In the world of iGaming, casino operators are always striving for new, innovative ways to introduce their brands to new players. This can come in the form of digital advertising, social media campaigns, or even influencer partnerships – which have become particularly popular over the last few years.
To really grab the attention, however, something new and unexpected is often required. We’re not talking about in-house things like promotions or bonuses, we’re talking about a real-world, playful strategy that not only sparks curiosity but also encourages genuine engagement as well.
Perhaps that’s why CasinoDays has opted for ‘Open Fortune – Ontario’ – a location-based brand awareness and engagement campaign designed to introduce the platform to Ontario audiences. For those unaware, this is a strategy where specially branded fortune cookies are distributed at select Ontario restaurants.
Inside each cookie is a unique fortune message paired with a QR code that invites users to explore CasinoDays online – whereby, if they scan the code, they’re directed to CasinoDays’ digital platform and have the opportunity to learn more about the brand and engage further.
If you’re scratching your head at this method, just remember that some of the most effective marketing doesn’t really feel like marketing at all. By placing the experience in a familiar, everyday setting, Open Fortune looks to bring a level of surprise and curiosity that traditional digital advertising often struggles to achieve.
Consumers are not only registering the advert, they’re interacting with it tactilely. They’re holding it in their hands, turning it over, and engaging with it – and that can be hugely beneficial for companies looking to create lasting impressions that will go the distance.
As for why QR-enabled fortune cookies distributed across Ontario is an effective approach for CasinoDays, specifically, it’s all about bridging the gap between physical and digital engagement. One of the major hurdles in the iGaming industry is the solely online nature of brand interaction.
According to a recent study for instance, some 93% of consumers ignore online adverts, with 86% experiencing ‘banner blindness’ – an automatic instinct to tune out standard online marketing. The problem, however, is that physical marketing can cause a bit of a disconnect – whereby consumers may notice or remember a physical touchpoint, but aren’t always given a clear or immediate path to continue the interaction online.
A QR code gives them that path. Not only this, but it provides a seamless offline-to-online user journey with a playful, discovery-led experience. It’s not intrusive or sales-driven, it’s purely exploratory – a campaign that is designed to create memorable moments that drive app downloads, sign-ups, and brand recall.
This comes at a time when Ontario’s iGaming scene is really starting to flourish. According to another study, Ontario’s iGaming market generated $3.20 billion for the full fiscal year from April 2024 to March 2025, and that number is only projected to grow for the year just gone.
Ever since launching in 2022, it’s been a rapidly evolving and increasingly regulated market, but work still needs to be done for casinos to build strong brand recognition and trust. Not only this, with the landscape so crowded and competitive, work needs to be done for casinos to stand out – and a campaign like this, where the platform is literally putting their names into consumers’ hands, could be just the creative edge to do it.
There are no on-site inducements at play here. No promotional incentives. As mentioned before, it’s a fully discovery-led experience, and that’s what makes it such an interesting prospect for operators looking to build awareness in such a booming market.
Photo: Unsplash, Tuccera LLC
