Influenced by the ongoing global pandemic, together with new player expectations, behaviors, and emerging technologies, here are the iGaming trends we expect to see in 2022.

2022 iGaming trends at a glance:

Market growth and regulation
Sports Betting as a must-have product
Gamification and video game elements
Video streaming
Consolidation M&A, leagues, and global media companies’ involvement
Esports trend gains traction
Mobile betting trends
Smart TV, augmented reality and VR

Market growth and regulation

According to H2 Gambling Capital, the online gambling global market size has already passed 70€bn a year and is expected to pass 90€bn in 2025. In 2021, 73% of the total market GGR was generated from regulated markets – an iGaming trend that is expected to continue as more and more are regulated. Governments are rightfully and actively seeking to find new revenue sources, and even more so due to the ongoing pandemic’s effect on economies. By forming regulatory bodies and legalized gambling activities, governments can collect revenues from gambling tax and licensing, increased employment, and decrease illegal betting all at the same time.

Sports betting as a must-have product

According to H2 Gambling Capital, the global sports GGR consist of 49% out of the total iGaming revenues. We expect to see a clear iGaming trend with the sports share growing even more than the other products. And not because of the football World Cup this year – but mainly because the U.S. is predominately a sports betting market.

The online gaming market in the US is valued at 2B USD and is forecasted to grow and reach 8.5B USD GGR by 2025, representing CAGR of over 15%. More than 25 states have already legalized mobile sports betting and 14 more are in process, while only six states have legalized iGaming (casino): Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

On sponsorship deals, we also expect to see more involvement in iGaming from leagues. For example, we have already seen The Premier Lacrosse League announce an agreement with DraftKings, BetMGM with Ladies Professional Golf Association, and PointsBet with the Colorado Buffaloes college team. Sports betting will also further become a must-have product as current casino operations may lose players to those who have discovered betting on sports, never to return. In addition, the CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) fees for sports players are lower than for a casino, with the bonus of some players still being successfully cross-sold to casino (mainly live Casino).

Gamification and video game elements

While video games in the traditional sense and iGaming have many differences, many elements from video games have been making their way over to iGaming as a sturdy trend. All with a focus on better visuals, more interactions, more mission-based gameplay loops, and more themed / role-playing mechanics. Companies like Green Jade, Skywind Group, and Spribe are experimenting with arcade-like games. For instance, Skywind’s Fly Jet is a real money fly-and-shoot game where players fly through five different locations and fight bosses to chase massive cash prizes. Another example that has gained large traction is Spribe’s Aviator, a social multiplayer game that originated from the video game industry.

To truly stay ahead of the competition and trendy at the same time, developers will need to continue improving the visual fidelity of their games to match the screen resolutions of today’s more sophisticated smartphone devices to provide more immersive experiences.

Video streaming

In 2006, Google identified the future of video streaming and acquired YouTube for 1.65B USD. In 2007, Evolution Gaming started to stream roulette live dealers, introducing the concept of enjoying gambling experiences from the comfort of home, while retaining important social interaction.

The ability to play casino games remotely while interacting with a genuine live-person dealer has turned out to be considerably more exciting than anyone could have expected. Logically, it became a must-have iGaming trend because live dealers, after all, not only provide a more authentic and legitimate gaming experience – they create a deeper connection with the players and can even foster a better sense of trust between operators and players.

In live streaming, we will see more and more studios trying to get a share of the growing market, including companies such as Skywind Group and EGT. Other expectations include the continuation of the localization trend where studios produce local games like Andar Bahar, and the continued adoption of Show games that have been popularized by Evolution Gaming – as we can already see from Pragmatic Play with their very first Show game, ‘Mega Wheel’.

Consolidation of M&A, leagues, and global media companies’ involvement

iGaming companies are looking to increase their market standing, with some looking to acquire technology companies to own the software and control their own destiny – while others are looking to quickly expand to existing and emerging markets by acquiring companies that already have access to licenses and knowhow in local regulation requirements. We have already witnessed 888 acquiring William Hill’s European business, Fultter acquiring The Star Group, Draftking’s acquisition of SBTech and we will see more M&A activities in the U.S. online betting industry.

