Over the last ten (10) years, the growth within the online casino industry has been astounding. In some recent studies, experts have given indications that the growth in online casino gambling participation has been double-digit percentages (year-over-year) for more than a decade. They also indicate the growth is not likely to slow any time soon.
As one might expect, the growing presence of online casino gamblers will serve as ample motivation for new online/mobile casino owners to enter the market. What used to be hundreds of available online casinos throughout the world have become thousands of online casinos. Question: How can all of these online casinos compete for business?
How Online/Mobile Casinos Compete for Business
If someone were to research dozens of top online casinos, what they would realize is just how similar said casinos have become. Many times, they offer the same casino games from the same online casino software developers. They also offer similar banking options and all claim to have great customer service. Absent anything else, the only thing that differentiates one online casino from another is bonuses.
Yes, most online casinos compete for new business by posting good welcome offers. It’s common to see online casinos offer a No Deposit Bonus to be followed by a first deposit matching bonus. Of course, the values and Terms/Conditions of these bonuses can vary greatly.
For existing and loyal customers, operators will typically offer intermittent bonuses that target deposit reloads, Refer-a-Friend, free spins, and sweepstake drawings. Oh, and then there are VIP Lounges like the one on limitless casino.
What are VIP lounges Offered by Online Casinos?
Of all the benefits an online casino can offer, the most lucrative benefits seem to come from VIP Lounges or Programs. That begs the question: “What is a VIP Lounge?”
A VIP Lounge will typically offer a program that allows members to earn extra benefits based on their level of play. While not all online casinos will offer such a program, it would reasonable to state that about 75% of the online casino population does offer VIP Lounges.
VIP Lounge Membership
There are three ways for online casino players to become VIP program members. First, some casinos offer automatic membership, starting with the very first deposit and or casino bet. Second, they can earn their way in by meeting certain wagering requirements. Third, they can gain membership through an invite from the online casino’s management. To be clear, online casino managers tend to send out invites based on the $$$ value of a casino player’s activity.
Once someone becomes a VIP member, they get ranked. They get ranked based on the total value of the online casino bets they make as a member or over a stated time period. It’s noteworthy that some VIP Lounges have only three (3) or four (4) levels while other online casino operators might choose to go with as many as Twenty (20) levels. If an online casino player wants to attain a higher ranking, they typically only need to bet more and more on casino games.
VIP Lounge Benefits and Privileges
In case someone is wondering what kind of value they can derive from an online casino VIP program, the answers can vary. Some online casino operators offer very few benefits while other online casino operators might be offering lots of different benefits and privileges.
In almost all cases, the benefits and privileges afforded to online casino players will be directly tied to the player’s VIP level. The higher a player climbs, the more benefits and privileges will be made available to them. What kinds of benefits are being offered?
As a means of competing to keep loyal customers, each online casino has to decide what they want to offer through their VIP Lounges. The reality is some larger operators can afford to offer more benefits and privileges than smaller operators. As for the kinds of benefits that could be in any VIP offering,
Take a look at this list:
- Cash rebates or free play with playthrough requirements
- Special reload bonus opportunities with special terms and conditions
- Entries into special sweepstake drawings (cars, trip, huge cash bonus)
- Participation in Special Events and Private Tournaments
- Birthday gifts
- Free slot spins
- Higher deposit and withdrawal limits with the promise of faster payouts
- Access to a personal account manager
Again, benefits are usually allocated based on each member’s VIP level. At the lower levels, players might only get access to cash rebates, free spins, and or reload bonus opportunities. At the highest levels, members might be eligible to receive everything listed, plus some secret benefits/privileges that are not openly advertised.
Comment: If all other things seem equal, online casino players might want to compare VIP Lounges and align with an online casino that offers the best benefits/privileges.
Also read: The Psychology of Gambling. Why Do People Want to Gamble?
