Online casinos are relatively new, but they already grabbed a large portion of the gambling market. They keep growing steadily, attracting millions of players from all over the globe.
They can do it because modern gamblers are used to new technologies, but that’s not the only success driver. Online casinos are also thriving because they keep adapting to the needs of digital gamblers. Developers pay attention to users’ needs, making sure to react and improve their services almost in real-time.
We can see that virtual gambling is constantly evolving, so it’s interesting to research the latest trends in the best paying online casino. In this post, you will learn the current state of online casinos and 11 trends that will reshape the industry in the years to come.
Online gambling stats and facts
We already mentioned that online gambling is growing bigger, but why would you trust our words when there are tons of studies to prove it. Dozens of relevant industry reports reveal the unprecedented growth of virtual casinos, but we decided to show you only a handful of interesting stats.
- Online gambling and betting industry will grow over $100 billion by 2026 (from $775 million in 2019)
- Online gamblers hold an average of three accounts, but a significant proportion of younger gamblers hold more
- About 20% of the total world’s population has gambled at least once in their lifetime
- The number of online poker websites dramatically increased in 2003 when the World Series of Poker became a popular television program
All those stats prove that online gambling is growing internationally, mostly due to the fact that people trust casino websites more than a few years ago. However, some regions and countries are prone to virtual gambling more than others.
We are talking mainly about the US, Canada, Europe, and Asian countries. South America, Africa, and Australia still lag behind gambling-wise, but their online casino markets are also experiencing steady growth.
Top 11 online casino trends
Now that you know that online casinos are a big deal indeed, we should focus on trends that promise to reshape the online casino industry very soon. Some of these trends are already alive and kicking, while others still have a long way to go before making a genuine impact. Let’s see the top 11 trends in best-paying online casinos.
The market is getting increasingly competitive
New casinos pop up like mushrooms after the rain. The last few years saw a real boom in this industry and you would think that the trend must go down as a result, but it is not necessarily the case.
The competition between online gambling sites has only gotten fiercer, so we can expect to see more of them in the future. Even though it sounds counterintuitive, the reason is fairly simple – there’s enough room for everyone because the number of online gamblers is growing rapidly.
That’s because players realized the benefits of online casinos and learned to enjoy them even more than before. What’s worth mentioning is that new casinos like to ape existing ones, so we’re likely to see an increase in the number of clone sites as well.
They tend to offer fairly similar experiences, which makes them differentiable only by their bonuses and promotions.
Versatile bonuses and promotions
Online gambling platforms are finding new ways to “sell” their games. In the past, digital casino sites focused on simple tricks like free spins and no deposit bonuses as a way to entice new players. However, they’re trying many new ways now.
For example, some of them give away a certain amount of real money if a player manages to win the jackpot. Other sites give away free spins with different rules, like restricting them to certain games or conditions.
There are all sorts of casino offers these days. You can find welcome bonuses, referral offers, no wagering requirements, and so much more. All of them are designed for a certain group of players – new clients, regular gamblers, VIP customers, etc.
Personalized marketing strategies
Big brands and major corporations spend billions of dollars on advertising every year just to reach their target audiences. They’re willing to invest such a large amount of money because they can see the effects it has on sales.
Online casinos do the same thing. They also want to increase the number of players on their platforms, so they invest in personalized marketing strategies – they get help from technology to make it easier.
There are a lot of digital tools that gather useful data on potential players, helping online gambling sites reach new customers more effectively. Gambling platforms can use this information to create personalized ads and target groups of people who might enjoy their games the most.
In other words, casinos now know as much about their target audiences as traditional companies do about theirs. It is important to notice that small casinos are taking advantage of the same digital marketing strategies, which means advanced marketing programs are no longer the privilege of major brands only.
Sports betting at online casinos
Every year, the number of people who bet on sports is increasing. It’s no wonder that the best online casinos and many leading providers decided to launch their own sports betting services.
Online gambling sites are about more than just casino games these days.
They can still offer poker rooms, lottery games, skill-based challenges, and roulette tournaments with virtual players. But they can also take the extra step to include wagering options. Sports betting is very popular right now, so online casinos have a separate section where you can bet on all sorts of sports events.
They include football games, tennis matches, cycling races, and even eSports competitions. In other words, there’s no event that can’t be bet upon.
Improved quality of online casino games
Online gambling platforms understood that to attract new players, they need to come up with a better product. They can’t compete with other types of entertainment – or against one another – with the same games year after year.
Online casinos decided to focus on the quality of their products in order to continue offering an engaging experience for their clients. They hire talented game designers who are able to create the best casino games in the industry, taking visual and graphical solutions to a whole new level.
Also, most leading software providers have begun testing their games in virtual environments before launching them on gambling platforms. It helps make sure they work smoothly and don’t deliver any compatibility errors or bugs.
Online casinos with live dealers
Virtual gamblers want the best of both worlds, which is why online casinos came up with an interesting solution. Some gaming sites have created live dealer sections where you can bet on popular events while interacting with a real dealer in the chat section.
