The Hard Rock Atlantic City Casino has launched an online social casino ahead of its land-based debut.

Social gamers now have a new option for online casino game play via Hard Rock International. The casino operator has launched Hard Rock Social Casino, a site dedicated to social casino gaming branded after the Hard Rock brick-and-mortar properties. The site can be viewed via desktop or mobile device and provides gamers with instant access to casino games and tournaments for free play. Players can choose a favorite casino when signing up, be it the new Atlantic City property, Hollywood, or Tampa venues.

Social casino gaming

The idea of social casino gaming is not new. Casinos in the United States often launch a social casino online, providing players with access to casino games for fun as well as providing ways to earn loyalty points and rewards. The Hard Rock Social Casino allows members to link the site to the Atlantic City Casino, getting a feel for what the venue will offer as well as connecting to the brand’s loyalty club.

Players can sign up at the Hard Rock Social Casino as a new member, as a guest, or via Facebook. Once connected, players can choose to play slot games, table and other games, live tournaments, and high limit games for free using coins. Coins are provided during signup and can be earned during gameplay.

The new online free play casino is set up quite nicely and is easy to use, even for a beginner. The graphics are solid and games load quickly, allowing players to jump from one genre to the next with ease. Hard Rock has even added a Quests section, where players can complete tasks to earn even more coins for gameplay.

When signing up, players will be asked to choose a home casino. By choosing the Hard Rock Atlantic City, players can then click the Link Wild Card tab to add a card and begin earning loyalty points. The linking option is not available yet for the Atlantic City property but should be an option once the land-based casino opens in the coming weeks.

Smart move

Creating the online social casino was a smart move by Hard Rock International. As the company prepares for the launch of its new Atlantic City casino, it will have stiff competition, not only from existing operators but also from Ocean Resort Casino, a second venue set to open this summer as well.

With the social casino, Hard Rock brings awareness to its Atlantic City brand and provides an outlet for player interaction. Hard Rock will be able to attract new customers by promoting the social casino and begin to build its brand in New Jersey before the doors of the brick-and-mortar gaming floor even open.

The social casino is also a good starting point for Hard Rock when it comes to online gaming. Last week, it was announced that the Hard Rock Atlantic City is working with top digital casino solutions provider NetEnt when it comes to offering real money online casino gaming. Hard Rock plans on launching an online casino in the future and is taking the proper steps to get started, including partnering with top online gaming experts like NetEnt.

By working with NetEnt, Hard Rock Atlantic City will be able to provide quality content for online gamers in the state. With the social casino in place, Hard Rock will be able to build a customer base which can then be guided towards the brand’s online casino once it launches.

Launch date announced soon

Last week, Hard Rock also announced the opening of a preview center for the new gaming venue. Gamers visiting the center at Tanger Outlets will get a sneak peek of what the Atlantic City casino will offer. According to the Press of Atlantic City, the preview center will be used next week to host a press conference, revealing the date of the casino’s official launch.

The conference will take place on April 18 and will provide a grand opening date along with information of the entertainment lineup for the property. Hard Rock has promised that its Atlantic City property will not only focus on gaming but also offer quality entertainment, including the best musical acts.