Going with an open loop gift card like a Visa is the way to go if you want to please your players and attract more customers. Image courtesy of Coherent Marketing. 

Gift cards like this work for a variety of reasons, including:

• They are flexible and instantaneous. Players want something they’ll actually use, not something that’s promised in the future. When you choose to go with gift cards as your giveaway, you’re putting the power in the hands of your customers. Open loop gift cards like Visas can be used wherever the player decides that they want to spend it. This could be for an everyday purchase, or it could also be for something additional at the casino. These giveaways are seen as gifts by customers, and because it’s a Visa, they can use it on whatever they choose. Having this freedom to spend where they see fit goes a long way in the eyes of players.

• Encourages higher spending. Gift cards are one of the best ways to increase the amount that a player would spend because it’s seen as free money. Since the gift card was a gift in a giveaway, players are more likely to increase their spending threshold, which is exactly what casinos want to see. It’s easier for players to go over the limit of the gift card, and they’re more likely to do this because they are first spending their gift.

• Easy way to build brand awareness. Co-branding Visa gift cards is a great way to build brand awareness. When players receive a gift card either in the mail or as a digital gift card, your casino’s name is right there front and center. Gift cards can also be personalized to include player names and even a short message. This goes a long way with customers, as it increases their emotional attachment to spending it. When they go to use it it’s easy to see where it came from, and players are not likely to forget that. 
• Gift cards feel personal. Gift cards delivered right to customers’ doors or inboxes have a personal feeling you just can’t get from other gifts. It’s also one of the best ways to encourage players to treat themselves to a little something extra. Getting promotional gift cards from your casino also helps players feel seen and that they’re a part of something special as a customer. People want to be included in reward programs, as it makes them feel like they’re getting special treatment. Gift cards excel at this!

Other strategies that can increase engagement

In addition to using gift card giveaways to increase engagement, there are other strategies like incentive programs that, as a casino, should also be in your marketing toolkit. An incentive program is essential for casinos, and is one of the top ways to increase player engagement. There are a few ways that casinos can take advantage of this strategy including:

• Tiered loyalty programs ensure that guests of all spending levels feel like they’re a part of something special at the casino. Gift card promotions are exceptionally good at this, as these gifts can be determined based on the tier that each player is. Higher spenders will have access to higher gift card amounts, but everyone in the incentive program will be included.
• Incentives like gift cards can also be leveraged based on players’ number of visits or amount of games played. If players want to see higher gift card rewards, they’ll need to complete certain milestones. This is a fantastic way to increase engagement.
• Casinos can also use gift cards to act as rewards for personal achievements like their birthdays or player anniversaries. Getting something extra to help them celebrate these personal events increase the feelings of brand loyalty, which will result in improved engagement.

How do promotional gift card giveaways work for casinos?

Learn how to implement a gift card giveaway into your casino marketing strategy