This solution is more appealing to clients who demand a more natural gambling environment. Virtual tables give you pretty much the same excitement as playing against real people in a live casino setting. Most live casinos allow you to play blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and other table games.
Mobile gambling
Since most people carry their smartphones and tablets with them everywhere they go, the market for mobile casinos has increased exponentially over the last couple of years.
The best online casino sites keep adding new games that are optimized for touch screens. They also include special bonuses for mobile gamblers – including deposit offers, free spins, and other money-saving deals.
It’s important to understand that mobile games are not just simplified versions of the usual casino games you know. On the contrary, developers started creating their unique products that offer various advantages over regular website gambling solutions. That way, mobile gamblers get to enjoy their games as much as desktop players.
The rise of gambling apps
This trend goes together with the previous one on our list. Namely, mobile gambling is not reserved for smartphone-responsive websites only. The truth is very different because now you can find hundreds of dedicated casino gambling apps for mobile devices.
That’s just the way gambling platforms answer the growing number of smartphone and tablet players. The best online gambling sites offer apps that you can download on your iOS or Android device.
These programs are very popular among gamblers because they don’t have the same limitations as browser apps. They usually give access to more betting options, including high-stakes games, tournaments, and even live dealer casinos.
Multiple payment options
Traditional casinos are simple – you get there and pay with cash or your credit card. But online gambling goes way beyond that to offer a wide range of payment solutions.
You can use any of the world’s most popular payment methods to deposit and withdraw money from your gambling account. Options include bank transfers, e-wallets, money cards, prepaid cards, virtual currencies like Bitcoin, and more.
This makes it really easy for you to transfer funds between your bank and casino accounts. But why do online casinos offer so many payment means? Because they make sure all clients get the one that works best for them. That’s yet another way for a casino to attract more customers and turn them into regular players.
Widespread legalization of online casinos
Although online gambling is very popular in most parts of the world, some countries began to regulate it only a few years ago. The trend includes developed nations like the United Kingdom and Australia, but also emerging markets like Poland and South Africa.
The number of countries with regulated online casino platforms continues growing on a yearly basis. Many governments decide to encourage the online gambling industry in order to generate tax revenues and boost the local economy.
This means that you can apply for a real money account even if you live in areas where online betting is not approved of.
Virtual reality casino games
Virtual reality (VR) is the latest technology that attracts a lot of attention from gamers and casino operators alike. The market for virtual reality headsets, such as Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, also included gambling platforms that specialize in VR content.
This exciting trend indicates that more casinos will soon join the bandwagon and include new games on their lists. But there’s still a long way to go until the most popular gambling software offers a complete line of VR games.
Until then, you can also play with Augmented Reality games that also make digital gambling fun and more entertaining.
Why is online gambling so popular?
Another question we want to answer is this: What makes online gambling so incredibly popular? Many factors explain this phenomenon, but we will highlight only the most relevant.
Convenient gambling experience
A wide array of players appreciate the fact that they can access an online casino from any location with an Internet connection. This means that anyone with a laptop, tablet, or smartphone will be able to gamble in their own time.
Being constantly online also makes it much easier for people to quickly check whether or not their latest bet was successful before placing further wagers.
No social distractions
Traditional casinos confront you with a whole bunch of other gamblers. This can cause a lot of social distractions, especially if you prefer to play in a peaceful and quiet ambiance.
On the other hand, you will never have to worry about this while playing at an online casino since no one else but you is there. Online gambling sites allow you to play at your own pace and stop whenever you feel like something is bothering you.
A wide variety of games
Another reason why online gambling appeals to so many players is the sheer amount of choices it offers when it comes to selecting a game. There are numerous online casino sites that offer up slots, poker, roulette, or blackjack tables.
Furthermore, players can choose from different themes, stakes, and bet levels. If you are just looking for some fun or trying to win big money then online gambling is the perfect opportunity for you.
Bonus offers
Many casinos attract new players by showing off their generous sign-up bonuses that can be claimed right after registration. What makes these offers particularly attractive is that you only have to make a small initial payment.
The rest of your bonus will then be transferred to your account immediately. At the same time, there are no hidden or additional fees when withdrawing the money you have won. This fact makes it easy for players to try out new games or place larger bets without thinking too much about the consequences.
Various payment methods
At an online casino, you will be able to deposit and withdraw your money in various ways. The most widely used method is probably the payment systems offered by credit card companies such as MasterCard or Visa.
Nut there’s much more to it than credit cards. You can pay or claim your money using e-banking channels, PayPal, Revolut, and even cryptocurrencies.
A chance to win money quickly
We all like winning money quickly, don’t we? Gambling is the best way to do so since it gives you instant access to games where you can easily double or even triple your initial deposit. It’s not always easy to win big prizes, but it’s definitely worth trying.
The bottom line
Online casinos are becoming the most dominant force in the gambling market. They are getting bigger and more influential, with many trends contributing to the evolution of this industry.
This article showed you the current state of online gambling and 11 trends that will impact the development of digital casinos. Which trend do you think is the most important here? Let us know in the comments section!
