Why Do People Send Coins in 8 Ball Pool?

As one of the most popular mobile games ever with over 1 billion downloads, 8 Ball Pool has cultivated one of the most dedicated user bases in casual gaming. At the core of its viral appeal and addictive gameplay is the coin – a virtual currency that has taken on a social value of its own. But why are people so driven to collect and even buy coins with real money? Read on to find out what makes this virtual currency so desirable.

The Basics of 8 Ball Pool

For readers unfamiliar with 8 Ball Pool, it‘s an online pool simulator for 1-on-1 matches. The gameplay itself is easy to pick up – players take turns pocketing balls by aiming and shooting with the cue stick, controlling power and spin. The goal is to legally sink all your object balls (solids or stripes) and then the 8 ball to win. Fouling results in a turnover. It‘s based on standard American-style pool rules.

Part of what makes it accessible is the top-down 2D graphics. By swiping and tapping on your smartphone screen, anyone can enjoy the fun and challenge of pool gameplay without learning the motor skills required for real life pool. Next, let‘s dive into the coin system that drives engagement.

Coins as In-Game Currency

Coins are the main virtual currency in 8 Ball Pool, earned by completing matches, levels, missions, and through daily log-in bonuses. The standard match stake is 10 coins, though there are more expensive 20, 50, and 100 coin tables. Coins allow you to purchase cue sticks, spin the prize wheel, and enter fee-based tournaments. Some specialty cues cost over 1 million coins!

As you might imagine, amassing millions of coins takes a ton of grinding. But it becomes an aspirational goal for players to unlock the most exclusive cues. Having a large coin balance also lets you comfortably play higher stakes matches for bigger rewards. Much like an XP system for progression in other games, accumulating coins enables you to level up your account.

Virality Through Gifting

One way to get free coins is by gifting friends. 8 Ball Pool lets you send free coins to Facebook contacts once per day. The gifted amount ranges randomly from a few hundred to a few thousand coins. These are not deducted from your total, rather they are generated by the game.

Gifting provides an organic viral loop – receiving coins from a friend makes you more likely to gift coins back or pay it forward to others. This social sharing mechanic helps drive user engagement and retention.

According to Miniclip, 8 Ball Pool users have sent over 968 billion coins gifts to friends since launch. That is an astonishing amount of social sharing activity centered around the virtual currency.

Buying & Selling Coins for Cash

With a highly engaged player base, many users end up accumulating more coins than they will ever need just through regular gameplay. This has led to people selling their excess coins online to convert them into real money. There are marketplaces like PlayerAuctions where you can buy and sell 8 Ball Pool coins through player-to-player transactions.

While this is against the game‘s terms of service and may result in getting banned, it demonstrates the underlying monetary value people attach to coins. Selling prices generally range from $10 per 100k coins to $100 for 10 million coins, depending on supply and demand. For savvy players, selling coins presents an opportunity to profit from their gameplay prowess.

Coins as a Retention & Monetization Driver

On the flip side, Miniclip profits from players who pay real money for coins. They offer bundles ranging from a few dollars for 1,200 coins, up to close to $100 for packages containing 4 million coins or more.

Sensor Tower estimates 8 Ball Pool has generated over $971 million in worldwide gross revenue to date, and a significant portion comes from players purchasing coins. Miniclip continues to capitalize on this revenue model through in-app purchases.

Popping open chests and spins in the app gives a variable reward, much like winning at casino slots. This creates an addictive thrill where players feel compelled to keep playing in hopes of earning more coins and gifts. The coin system utilizes principles of operant conditioning and random reward schedules to drive retention.

Coins as an Esport

8 Ball Pool has a robust competitive scene, with tournaments where top players compete to win huge coin prizes. Tourney match stakes can run as high as 1 billion coins! Participants pay a buy-in entry fee and the prize pool distribution is based on performance.

According to Miniclip, the highest earner is Alok Kumar who has won over 50 million coins through competitive play. With coins translatable to real money, pool pros like Alok play professionally to earn income. The integration of esports makes 8 Ball Pool about more than just casual play.

My Experiences with Coins

As an avid player myself, I find coins highly satisfying to accumulate. Unlocking new cues feels like leveling up. The gifting mechanic creates social engagement with friends. Winning matches to grow my coin balance gives a sense of progression.

Getting a surprise Daily Spin jackpot of 100k coins provides genuine excitement. I don‘t actually spend money as I earn coins steadily through matches. But I understand how tempting it is to buy coins when you covet an expensive cue or outfit. Overall, collecting coins definitely enhances the enjoyment and addiction!

Tips for Earning Coins

For new players looking to build their coin reserves, here are some tips:

• Take advantage of the free hourly bonus (up to 6k coins per day)
• Level up your account – higher levels yield more coins
• Watch video ads and complete offers for bonus coins
• Enter free-to-play tournament events
• Play regularly to complete more matches and missions
• Max out your daily 20 gifts sent to friends
• Participate in leagues and challenges for prizes
• Save up and play higher value tables when possible

While coins hold no intrinsic value, the rush of winning and collecting them keeps the 8 Ball Pool gameplay loop addicting. With creative monetization and strong social features, it‘s no wonder why coins have become ingrained in 8 Ball Pool culture. So next time you receive a gift, pay the excitement forward and spread the coin love!