Technologies have changed almost all essential aspects of our lives. One of them revolves around people’s gambling behaviours. In this article, we focus on providing more details about what is social gambling and whether it has brought more pros or cons for players. Use the quick navigation menu below to navigate throughout the blog post easily.
What are Social Casinos?
Before you engage in social gambling, you need first to understand what are social casinos. The concept is not new, and in fact, has been circulating for almost a decade. The importance of this phenomenon is not one to be overlooked, which is why we have decided to delve into this topic and share essential details with you.
The definition of social gambling is very easy to comprehend. Social casinos are free-play platforms where you can play gambling-like games without any financial losses or winnings. The idea behind this concept is that players gamble just for fun without the possibility of obtaining a material reward. Although the idea of gambling without a profit might seem somehow pointless, people actually are going berserk about it.
Interesting fact:
In 2022, the social casino games market size was valued at $64 billion. The market is expected to expand by nearly $3 billion by 2027.
It is perhaps the social side of it that people love so much. Or maybe there is virtually no risk of losing money, while you can still get the thrill of playing. Either way, this alternative way of gambling is yet to progress further. Now that you are familiar with a social casino’s definition let’s look at the differences between social casinos and online casinos.
Differences Between Social Casinos and Online Casinos
Online gambling has been around since the 90s and is preferred by many players. You have probably noticed that on our site, we are mostly reviewing the best online casinos in the USA. In order to better understand what is social gambling, we have decided to compare both casino types and see what the main differences between them are.
| 🎰 Online Casinos | 📱 Social Casinos |
|---|---|
| Gamble with real money | Free play |
| Offers live dealer games | Play only with players |
| Not legal everywhere | Legal across a large number of countries |
| Games are accessible to all players | Some games are locked and require credits |
To say which one is better would be a hard task. As you can see, social casinos and their real-money counterparts have their benefits and downsides. Online casinos are a great choice for risk-takers and money-driven players, whereas social casinos are perfect for people who want fun but don’t want to risk their money for it. Each of them simply offers a different experience.
What are the Pros and Cons of Social Gambling?
To better evaluate what is a social casino, we have gathered the essential elements of social gambling. In the table below, you can see a breakdown of both the advantages and disadvantages of social casinos. Check them out in order to make an informed decision.
| ✔️ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| No risk of losing money | Additional features might require payment |
| Perfect for socialising | Too many ads |
| Fair rules for everybody | Games’ repetitive nature |
| Wide selection of games | Might lead to addiction |
| Increases learning of playing | |
| Regular perks and bonuses |
Like anything else out there, social gambling has its positive and negative aspects. However, as seen from the table above, the pros outweigh the cons. Having this in mind, we can say that social gambling offers a safe and exciting experience to players. What is more, they let you practice your skills in different games in a much safer environment while also socialising with other people.
Are Social Casinos Legal in the US?
What are social casinos without regulations? This is probably one of the most asked questions when it comes to the topic of social gambling. Since real money is not used for betting, there is almost no difference between social gaming sites and apps and video gaming ones. It is important to mention that some additional features might require purchase from players.
Playing games for fun is not illegal, which makes social casinos legal in almost every country around the world. However, some states across the US might have certain regulations on social gambling. Therefore, we recommend that you always check the legal regulations of the state you are accessing them.
Who Can Play at Social Casinos?
Now that you know what is a social casino and where it stands in comparison to an online one, we can continue our blog covering the aspects related to social casino gamers. To engage in social casino games, you are likely not to be subject to any age restrictions. However, reputable social casinos might require players to be of the legal gambling age in the US.
Social casinos are quite popular across the world, with over 170 million people playing on a global scale. Most of them play for entertainment or as a hobby. There are, of course, those who use these types of casinos to practice their skills, especially for games like poker or blackjack. Children and minors can also play unless there are certain restrictions imposed.
Where Can Social Casino Games Be Played?
Another frequently asked question aside from what is a social casino is where it can be found. There are plenty of ways to access social casino games. You can play them anywhere, anytime, as long as you have a laptop, tablet or phone with Internet access. Below we have outlined five of the best casino sites out there:
- 🎰 Slotomania – Large Players Community
- 🐕 Zynga – Top Social Games
- 🤑 DoubleDown Casino – Popular Social Games
- 🐟 Big Fish Casino – Great Sign-Up Bonus
- 🃏 House of Fun – Excellent Social Gaming App
Social casino games can be literally found all around the Internet. Social media platforms like Facebook are one option to access them. There are, however, a lot of casino sites and apps specifically dedicated to social gambling. Once you get the motivation to play, you just simply need to choose your preferred platform.
Types of Social Casino Games You Can Play
What is a social casino without games? The world of gambling revolves around games, and so does the reality of social casinos. Social casino games are mostly identical to some of the best US-themed slots. As we mentioned several times already, social casino games do not require monetary payment.
Although social casinos are mainly associated with slots, they also offer table games, bingo, keno, and more. The latter includes roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, and others. Below we have featured a list of the best social casino games for 2023:
- 🚂 Crazy Train – Great Graphics
- ⚔️ Gladiator – Best Social Experience
- 🐃 Buffalo Dreams – Excellent 5-Reel Slot
- 🍀 Wheel of Luck – Best Multiplier Value
- ⚡ Zeus Fortune- Attractive Progressive Jackpot
Conclusion
Overall, social casinos offer a great deal of entertainment with the advantage that players won’t lose real money. However, you must be aware that some extra benefits do require the investment of money. Whether you are looking for a fun way to pass the time, socialise with your friends or practice your gaming skills, social casinos might be just the right fit for you.
Social casinos are ideal if you are on the go and want to play games from the comfort of your home. Yet, nothing can replace the authentic gambling experience that you would get from traditional brick-and-mortar casinos. If you are planning your next trip across the country, consider visiting some of the top gambling cities in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
We hope that this blog has covered the most frequently asked questions related to the topic. Make sure to read through in case there is anything we have missed mentioning above.