can also use sound effects and reaction gestures to communicate with others, ensuring that the game feels interactive. Players can also control the chats in the following ways:
- Muting: If you want to join a game without talking to others, you can mute the conversations. This feature is helpful to players who may wish to enjoy quiet sessions.
- Reporting: Online casinos must ensure that players remain respectful and follow the community guidelines when interacting with others. Those who feel the environment is not conducive can escalate chats to the support teams.
Players can also choose to have private conversations, keeping everyone else out of the chats if they wish to pursue a friendship.
2. Community Forums
Most people enjoy being part of a thriving community. And online casino operators have met this need by creating online forums where players can enjoy this. What makes these forums advantageous?
- Community: Being part of a community helps people feel like they belong. In a world where people are often rushing to earn a living, not everyone has the chance to be part of something bigger than themselves. But online forums create such opportunities. For example, a poker player can join a poker forum to discuss their love for the game at great lengths. They can also meet other people like them.
- Support: Going through struggles alone is never fun. That’s why online forums provide opportunities for people to talk about things other than their favorite games. For example, someone battling social anxiety can talk to people with similar struggles. This support helps them know they are not alone and gives them the strength to seek even more help if necessary.
- Resources: Playing games of skill, like blackjack, requires players to keep bettering themselves. Community forums often have resources players can use to understand their weaknesses and build their skills.
Moderators are often present in the forums to ensure that the chats align with community guidelines so these spaces are safe for everyone.
3. Social Media
In today’s world, almost everyone is on social media. Some people use it for work, others to share their passions, and others to interact with others. Online casinos have honed in on the last category, creating platforms where players can talk to each other.
For example, a casino may have a discussion in its comments where it asks its players to outline why they like a certain game. People who enjoy that game will break down their views and, in so doing, will attract other players who feel the same way. Often, these discussions evolve into private messages between players who might forge a strong relationship.
Even if players may not take the next step to use private messages, having these discussions is often beneficial to them. They learn what others like and may even discover games they never would have played. Moreover, talking to other people can help them relax, often the goal of most discussions.
4. Virtual Reality (VR)
Online casinos have introduced video and voice messaging in their live chats. However, these do not live up to the traditional casino environment where players interact with each other in the same room. VR solves this by simulating a casino environment where players can walk around, play games, talk to others, share virtual drinks, and enjoy the music and the architecture. Players do this by wearing VR headsets that transport them to this virtual realm inside their houses. While VR technology is still in the developmental phases, some casinos have already adopted it and seen its positive impact.
VR will bridge the gap between online and traditional casinos. Players can play affordable games and enjoy variety while interacting with each other in real time. And per current projections, more manufacturers and software developers are joining the VR trend. Players can expect more headset options at lower prices in the next decade, allowing them to enjoy more interactive gaming sessions.
The Beauty of Social Connections
Many people play casino games to relax and escape their busy lifestyles. This effect is even more profound when socializing is at play, as it has the following perks:
- Better brain health: Did you know interacting with others is good for brain development? That’s why doctors encourage people with declining brain activity to be around others, as this helps them recover and boost their cognitive skills.
- Improved well-being: Feeling isolated has adverse effects on one’s health. Your immunity reduces, you feel bad about yourself, your confidence suffers, and you are at risk of neglecting yourself. Being around others helps you feel better about yourself and alleviates feelings of anxiety and depression.
- Belonging: It’s human nature to crave a sense of community, and online forums provide this. When you find people who enjoy the same games you do, you feel better about yourself as you can discuss your interests openly.
Interacting with other people has also been proven to help people feel safe, which improves their lives. And in online forums, people can be honest as they do not need to reveal their identities, enabling them to break free of their inhibitions.
