Loyalty programs in sweepstakes casinos: Rewarding player devotion
Jovan I. • Last updated on 20 December 2024
If you’ve been lurking around the internet long enough to know a few sweepstakes casino operators by name, you’ve certainly come across a loyalty program or two. But do you get how they work, and since we’re talking about it, do you understand why casinos offer them?
If your answers to both questions are negative, you’ve come to the right place. For those familiar with the concept, there’s still a lot you don’t know. Today, we’ll take a sneak peek behind the curtains of sweepstake VIP programs.
What are sweepstakes casino loyalty programs?
Online casinos use various tactics to lure new players in. As you already know, some of the most popular and successful conversion techniques (in business and marketing, conversion is when a casual visitor becomes a paying customer) include welcome offers and other bonuses.
While generous welcome bonuses entice and attract, other techniques are used to keep players returning for more. That’s where VIP loyalty programs enter the scene.
As their name suggests, loyalty programs are designed to engage loyal players. They reward these players’ commitment with special bonuses and perks that regular players can’t access. Simply put, the more you play, the higher your loyalty status and the better the rewards.
Loyalty programs are of special significance in sweepstakes casinos, where players don’t have to pay to play. Committing to one game provider is more difficult when you don’t have to buy your way in, so loyalty programs are how sweepstakes casinos ensure you stick around.
The many different types of loyalty programs
There are so many different types of sweepstakes casino loyalty programs! While brands outside of the casino world use three or four types of loyalty programs, casino operators have somehow managed to create incredible ways to reward their devoted customers.
Some of the most popular loyalty programs in sweepstakes casinos include points, VIP clubs, missions, and tiers. Here’s a quick overview of each sweepstakes loyalty program:
Points
The simplest tactic to keep players active is with points-based rewards. In this loyalty program, players are incentivized to pile up points. When they collect a certain amount of points, they can redeem them for different rewards and perks, including real-money redemptions.
VIP
Who wouldn’t want to be called a VIP? Such programs mimic luxurious VIP clubs hosted by traditional retail casinos and give high rollers special treatment in return for their loyalty – and massive wagers. VIP rewards usually involve dedicated hosts and premium perks.
Tiers
A combination of points-based loyalty programs and VIP clubs, “tiers” entice players to keep climbing the ladder in the hope of reaching the top. As you can assume, top players enjoy top-player privileges similar to VIPs’. To get to the next tier, players must collect enough points.
Benefits, incentives, and rewards for players
For many experienced players, cashback is the most desirable reward for their loyalty. Unfortunately for them, sweepstakes casinos don’t offer this type of incentive because they rarely offer cash prizes at all. But still, sweepstakes have mastered the art of honoring frequent players.
The most popular types of loyalty rewards and perks in sweep casinos are:
Loyalty bonus offers
On top of regular casino bonus offers, loyalty members also get special promotions. They may receive more coins or have extra bonus spins, for example. Loyalty bonuses are prevalent, and most players thoroughly enjoy them – so much that they are willing to put in extra hours.
Premium access
Loyalty bonuses often overlap with premium access to casino games. Some casino lobbies are designed this way: you must keep playing to unlock more games. In other examples, devoted players may be surprised with early access to new titles or keys to a hidden lobby section.
Higher limit tolerance
Deposits are not in the spirit of sweepstakes’ free-to-play philosophy, so they don’t get much advertising. Nevertheless, most of these casinos benefit players who don’t mind wagering real money. Some loyalty programs give these high rollers higher deposit and withdrawal limits.
VIP event invitations
A popular and wildly effective sweepstakes loyalty perk is a ticket to VIP events. Marketing often uses “exclusivity” tricks like these to make customers feel appreciated and special. These events often involve face-to-face tournaments in land-based casinos.
Exclusive VIP gifts
Some operators extend their thanks by showering regulars with gifts. Even though loyalty program gifts can range from tacky to extraordinary, they are always a useful retention tactic. Classy casinos may reward loyalty with event tickets, birthday gifts, and even paid vacations.
Personalized support
If you’ve ever been to a casino or watched a movie set in one, you know that VIP guests have dedicated hosts tasked with making their experience exceptional. A version of this also exists in online sweep casinos, mainly in the form of always-available personalized customer support.
How loyalty programs affect player engagement and retention
Loyalty programs offer many exciting benefits for players, but what’s in it for casino operators? How can you use them to grow your iGaming business, and are they worth it?
These are only a few key benefits that casinos can take from loyalty programs:
Player retention and loyalty
Loyalty programs are a smart way to build customer relationships in a hostile environment. Instead of being left to feel like they are playing against the house, players feel welcome, accepted, and special. That amounts to more visits and word-of-mouth referrals.
Actionable player insights
Reputable casinos don’t gamble with their players’ personal information. They can, however, use it to conduct in-house analyses of potential customers and their behaviors and preferences. That allows them to create targeted marketing strategies and personalized user experiences.
Cost-effective marketing
An attractive loyalty program is probably the most valuable conversion technique for sweepstakes casinos. Free-to-play sites don’t always generate revenue from games, so they offer loyalty programs to incentivize players to buy coins and make a wager.
Brand and image-building
Loyalty programs can secure a significant competitive advantage along with regular bonuses and game variety. They help sweepstakes casinos put a differentiating point to their ads and build a distinctive brand. Plus, casinos with loyalty programs are perceived as modern and exclusive.
Increased growth and ROI
From a sales standpoint, a loyalty program is one huge upselling opportunity. It is a classic “if you pay more, you will get more” stratagem, even when there’s no paying involved. In return for generosity, sweepstakes get more traffic and brand recognition, boosting their ROI.
Sweepstakes Casino Sites With Huge Welcome Bonus Offers
Here are some of the sweepstakes casinos that offer generous welcome bonuses:
- Stake.us – $25 SC + 250,000 GC
- Fortune Coins – 360,000 GC + 1,000 SC
- WOW Vegas – 250,000 WOW coins + 5 SC
Conclusion
Whether you’ve been offered to join a loyalty program or are considering building one, great benefits await you. It’s a rare engagement and retention tactic that gives both parties a chance to win big and have lots of fun along the way. It is, as they say, a win-win.
According to some insights from the 2023 Global Gaming Expo, the casino industry has nearly 100% penetration of loyalty programs. Operators and marketing experts agree: in a fiercely competitive and fickle market as sweepstakes casinos, you must give some to get some.
