Every year, technology pushes the boundaries of what is possible. Competition continues to heat up, and we see new product offerings.
The online casino industry is one of the most competitive niches in the world. The growth rate of the gambling industry is not decreasing and the number of players is increasing. It is expected that by 2023 the turnover in the gambling vertical will grow to $92.9 billion. More and more companies and entertainment content are entering the market.
There is already a whole generation of players who love gambling but have never been to a traditional casino, and its aesthetics are not close to theirs. Consumer habits in general shape the online gambling industry, and having analyzed them, we can conclude what to expect in the future:
Cloud computing
With cloud computing, online casino software providers have gained access to more game development tools. In other words, the interval between game design, creation, and go-to-market is getting shorter.
In addition, more and more online casinos are moving to a cloud-based approach to providing their gambling products and services. Consequently, you can now access sites faster regardless of your location as long as you have a stable internet connection.
This is a step up from the previous setup when downtime of online casino servers affected players’ access to games and gameplay.
Artificial Intelligence
Popular online casinos and gaming platforms use artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze customer behavior and track their gaming habits to create more personalized gaming experiences and bonuses.
The systems have also proven highly effective in identifying gambling problems.
Keeping all this in mind, expect their implementation to become even more widespread.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)
Virtual reality is a topic that was popularized in the 1990s but never became widespread. However, with the rise of new technologies, this technology is making a comeback. In 2022, virtual reality is becoming one of the most popular forms of entertainment and is influencing online casino games.
Augmented reality (AR) is another technology that has gained popularity and is likely to define the 2022 gambling market. Like virtual reality, augmented reality provides an immersive and authentic gaming experience.
Mobile gaming
And this trend will probably soon cease to be so. Today, it will not surprise anyone that betting can be done on a smartphone, because the technology has been evolving for years. In 2022, it is hard to imagine that a developer would release a game only for the computer, especially since gambling is usually quite simple and it is not difficult to transfer it to a smartphone.
Of course, today casinos offer customers to bet from smartphones not only in the machines, but also at the tables with live dealers, and the development of technology makes this process closer and closer to reality.
Cybersport on the rise
One of the newest additions to the online gambling industry in cybersports. It’s essentially betting on sports, but instead of physical games, people are playing mental games.
Cybersports are very popular, and the communities are huge. For example, almost every Australian online casino has at least a small window for betting on sports. Betting on the sweepstakes is part of the tradition for Australians. Since at least the mid-nineteenth century, betting on horse racing has been an integral part of Australian society.
Cryptocurrencies for payments
The trend of using cryptocurrencies for casino payments has been gaining momentum for several years. Lately, governments are trying to monitor the transfers of funds from and to illegal casinos more closely and they have more and more tools for this purpose so cryptocurrencies become the main hope of gamblers. Today, many casinos already offer bitcoins and altcoins for payments, and sometimes the choice of virtual currency amounts to dozens of options.
Moreover, some casinos are already using only cryptocurrencies for payments, which allows them to refuse the standard verification process. The fact is that the technology already provides sufficient protection to users, so no additional confirmation of identity is required.
New companies and games in the gambling industry
Online gambling is incredibly popular today, but the industry predicts only user and turnover growth. So in 2022, there will be new developer companies and new establishments. Besides, the industry will add hundreds and, most likely, even thousands of new games both from start-up companies and from industry giants.
Speaking of slot machines, it is expected that developers will continue trying to combine video slots with games in other genres. For example, the company Evoplay has already released a slot Dungeon: Immortal Evil based on RPG games. In addition, some machines offer the player not just to spin the reels and occasionally play bonus games, but to create whole storylines, such as in the video slot Castle Builder II manufacturer Rabcat in collaboration with Microgaming.
Progressive jackpot technology and a variety of additional features will also continue to evolve.
Smart devices
Smartwatches are becoming increasingly popular assistants for a variety of purposes, whether it’s tracking physical fitness, messaging, or gaming. They are also becoming more and more powerful in terms of the chipset. So it’s no surprise that this new class of devices is finding increasing use in the gambling industry, with providers such as Playtech already offering slot versions for Apple Watches.
The benefits for gambling operators are obvious. Being with a person almost constantly, smartwatches are in his field of vision, which means that the probability that the user will play gambling in different life situations (for example, standing in line) becomes higher. The design of modern smart devices also makes the gaming process more convenient than on cell phones, as players see only the necessary information for the game, without being bothered by a large variety of additional buttons.
On the other hand, gambling apps on smart devices are a niche product, and users are still more likely to access online casinos and betting sites from desktops or their phones.
Safer gambling
Regulations aimed at ensuring the safety of players in different regions of the world continue to come into effect. Increasingly, instead of waiting for new laws to be approved and upgrading their products to comply with them, gambling operators are taking a more proactive and business-friendly stance to integrate player safety technologies throughout the product development process.
In 2022, operators who are aware of their responsibilities must go beyond legal requirements. Many online casinos already use pop-ups that warn users when they play for long periods, and others encourage players to set their deposit limits.
As soon as a new trend in online gambling emerges, it is important to make the most of it. This means assessing in detail how each innovation can be translated into operator offerings to help make sense for end-users, and verifying not only that the new features work, but that they are useful and in demand.
