Dining, shopping, and even online casinos, here’s how loyalty programs are becoming Malta’s favourite way to win big on (and off) the island.
The world over, customers are looking for reasons to remain loyal to brands and ways of saving money. Inflation and a competitively packed market have made the average consumer more discerning in their search for generous pricing and rewards for repeat customers. We all just want a little something extra for our money to make it go further.
Businesses have caught on to this and are looking for innovative new ways to engage with a customer base with no real loyalty to legacy brands. You’ll notice this in all areas of life, whether you’re grabbing a coffee on your commute or making those big purchases that you’re going to want to spend some time bargain-hunting for.
Here in Malta, it’s no different. Despite experiencing growth in the Maltese economy, the average Joe is increasingly feeling the pinch. Increased income tax has left the islands’ residents looking for ways to bring their outgoings down in line with their squeezed budget. That’s seen the nation’s businesses adopting some unique tactics to ensure return custom, with one industry in particular standing out.
Malta Online Casinos are Trailblazers in Loyalty Programs for Regular Players
The iGaming industry is one of the biggest in Malta. Since the rise of the internet, it has been one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Maltese economy. It’s gone from a fringe pastime that only real enthusiasts engaged with in the poker rooms of the early 2000s to an everyday part of online entertainment, with thousands of sites to choose from.
The scale of the market has meant that operators have been forward-thinking in their approach to attracting and retaining players. For example, according to scams.info: online casinos in Malta are ranked based on six must-haves, which include their bonuses and promotions. In order to be rated highly, they must have a good promotional program with simple requirements.
The site has listed Playzee as the best site for their bonuses, and this is largely because of their Zee Club program, which runs alongside the daily promotions that they offer. If a user plays at the casino on any day of the week, they will be presented with a gift on that Sunday. This sort of promotion encourages players to visit every week and rewards them for doing so.
Online Casinos in Malta Using Promotions to Battle Record-High Levels of Competition
The loyalty program has become a necessity for all the best Malta online casinos. There are more sites than ever before, and these operators need to attract an increasingly savvy audience. According to Statista, Malta’s online casinos are operating with a penetration level of 60%. Meaning nearly two-thirds of the country is hopping onto a site.
That’s a massive figure – the highest, in fact – given that the global penetration level is just 1.7%. Operators can’t rest on their laurels and need to make sure that they’re making themselves as attractive as possible to an experienced set of users. That’s why it’s not just about long-term loyalty programs, but also the welcome offers.
All sites will now offer an incentive to get on board. Online casinos in Malta can’t really offer free trials, so they offer bonus funds instead. You’ll see sites advertising deposit matches of up to 100% and free spins on select slot games to try and get people interested in their brand. It’s not dissimilar to a cafe offering tasters of their bakes and brews.
A Practice Not Restricted to Malta Online Casinos – Retail and Leisure Jump on Trends
It’s not just Malta online casinos that are big on the VIP and loyalty programs, either. As we try to find the best deals, businesses in the retail and leisure sector are appealing to that desire by offering us better deals over longer periods. It’s good for both the goose and the gander – consumers get discounted goods and businesses shore up their future.
Lava Rewards is one such program. Rather than being the work of just one business, it is a system that businesses can opt into. Users are then able to collect rewards by making purchases at the participating outlets, meaning they’re more likely to keep coming back to those businesses and build up their balance before redeeming it with one of them.
Then you have the age-old culture of a stamp card. Malta loves its coffee, and stamp cards are a staple of the coffee spots across the country. If you’re picking up a latte on the way to work every morning, a card that gives you a free cup of Joe after a set number of purchases will be a big way of keeping you loyal to your local coffee house. It’s certainly clear to see that Malta is a nation of loyalty programs.
