Trends within the iGaming Industry
The iGaming industry is booming and has continued to evolve over the past decade — especially in recent years.
With new tech advancements happening at an unprecedented rate, it’s no surprise that there’s been continued investment – and interest – in the industry. From exciting big titles to those who like to play poker online. So much so that the global iGaming market is expected to grow to an astonishing USD 114.4 billion by 2028. It’s a boom that’s not expected to change any time soon.
In this article we explore some of the top trends within the iGaming industry, helping you to predict where it might be going next and what exciting innovations to keep an eye on over the next few years.
Rise of sports betting
Sports betting is huge. Seriously! Studies show that the global sports GGR makes up 49% of iGaming revenues. From the football World Cup to the NFL’s Super Bowl, there’s a huge market for sports betting, with the online gaming market in the US valued at 2 billion USD and expected to reach 8.5 billion USD by 2025.
In the US, more than 25 states have made mobile sports betting legal, while a further 14 more in the process. It’s likely we’ll see more sponsorship deals between iGaming and sports leagues.
Better tech
Technology is of course having a massive impact on the world of iGaming. As smart devices like mobile phones and tablets become increasingly powerful, so too will their popularity as the tools through which to use iGaming. We can expect better games for mobile, and many of the top games for PCs and consoles to have incredible variations for mobile.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are other spaces that are trending topics in the world of iGaming. While VR and AR technologies have been around for a while, it’s only recently that they’ve become mainstream and being integrated into iGaming as high quality experiences.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is another bit of tech that’s going to have a big impact on the iGaming space in recent years too. In fact, AI is likely to transform our lives in many ways, from automating workflows to making our homes (and electronics) much smarter than they ever were before. Also keep an eye out for technological advancements around smart TVs and the impact that they’ll have on this growing marketplace, allowing more players to access games from the electronics they use every day.
The laws and regulations are changing
Regulations and laws are having a huge impact on iGaming and are likely to continue to do so for some time in the future. Players have come to expect a high level of service and quality from game makers and organisations; and regulation helps to ensure they’re getting the best experience possible, and that those profiting from iGaming are keeping in check.
Video Streaming
Video streaming is having a huge impact on the iGaming space already. One of the aspects of land-based casinos that online casinos were never able to replicate was the atmosphere.
As a result of video streaming, players can now enjoy their favourite casino games playing with live dealers, which provides a more authentic gaming experience. Beyond the live dealers, casino games have always been seen as social. Through video streaming, players can now access that social aspect that’s always been such an important part of the casino atmosphere, and connect with players from all around the world.
Video streaming has gone beyond casino games. Platforms like Twitch have become popular in their own right and have encouraged even more players to get into gaming as they watch their favorite celebrities or gamers test out or play through different games. In addition to games, Twitch has become a live streaming service that’s become a popular place to watch esports broadcasts, view live music and so much more. It will have a definitive impact on the iGaming space – and already has done so.
New audiences
One of the things that’s driving the iGaming market forward is the expansion of demographics that are getting into iGaming. Long gone are the days of gaming being just for techie-folk. In 2023, people of all walks of life, of varying ages, from around the world are becoming players. It’s a trend that’s certainly here to stay as gaming experiences continue to increase in quality and popularity.
