5 things you need to know about social network gaming in Canada

Social network gaming come in many forms. Traditional forms or land based-casino is still an enormous industry. And it’s not hard to see why social gaming has exploded in Canada, the home of the world’s highly regulated gaming market.

The casino industry is arguably one of the biggest industries in the world. But, because of the rise of better technology, the industry also adapted an easier solution for people who prefer to play wherever and whenever they want.

Social gaming in today's generation has moved up from being a niche to becoming a billion-dollar industry.

Because of Canada’s hands-on regulation of this industry, many entrepreneurs who want to be involved are not quite sure where to start.

If you’re one of the entrepreneurs, then this article is for you.

Let’s head onto some of the things you need to be informed about social gaming and the virtual casino culture in Canada.

What is social gaming?

Social gaming has no single accepted definition, and a lot of the widely known descriptions share many aspects and share common attributes such as:

  • Casual gaming – Occasional gaming activity rather than uninterrupted and sustained playtime.
  • Browser/Social Media Sites –  Games on Facebook, Zynga, Friendster, and Playfish are some of the social networking sites for gamers that can be played on various browsers.
  • Multiplayer –  Games where multiple players play at the same time whether as teammates or opposing teams.
  • Online casino – Games that use a real-world currency and game of chance like baccarat, slots, and sic bo also falls under social gaming.
  • Mobile – Involves the use of mobile phone whether to play online casino app or real money gambling games and simple games like 2048.

Also, popular social games such as Fortnite, Dota 2, and Mobile Legends are some of the top online games today.

Generally speaking, social games measure success in non-monetary gains and focus on the social experience. However, using points, rankings, and virtual currency that are only in-game and cannot be used as real-world currency.

It is mostly focused on player’s entertainment and experience, than any monetary gains.

With this regard, we will tackle on the line where social gaming and online gambling meet.

Regulation of online gaming in Canada

Social gaming has influenced online gaming or online gambling to an extent. And because of its influence in a massive fraction of the population in Canada, regulations have been set to ensure the safety and security of its citizens.

Historically, the law in Canada states that online gaming activity is criminal.

According to Elkind and Lipton: If there is no chance that a person could lose money or no chance that a person could lose money as a consequence of playing or entering, then the Criminal Code doesn’t pply.

Canada has a well-regulated approach to the gambling industry—for more info, check these statistics. Each province takes responsibility for the growth and development of their local establishments. This stance encourages players and entrepreneurs to give this a try. 

Elements of illegal activity pertaining to social games

Illegal activities in social games is a massive problem. Gaming activities, either for pure enjoyment or for monetary rewards, are both targets for people who commit criminal activities online.

Because of its online nature and it having connected platforms, it’s easier to attack and steal data. Social sites for gamers became a breeding ground for cybercrime

The legal risks of social gaming

It is open to question a provider if these elements are present in the typical social gaming context:

  • Chance
  • Payment
  • Prize

According to Gambling Insider, the only law in Canada that a player can get in trouble for is to be found inside an illegal betting house. But since a lot of social gaming sites are offshore, players have nothing to worry about.

Social gaming as part of an ongoing evolution

The ongoing evolution of social gaming’s business model has never stopped. The virtual aspect created within these games demonstrates a rise in the number of players. Every Canadian over the age of 19 spends about CA$600 to CA$900 every year in casinos.

If Canada wants to avoid these harmful incidents in the online gaming industry, they should be able to adapt and apply updated constructs to this growing industry.

Conclusion

As the demand for social gaming has increased, the market has produced a ton of players and business owners, which then developed into a multi-billion industry.

Going ahead with this information, you may be able to start your own, or even join in one of the social network games in Canada.