How crash influences player behaviour

Giorgi Tsutskiridze, CCO at SPRIBE, looks at how the fast-cycle nature of crash games, the near instant decision making and control over the outcome impact behaviour and how operators can use this to maximise the potential they provide

The rise in popularity of crash games presents huge opportunities for operators, suppliers and aggregators. But to maximise this, it’s important to understand who plays crash games and how the fast-cycle nature of the format influences their behaviour.

Crash is all about high risk/high reward, and given the cadence of gameplay, it promotes impulsive decision making with a focus on short-term gains rather than adopting a longer-term strategy for the game.

But because players have control over when to cash out, there is also an element of skill and strategy which also influences player behaviour.

Let’s take a closer look at how.

Near-instant decision making:

Because crash games play out at such a rapid cadence, players are forced into making split-second decisions. With Aviator, they never know when the plane will fly away, and must decide in real-time if they want to cash out at the current multiplier or hold on for longer.

This builds pressure and anticipation, with players driven by a desire to maximise the potential winnings as the multiplier continues to climb, but also fully aware it could “crash” at any moment.

This knowledge sits at odds with the impulse to wait it out, with the strategic mind kicking in and reminding the player that they do need to cash out to lock in any winnings they have accrued.

This type of gameplay, and the environment it fosters, is very different to slots, where the cadence is much slower, the risk/reward factor much lower and where there is little to no skill – both real and perceived.

Big action, even bigger emotions:

The nature of crash gameplay stirs strong feelings of anticipation and excitement among players, putting them quite literally on the edge of their seats game round after game round.

They can experience incredible highs when they time their cashout to perfection, but also lows when they go too early and watch as the multiplier continues to rise higher and higher – and of course, a late crash always hits the hardest.

With Aviator, players watch the rest of the game round after they have cashed out, allowing them to see if they timed their exit to perfection or whether there was more value left in the game round.

This has proved to really drive engagement, with players keen to see how the round played out and who ultimately walked away with the biggest win. This, in turn, spurs them on to go again.

Taking control:

The element of decision making is unique to crash games and very much influences player behaviour – despite the outcome being generated by an RNG.

In the communities that have sprung up around Aviator, and within the game’s chat function, we see players discussing their cash out strategies and what has and hasn’t worked for them.

This is why we give players the option to place multiple bets and set auto cash out. While it doesn’t alter the outcome of the game, it aligns with their perception of having game skill and the control they have over when to exit.

What impact does this have?

The nature of the crash format is compelling, and this is why they have become so popular with players in markets all over the world.

Aviator is played by 50 million players a month across 5,500+ online casinos in 20+ regulated markets globally, with more than 400,000 bets being placed every minute – the game can actually handle 10,000 bets simultaneously.

These numbers are way beyond anything a single slot game could achieve, and so too is the 10% uplift in GGR that an online casino can enjoy when adding Aviator to the lobby.

How is this possible? Because Aviator draws players in and provides them with the entertainment experience they are seeking. It’s multiplayer, fast-paced, mobile-first, with tons of social interaction.

It’s become a brand, and like all brands, it has a large and loyal community of followers that return to the game over and over again. For operators, this means unprecedented retention rates, as well as a game that allows them to acquire new players at scale, especially Millennials and Gen Zers.

How to get the most out of fast-cycle crash games:

To get the most out of crash, you need to first stock titles such as Aviator in your online casino and sportsbook lobby. Next, use the promotion tools that come with the game, such as free bets, to let players take flight for the first time, risk-free.

Once they have strapped in for the first time, the vast majority want to go on the thrill ride again and again. But you still need to keep them engaged, so use tournaments to spice things up and allow communities to form around the game to boost loyalty.

When you know how crash games work and how the format influences player behaviour, it’s easy to understand how to get the most out of these games and ultimately why Aviator has become a fly-away success.