Free Play and Loyalty

Research undertaken by the University of Nevada and the San Diego State University has discovered that reducing free play at a casino makes little difference when it comes to whether someone is likely to visit or spend a similar amount. This research focused on a bricks and mortar casino, but we may see a similar effect regarding online casinos as well.

The pull of free spins or free play

Having the chance to play a slot game for free – especially if those spins are real and therefore could lead to real prizes – is a thrill, of course. That’s why we often see no deposit bonuses on offer. They give would-be site members a chance to play a real slot game with a chance to claim one or more real prizes – all without spending anything to get this chance.

And this research seems to indicate that it may not matter how many spins are offered, nor how large or small the no deposit bonus might be.

What about removing no deposit bonuses?

Again, the research focused on standard casinos rather than online ones. However, it seems likely the effect could be replicated online. In this case, it appears that even if free play was removed, there wouldn’t be much change of whether customers visited and played or not. Sure, we all like to get some free spins or bonuses without depositing, but it’s surprising to learn that free play may not have the weight we thought it did.

Might we see fewer no deposit offers online?

It remains to be seen whether this will happen. If online casino owners read about this, we could see a decrease in no deposit bonuses, or at least a reduction in what is given in these scenarios. There might well be some testing to see what players are happy with, and whether smaller no deposit offers might suffice.

We know of many online casinos that have never bothered with no deposit deals, so it isn’t exactly new territory. However, it is an interesting feature that will certainly bear closer scrutiny by casinos and players alike, to see where it might lead in future.