Casino Subscriptions: Will Monthly Memberships Change the Game?

Online gaming was bound to take over the space when internet connection became more accessible and reliable in the 2000s and 2010s. Since then, multiple forms of online entertainment have grown to the point where they have become the norm and standard.  Vulkan Vegas is a great example of a modern online gambling experience. However, sustainability remains an issue in the online casino gaming space, leading to missed savings opportunities and smaller win pools for players – is it time to evolve?

Understanding the Status Quo

When most people hear about online gaming platforms charging subscriptions, they almost always fight the idea because it seems like a lazy money grab. The negative thoughts from many players are valid because there are numerous examples of online entertainment providers charging unnecessary fees without giving much (or any) value in return. Most online casinos get a large percentage of their revenue when they make a small cut-off your deposits. The total payouts are usually close to how much these companies earn in revenue, that’s why many do not rely on players losing as a source of profits.

There are a few reasons why it makes sense for online casinos to explore other income sources. The first reason is that it makes more money available for payouts. Regulated casinos often have a threshold for how much they can make in revenue and the percentage they keep. If the numbers are overly in favor of the companies in games like Roulette online, regulators may step in and demand answers. It’s not always the solution, but a monthly or quarterly subscription can result in better experiences, but the burden of proof is on the gaming companies to show that the extra income is reinvested into user experiences.

What Might The Future Look Like?

Let’s imagine a future with casino gaming subscriptions. The idea seems scary at first because many players do not feel the need to pay when the industry standard involves a “freemium” business model. Looking beyond the initial shock, users are often intrigued by the idea of playing games with better liquidity, improved security, and more exclusive experiences. There’s a lot wrong with the current online entertainment ecosystem, and the solution might lie in charging monthly subscriptions (for premium service) to players who are capable of paying.

A future with subscriptions most likely won’t force everyone to pay. It’ll be impossible to implement such systems without alienating a large chunk of the user base. Keen gamers will be able to pay for premium perks like improved security, lower costs, and better returns on winnings. Different services will obviously implement unique systems, but over time, these perks will become similar as services try to match what the competition is offering without giving too much away. Services must properly implement updates without making the “pay-to-win” mentality the norm in online casino gaming. Moderation is key, that’s why the best services will implement superior approaches.

Here are a few potential areas for improvement;

• More Winnings. An increase in liquidity can mean that there’s more money in the pool for players to win through better odds and more frequent payouts. Gambling services can get subscriptions right by paying out a large chunk of the money.
• Security. Platform security is always a point of worry for players because nobody wants to be a victim of data or financial breaches. Subscriptions may result in more money available to invest in talent, software, and other security-related necessities. Security across most platforms has improved considerably over time, but it can always get better.
• Exclusive Experiences. Online casinos provide a much-needed service to the public, but the experiences available might not always be sufficient or comparable to what’s available in physical casinos. More money through subscriptions can help these services provide more exclusive and amazing experiences.

Potential Pitfalls

There’s always the possibility of subscription services leading to poorer experiences for most users. There are cases of regular non-paying users of digital products being stuck with uncompetitive experiences through fewer upgrades, updates, and improvements. It would be unwise for a service to abandon regular customers in favor of a small subset of subscribers.

Introducing subscriptions shouldn’t give subscribers too much power when compared with regular players. There’s a recurring issue of paying customers becoming overpowered (OP) or favored, leading to fundamental problems within the game. Online casino games cannot afford to discriminate against players based on their willingness to pay.

Laziness is one of the quickest ways for a promising game or entertainment outlet to lose relevance and market share. The money gotten from players through subscriptions can become too much and result in developers and the rest of the team becoming lazy and unimaginative. We see this happening with micro-transactions in video games.

To Subscribe or Not

The idea of online casino games charging players to participate can be a bit controversial, and many people may choose not to spend money on improved experiences. Whatever you decide, ensure your decisions are based on facts and not emotions. Weigh the pros and cons of each option before making decisions.