We’ve spent the first few months of 2019 gathering and analyzing data on player redemption patterns from our many 2018 holiday shopping events, which were attended by thousands of casino players.

From this data, we identified not only which reward categories continue to be top redeemers, but also which brands and products were most popular among casino audiences. We wanted to give you a glimpse into our key findings, so we’ll be presenting you with a three-part blog series! In this first installment, we’re highlighting the category that took the spot as the highest redeeming category – Kitchen.

As people continue to grow more health conscious and the foodie generation thrives, we’re seeing increased momentum in this redemption trend, with Kitchenware making up 31% of all player redemptions.  A resurgence of at-home meal prepping and the growth in popularity of subscription meal kit services like HelloFresh and Blue Apron also contributes to the popularity of kitchen redemptions.  In fact, cookware made up 15% of all redemptions in the kitchen category, and small appliances made up 16%.

As meal prepping and at-home meal time has increased in popularity, consumers are turning to their favorite celebrity chefs for inspiration and guidance on meal ideas and cooking tips and tricks. It’s no surprise then that celebrity cooking brands have ranked high among player redemptions, with Ayesha Curry, Jamie Oliver, Ken Hom and Rachael Ray making up the most popular brands.

Rewards aren’t one-size-fits-all and can fall flat if they do not meet the varying needs and preferences of your players. Understanding what players desire and offering them a variety of product rewards from brands they love, is an essential part of what makes a loyalty program successful.  As a merchandise expert, we can target specific reward options to meet your players’ varying demands and motivate and reward them effectively.

To learn more about the latest trends in player rewards, contact us today or view the full infographics revealing player rewards data.