Social casinos have shaken up the entertainment arena in a big way. Gone are the days when players were limited to traditional online casinos with real money play. Gambling games are yesterday’s news. Nowadays, it’s all about social games. These spectacular entertainment attractions are always 100% free to play. It’s almost as if the casino entertainment gurus cracked the code – now everyone 18+ years from regulated territories can play and enjoy casino games online.
Instead of traditional fiat currency, the premier online social casino operators utilize a unique currency system featuring Gold Coins (GCs) and other play-focused tokens. Unlike dollars and cents, where gambling activity takes place, social casino sites are always free to play. Pick a top-tier social casino, register, and claim your new player welcome bonus. All newbies are privy to a generous welcome bonus package with regular ongoing promotional offers. These include daily rewards, leaderboard challenges, tournaments, and social competitions.
What are Gold Coins?
Gold Coins, or GCs for short, are virtual tokens provided to players by social casinos. They are typically gold in color, and readily available for play on all games. GCs are gifted to new players as part of a welcome package, and in daily giveaways. A gold coin has no redeemable cash value. It is meant for gaming purposes only. These tokens generally cannot be transferred to other players, or other social casino sites. You can use GCs to play and enjoy classic slots, video slots, jackpot slots, card games, and even social live casino games.
Once registered at a social casino, navigate to the top of your screen and toggle between available coin balances to see your current status. Most games offer the option to play using different token types – it’s your call. GCs have zero impact on game RTPs, RNGs, or game payouts. They are expressly designed for entertainment purposes. If your balance runs out, you can wait until the next day to top up with your daily bonus. Or, you can buy a coin package tailored to your preferences. This is voluntary, but a quick way to boost your balance.
Social casinos may also include unique coins that unlock extra gameplay features or allow you to participate in select games and promotions. While visually distinct, these tokens function as another fun way to enjoy the platform. They may appear less frequently, and they’re usually associated with special events, contests, or challenges.
These additional tokens are part of the platform’s engagement mechanics. Players enjoy a variety of ways to interact with games, earn bonuses, and stay involved. They are not purchased directly, and their usage is specific to the platform’s promotional or extended play features.
How do Social Casinos Sustain Operations?
At first glance, social casinos appear to lack a profit motive. However, there are many layers to their operation. For starters, the free-play gaming model attracts scores of players to social casinos. High-traffic websites are like gold to companies wanting to advertise their products and services. As millions of players switch allegiance from gambling sites to non-gambling social casinos, we are seeing a groundswell of interest in this new gaming paradigm. More players = a more attractive platform for marketing purposes.
Another reason social casinos are profitable is that they function as freemium business models. Players have the option, not the obligation, to purchase coin packages at their leisure. Sometimes, the action gets so intense with slots, card games, table games, and social live casino that it’s necessary to top up the balance before the new daily bonus drops. Plus, there are big benefits to purchasing coin packages – you get deep discounts for ultra-low prices, with bonuses to keep you playing longer and stronger.
