Opinion: Five strategies to foster a sense of community in your iGaming business

Building a strong community is one of the most powerful tools for every iGaming brand that aims at high player retention and constantly increasing profits. In the 14 years Delasport has been operating, five strategies for fostering a sense of community have proven to be successful

Today, they are sharing the knowledge to help brand owners and managers navigate the complex world of iGaming business.

1. Encourage Healthy Competition through Tournaments

It may sound strange, but competition does instil a sense of community. It shows you’re a part of something bigger where others are also excited much like you and striving towards the same goal.
Delasport has provided grounds for healthy competition through the Tournaments and Leaderboards, part of their platform’s Engagement toolkit.

Tournaments bring joy, rush, and motivation, while proving to players there are numerous other fellow bettors around. The feeling of vitality comes from the awareness of many other people being engaged in the same action.

Similarly, leaderboards allow players to see how they rank against others, providing an incentive to play more and improve their standing. Incorporating elements like daily, weekly, and monthly leaderboards ensures that the competition remains fresh and exciting. Sometimes players even pick specific rivals whose progress to track and whom to compare with.

2. Provide Visibility of Other Players’ Progress

Aside from the Leaderboards in Tournaments, there are a few other options to provide visibility of other players’ progress, thus building a sense of being a part of something bigger. One such way is through the new competition-fostering feature that Delasport provides - SuperPot.

Inside SuperPot there is a ‘Standing’ tab where players can track their progress toward winning large-pooled jackpots and see how others’ tickets are doing.

This not only motivates individual players but also builds a communal atmosphere where everyone is collectively invested in the pursuit of significant rewards.

What’s even better is the fact that SuperPot is available for all top sports, potentially engaging the majority of your player base.

3. Recognize Achievements with Badges and Trophies

Achievements are a powerful way to recognize and reward players for their progress, milestones, and unique accomplishments. Badges and trophies that are visible to everyone on the platform create a sense of pride and belonging among players. When players see others earning achievements, it can motivate them to aim for similar goals, creating a shared sense of purpose.

Visibility is crucial here. Ensure that badges and trophies are prominently displayed on player profiles, leaderboards, or even in social media shoutouts. This not only celebrates individual achievements but also fosters a sense of community by highlighting collective progress. Over time, this recognition builds a culture where players feel valued and part of something bigger than themselves.

An example use case of this toolkit is a campaign where every time a player earns enough points through completing missions, the website triggers a pop-up to remind them that they can spin the wheel and earn a good bonus. This improves both the engagement and the retention. Results show that such campaigns can lead to 25,000 monthly spin attempts from an active base of about 3,000 players.

The great news is Delasport offers both Badges and Achievements as part of the company’s turnkey solution, as well as level progression, missions, and points so that players have a lot of features to compete through.

4. Engage Players through Social Media Channels

Social media is an indispensable tool for community building in the iGaming space. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and even dedicated gaming forums provide spaces where players can interact, share experiences, and build relationships outside the gaming environment.

Ideally, you’d engage with your community regularly by posting updates, celebrating player achievements, and creating content that resonates with your audience. Encourage user-generated content by hosting contests, sharing fan art, or highlighting player stories. Live streams, Q&A sessions, and interactive polls can also foster a deeper connection with your audience. The goal is to create a vibrant and active social media presence that mirrors the excitement and camaraderie found within your brand.

Make sure to also appoint a few community managers or moderators who can initiate and navigate the conversation, sometimes you can even find great candidates among the early adopters or most passionate bettors on your website or app.

5. Gather Feedback and Suggestions

A community thrives when its members feel heard and valued. Regularly soliciting feedback and suggestions from your players is an effective way to involve them in the development process and make them feel like an integral part of the platform. Utilize polls, suggestion forms, and chat features to gather insights on what players enjoy, what they’d like to see improved, and what new features or games they’re excited about.

Implementing changes based on player feedback not only improves your platform but also shows your community that their opinions matter. This fosters a sense of ownership among players, making them more invested in the platform’s success. Open channels of communication help create a transparent and trusting relationship between you and your players, laying the groundwork for a loyal and engaged community.

Make sure you have open channels of communication both on and off your brand’s website and apps. Allow players to easily connect with your team and listen to them carefully. This is a key step to making them feel like they’re a part of a community or maybe even – a larger family.

If you need advice on the specific steps and initiatives to introduce community-building strategies in your iGaming business, a conversation with Delasport is always a great idea. The award-winning supplier provides software solutions that include numerous features for engaging players and fostering a sense of community.

If you’re also attending SBC Summit Lisbon 2024, make sure you stop by Delasport at Stand C150 to learn more directly from the source and boost your business’ performance and profits.

Partner editorial