I regularly review social casino apps for mobile devices and walk through the same process for each one.
At the end I come up with a score. I want to explain how I calculate that number, why I think it’s different from most, and how you can use it to increase the enjoyment you get from these apps.
Pre-Review Research
The first thing I do is to download the app. I use a Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus so I go to the Google Play icon to complete this task.
I do check to see if it’s also available through Apple but I do not test that version.
As soon as the app has loaded I start taking notes. I look at the overall layout, click each icon and tab and scroll through the list of slots.
Usually the notes are done in Word or Notepad but sometimes – if I’m not near my workspace – they might be done by hand for later conversion to an online format.
I look for standard features like quests or side games, daily and timed bonuses, how many free coins are awarded for new players, whether or not there are tournaments, if there are any slots that have jackpots, and how many slots are unlocked for new players.
Tracking Data
I created a list of fourteen criteria I use in order to come up with the SlotGiants score.
These fourteen items are rank-ordered based on those that I think are the most important to users. Assigned to each is a grading system that awards points based on how the app scores for that item.
The criteria are:
- Number of available slots
- Number of free spins you can get with bonus coins awarded to new players
- Whether or not there are slots with free spin bonuses
- Number of free spins you can get with daily free coin awards
- Existence of 3rd party ads
- Level of ad and pop-up annoyance
- Whether or not you can gift coins to Facebook friends
- Whether or not there are side features and quests that award additional free coins
- Screen layout and ease of use
- Whether or not there is an auto-spin feature
- Whether or not you can play using multiple accounts (guest vs login)
- Coin purchase costs
- Whether or not there is support or help information
- Whether or not there is an addiction support opt-out feature
Once I’m familiar with how to navigate the app I start gathering the data to put in my tracking model.
For most of these items the outcome is objective and based only on data from the app and the existence of various features. Only a few of the items are scored based on my own opinion.
Calculating the Score
Once all the data is gathered and the points for each are determined a formula calculates the final score based on the total points an app received compared to the total points available in the model.
Occasionally I find new items to add to the model and when that happens I go back and adjust the score for any previously published review at the same time.
Each score, then, has been equally calculated at any point in time. If you look at the number for one review and compare it to the score of another they are based on the same point system and model.
What the Score Means
There are plenty of sites out there that discuss the different mobile apps you can use to play slots for free and many use a model to score and compare them.
Each, though, is likely to be different depending on the goal of the site and the items weighted in the model.
In the case of SlotGiants my hope is to find the apps that present the highest level of enjoyment with the least possible cost – entirely free when it can be managed.
Enjoyment is measured by the number of slots, the level of ad annoyance and the ease of use.
Those with the least possible cost give enough free coins as compared to the lowest bet per spin to keep you playing for free longer than others and provide greater value with any coin packages they offer.
I’ve spent time on Facebook collecting free coins from those that offer them and see plenty of comments from folks complaining that they’ve run out too quickly.
My goal is to help you find the slot apps that will be available for your entertainment at any time without having to buy any coin packages unless you decided you WANTED to buy them rather than feeling like you NEEDED to buy them (if that makes sense).
Of course, that does require that you have to play reasonably and follow some simple strategies to hang onto your coins but it can be done with the right apps.
I like to think that those with the highest score are the ones that are least focused on their own income and more focused on providing true value to the end user.
Visit the Reviews tab to read those that interest you and compare scores.