Over the past few years, online gambling has become one of the fastest growing industries. This growth is not going to slow down: new players are on the horizon, and the number of casinos and betting shops is steadily growing. The iGaming industry is actively gaining momentum, attracting millions of users and huge cash flows. We have identified 10 key iGaming development trends for the next year to keep you abreast of all industry trends.
A global wave of gambling legalization is currently underway. In this regard, Kazakhstan stands out as a particularly prominent country that regularly appears in the news due to its tough anti-gambling measures and restrictions. Similar actions can be observed in Asian countries, the Philippines, island states, Africa, Latin America, as well as in large regions such as North America and Europe. Local authorities are beginning to actively argue against the fact that gambling products without a country license are operating on their territory, making demands on international companies that operate with licenses, for example, from Curacao.
Official websites of offshore casinos and betting shops that are banned in a number of countries are blocked. However, there is another side of the coin: illegal companies find ways to circumvent the bans – they launch advertising campaigns, create sports media with names similar to the brands of illegal bookmakers, and invent new schemes. But, as practice shows, sooner or later, they will still be defeated in the battle with the state.
With the increase in the number of casinos and bookmakers, more and more providers are entering the market – those who create and rent slots. Currently, the number of games has already exceeded several thousand, so players have a lot to choose from. However, it is not just the new visual style that is really exciting, but also completely fresh mechanics. In the last few years, crash games have been at the top of the popularity list. It all started with Aviator, followed by Plinko, Sapper, and ladder climbing games. This trend for a variety of crash games will obviously only gain momentum, and perhaps we will see completely new ways of interacting with these products.
Advertisers are now more and more active in controlling players. Due to the growing competition between products and the weakening of the connection between the user and the casino, companies are putting forward stricter requirements for the actions of players so that arbitrageurs can count on payments.
Addvertisers’ interest in Facebook traffic is declining, not to mention such channels as push notifications, teasers, and email campaigns, where it is almost impossible to lure a player with a bonus alone. Companies are not ready to overpay for such traffic and increasingly prefer PPC, ASO, SEO, and influencer marketing. Analytical data shows that users who come through these channels are much more active: they are more willing to make deposits, stay in the game longer, and even return without additional bonuses. Such players are much more profitable to retain.
Tip for arbitrageurs: if you still depend on only one source of traffic, it is time to think about diversification. Facebook may start to “storm”, and advertisers can refuse to use secondary platforms at any time.
More and more tournaments and formats are becoming available for sports betting. New teams and competitions appear, and familiar events change. Recently, for example, the rules of the Champions League were changed. New sports are added to the betting line. Interest in eSports is growing rapidly: new games are constantly being added to the betting line. If a few years ago, you could only bet on games such as CS
and Dota 2, today the choice has expanded significantly. Now you can choose from such games as Valorant, Warcraft, Starcraft, Call of Duty, and a dozen others, both team and single player, on a computer or mobile device.
In addition, new ways of interacting with betting platforms are emerging: unique events, mechanics, and even bonus systems. This allows players to get more involved in the process, maintaining interest in the bookmaker. It is important not only whether a player wins or loses at the current stage, but also how his experience with the product goes. After all, the ultimate goal is to keep them on the platform.
The more a product can captivate a player, the higher its value for arbitrageurs, especially in the context of RevShare.
Sometimes in arbitrage channels or chats, something like: “Urgently stop traffic, there is a coup in the country!” People are not surfing the Internet at this time, they are participating in protests. But there are fewer and fewer such messages. The world is moving towards social institutions and technical solutions that are more stable. Problems with payments and Internet access are becoming less common. In African countries, the Internet now covers not only large cities but also large villages. For arbitrageurs, this means more stability and new opportunities.
There is a possibility that in the near future we will see a new trend – alternative platforms for advertising and promotion of arbs. At the moment, Google Play and App Store occupy a monopolistic position, actively blocking apps and limiting advertising of iGaming products. As a result, many arbitrageurs start looking for workarounds and pay attention to other advertising platforms where it is easier to promote banned apps. Among them are platforms such as Xiaomi and Huawei Ads, which may become new key players in this area.
To keep the attention of players, products are constantly forced to improve: to come up with new bonus systems, add more and more events, slots, and betting options. All this is done to ensure that users have a positive impression of the game. The general trend now is to motivate players to come back as often as possible in various tricky ways. It can be daily rewards, regular bonuses for replenishment, closed events or tournaments, access to which is opened depending on the player’s success in the game.
Nowadays, it is not enough for players to simply have access to gambling games, even if they offer a variety of betting options. It is not only what you bet that matters, but also the entire process that surrounds the game. So far, game mechanics have not become a mass phenomenon in the industry, but their beginnings have been manifesting for a long time. For example, it can be seen in the way players interact with companies via social media or participate in offline events.
Gamification is not about something faceless and mechanical. It adds a game element to the process so that people do not just bet but get involved in the product itself. For example, many bookmakers organize contests to accurately predict the score or outcome of a match. Now this trend has gone even further and reached casinos. It is not just betting anymore – there is cashback in random slots, tournaments, “heated” slot machines, and leaderboards where you can see the results of other players.
In the iGaming world, companies are actively integrating artificial intelligence into their daily work. Providers use neural networks to create new game variations and unique designs. And the companies themselves use AI to analyze data and reduce the workload on employees, especially in routine tasks such as technical support.
Today, faceless advertising, even with the most creative ideas, no longer works as effectively as it once did. Products promoted with the help of media personalities attract more attention. If we compare ordinary gambling creatives with videos featuring famous personalities such as Mellstroi and Neymar, it becomes obvious that the audience responds better to stars than to ordinary people.
Today, opinion leaders and traffic owners are becoming real influencers in business promotion. This trend is developing at a tremendous speed: casinos and teams create their own influencers and build media centers to promote the products they need.
The world around us is changing, and we need to keep up with it. Some trends have already faded into the background, while others are just starting to gain popularity. Keeping up with trends and catching the wave is like a hot offer: the sooner you grab it, the more you will benefit.