Double Down, gambling
Launched in spring 2010, DoubleDown Casino is a collection of Vegas-style games of chance from DoubleDown Interactive. When we looked at the title’s performance this past April, it had managed to attract some 1.2 million monthly active users. Today, it boasts more than three times that amount — and is steadily climbing.
DoubleDown Casino offers players a selection of games, including blackjack, slots, video poker and roulette. Blackjack has four levels available based on how comfortable players are with the game: Slow Play ($250 buy-in), Party ($5, 000 buy-in), Black Tie ($5, 000 buy-in) and Pharaoh ($1 million buy-in). 12 slot machines are available with varying payouts, minimum bets, and a tournament mode, along with three styles of video poker. Roulette offers four table types with buy-ins ranging from $250 to $5, 000.
All of the games are played using chips, which are represented for players in a dollar amount. Winnings are also paid out in chips, and players can earn gold coins that can, in turn, be used to purchase tickets for free chips drawings. All of the games reward players with experience, which helps them level up and earn new ranks. Two hundred and seventy-five badges are available, and are awarded for certain achievements, such as reaching a specific number of friends or winning a certain amount of money in one hand. The game features a “daily spin” bonus game, a once-per-day chance for players to win free chips.
Blackjack and roulette are multiplayer games, offering numerous lobbies for players to join. Once in, players can interact with one another in a live text chat in addition to playing against one another and the house. Other social features include sharing accomplishments on players’ Walls, inviting friends and sending gifts of daily spins to friends who are playing the game. Players also receive an additional $1, 000 in chips per day for each friend they have playing. The game offers an option that players can use to view their friends’ current standings, and allows them to join game lobbies their friends are in.
DoubleDown Casino is monetized via players purchasing chips using Facebook Credits. Chips can be purchased in six packages, ranging from $150, 000 in chips for 30 Facebook Credits to $100 million chips for 990 Facebook Credits.
The developer has been expanding the game’s content since launch, recently adding a new Candy Shop slot machine. The publisher also holds regular contests for large amounts of free chips via the game’s Wall.
Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss is an edition of a book by Frederick and Steven Barthelme.