Social casino and skill game operators can drive growth with eCash

The global market for social casinos, which offer players free-to-play casino-style online games, is expected to reach $11.9bn by 2031. An industry rich with opportunity, where players play for entertainment rather than real-money gaming, social casino and skill game operators must ensure they’re in the best position possible to drive growth and enjoy this bright future.   

This is easier said than done, with more competition, the potential for the space to be regulated in some markets and a rise in organised fraud all posing challenges. In addition to navigating a complex landscape, operators must meet the needs of the widest possible player audience if they are to continue to grow.

In our latest whitepaper, Getting social: How social casino and skill game operators can use online cash to unlock growth, we dive into how delivering a seamless payment experience and offering local payment methods (LPMs) like eCash can help operators overcome these challenges and thrive.

Here’s some key takeaways from the report.

How is the social casino and skill game market growing?

There are several forces driving the growth of the global social casino and skill game market.

Demand remains high in established social casino markets such as the UK, US and Italy, in particular for technically advanced games that deliver new and exciting experiences to players.

As a result, developers of social and skill games have been busy creating and launching new games, many of which can be played seamlessly on most mobile devices – including feature phones. This is now opening opportunities in developing regions.

In addition, consumer appetite for free-to-play online slots and table games is high, and so operators can connect with consumers to deliver the experiences they are seeking and build their player databases.

For a more detailed breakdown of the challenges and opportunities of the global market, check out the full report – but key to operators’ growth is reaching the widest possible audience.

Providing payment solutions that offer additional security and meet the needs of players all over the world, even if they are underbanked or even completely unbanked, is essential to achieving this. But how do players like to pay?

How do social casino and skill game players pay?

Purchasing tokens and chips is an important aspect of players’ experiences when they engage with a social casino or skill-based game.

While real money is not at stake with each spin of a slot, turn of a card, or roll of a roulette wheel, players are required to make in-game purchases to play at the level they desire. In short, more chips and tokens mean more play time.

To ensure players keep playing and enjoying an operator’s games, they must be able to purchase tokens and chips as swiftly, securely, and seamlessly as possible. Offering a payment gateway that lacks this capability could see players quickly look elsewhere.

To deliver this experience, operators should look to offer the different payment options players want -- and these preferences are changing. Debit cards and credit cards still dominate, but a growing number of players are now turning to LPMs such as eCash, also known as online cash. Here’s why.

How eCash can meet the needs of social casino and skill game players

eCash allows consumers to make online purchases using cash.

They can do this by heading to a retail point of sale and purchasing a voucher card using cash. This voucher card contains a unique code which is then entered into the payment gateway of the online merchant, such as a social casino or skill game site. The balance on the voucher is then transferred to their online account at the social casino and can be used to make in-game purchases.

There is also a post-payment option. This sees the creation of a transaction barcode within the cashier of the social or skill game brand that can be paid later in certain retail locations. As soon as the cashier receives the cash from the consumer, the transaction is completed. eCash can help operators extend their reach to people all around the world – including the unbanked or underbanked, who can access these digital games using physical currency.

Online cash offerings like paysafecard and Paysafecash provide the quick payments players are seeking, while helping to overcome any security concerns people may have when making online purchases – a real concern for those who enjoy social casino or skill games.

Being able to use cash, and allowing consumers to avoid entering any sensitive information, means eCash is an increasingly appealing payment option to free-to-play social casino and skill game players around the world. By offering this as a payment method, operators can reach more people, and drive real growth as a result. 

To learn more about how LPMs like online cash and digital wallets such as Skrill can help social casino and skill game operators meet consumer needs, download the full report: Getting social: How social casino and skill game operators can use online cash to unlock growth.