Sustainable Gambling: Can Loyalty Programs Encourage Responsible Play?

However, the industry has been exploring ways to improve and limit the trouble players can potentially get into. The promotion of responsible gambling tools and practices has been introduced, with many placing a focus and emphasis on these measures.

For instance, Finnish players can use the Nettikasinot that are available to them and use tools that allow them to be safe. The platform only lists options that can be trusted to deliver sessions where responsible gambling can be enjoyed. It’s also possible to obtain external assistance in some cases, with the best options available promoting these services.

Still, there are things that players must do themselves to ensure they remain responsible when playing. This can include the use of loyalty programs.

Loyalty Programs: What are they?

All good online casinos will reward players for showing loyalty in some form. These are typically known as loyalty programs and can appear in the following way:

• As a tiered scheme that requires points/amount spent to advance up the level-based system.
• Free rewards in the form of bonuses/promotions to reward continued play.
• Exclusive access to features/games/tournaments that casual players/members don’t have.

A loyalty program can be described as a form of marketing and promotional activity that an online casino uses to retain players for extended periods. With so many options available to gamblers across the internet, players have the power to choose where to play. Casinos must do as much as they can to try and convince them to sign up, but then do even more to keep them.

It’s why many people closely examine the details of a loyalty program and compare them to others to find the best options for them. At times, it can be a difference-maker for those who wager significantly and like to place larger stakes.

Risk or Reward: Are loyalty programs worth it?

Loyalty programs can appear very appealing on the surface, but are they actually beneficial for players? Do they encourage responsible gambling? Or, do they actually promote the opposite? There are two possible answers to this question, but they will differ based on the individual.

As highlighted above, loyalty programs can help to enhance the experience for those who like to play more frequently or use larger stakes. Players who are willing to gamble with significant sums of money and do so on a more regular basis can often earn the rewards that loyalty programs can award them. Climbing a tiered system can be easy to accomplish, as they’ll often spend the amount of money to accumulate the points required much more easily than a casual player. As experienced players, they’ll understand what gambling involves and how to approach it more responsibly.

For a casual player, there’s an argument to suggest that loyalty programs aren’t beneficial to them. They need to spend significant funds just to reach certain levels and obtain bonuses or rewards that they may not even benefit from. For instance, a free spins bonus won’t benefit them if they play table games.

A casual player may only play once a month if they are being responsible and use a small amount as part of their bankroll. For a high roller, it’s not uncommon or unheard of for a bet size to be placed that is the same as a casual player’s entire bankroll for a month/year.

Do loyalty programs promote responsible play?

Clearly, given the two types of players that can often be found using an online casino, it begs the question: do loyalty programs promote responsible play, or do they encourage play of a more irresponsible nature? Again, it’s a question that can have more than one answer and be divisive, depending on who is asked.

High-rollers and experienced players will argue that loyalty programs are ideal because they know they will spend the required amount to meet the set levels. They also understand the particular nuances that gambling has, meaning they are more likely to have self-control and discipline to ensure they don’t go beyond their means.

However, casual players may find these programs out of reach due to their play style. If they want to enjoy the benefits that can be obtained, they may start to play with bigger bets or funds that they don’t have, thus being irresponsible. Discipline may be lost, while the trap of having a dangerous mentality of “just one more bet” may begin to set in due to the rewards on offer.

Final Words

Players must remain disciplined at all times. If they do, loyalty programs can be beneficial and responsible gambling can be enjoyed. However, without it, potential dangers do exist.