We also expect to see more involvement in iGaming from leagues and media companies following leagues like the NFL, as well as media companies such as Fox and Sports Illustrated looking to take a piece of the action.

Esports trend gains traction

There are now more options to gamble on Esports than ever before and this will continue to be a developing iGaming trend in 2022. Once considered as a niche market, eSports are now attracting a rising following – to the point where some TV channels stream Esports-focused channels as part of their bundles, creating an even wider appeal. This is especially prevalent for generation Z, who already play these games for recreation. According to NewZoo prediction, the Esports market share will grow to $1.8 billion by 2022.

The increased sophistication of traditional video games has also added to this trendy rise. Better graphics, more complex mechanics, and deeper gameplay loops can make for more competitive and engaging experiences. Gamers from all around the world can now wager on games like FIFA, League of Legends, Dota 2, Valorant, Overwatch, Fortnite, and others across console, PC, and even mobile platforms.

Mobile betting trends

The trend of mobile betting will continue. In all markets over 50% place bets on mobile devices, and in some markets, it has already reached 90% of overall transactions. With 5G speeds becoming the norm, gaming on smartphones has never been easier or more seamless. Some operators are even offering welcome packages exclusively to mobile. In the Apps category, we may see Google and Apple opening more markets for Mobile Betting Apps.

Smart TV, augmented reality, and VR

Technologies such as AR, VR, and Smart TV applications are still in their early adoption phase in the mass market and are even more in their infancy when it comes to iGaming and online casinos. However, we do expect to see them gain traction and become a real gambling trend in the coming years as the technology becomes more affordable and accessible to the average consumer.

Conclusion

The iGaming industry has come a long way and has evolved from niche beginnings to become one of the world’s largest and most profitable industries. The rivalry in the online casino industry is also fiercer than it has ever been, with many online casinos going to great lengths to differentiate themselves.

Ultimately, every operator’s purpose is to attract gamers. While bonuses, promotions, awards, and customer service are all great motivators, staying on top of the latest technological and social trends will be essential for their survival through 2022 and beyond. So, make sure you keep a close eye on the latest iGaming trends in order to stay on top of your game!

The post Expected iGaming trends in 2022 first appeared on Delasport.

Let’s look at the top casino trends in 2021 that keep any playerbase coming back to the thrill of online gaming and what to keep in mind going forward for the future of the business.

Mobile casino experience – not only a trend but a necessity

Mobile Gaming has been a top trend for a long time and it’s not a surprise that the trend is up and rising in 2021. Steadily, it’s consuming player traffic and will soon encompass the larger part of player accessibility. Having access to amazing titles that feel and look the same as their desktop counterpart is something that every provider is tuning to perfection. The evolution of casino gambling has seen a shift directly to mobile device experience, with many new releases having features that are comparable to the mobile video game scene. This along with a healthy competitive environment for the industry has made new age Slots, Live Dealers, Table Games, and others have a great boost to quality and player retention with intricate and subtle additions to the player experience.

A peek at the demographics and how to expand even more in 2021

With the recent turn in the industry due to the global situation, new trends are becoming a fact. iGaming providers and developers have been dishing out more advanced titles to fill the need of a younger audience that is looking to expand their online gaming entertainment. With a heavy emphasis on skill-based gaming, the demographic is targeted by additions of enjoyable slots and games that require more than just a “spin to win” mechanic to play. Accessing a generation that is used to a prerequisite of skill before reward for gaming is no simple task but a worthy trend to pursue in 2021 as more of the video gaming world mixes with the online gambling industry.

VR / AR technology – the next-level trendy steps

Taking your operation to the next level in recent years means that you will need to fill it to the brim with every possible gaming experience relevant to casino. With industry movement and leaders paving the way showcasing a grand offering not only for Live Casino and standard Slot gaming but also advanced VR and AR casino developments that have for a long time been undervalued as an option to choose. This is one of the trends that will see a major rise in the coming years due to its improved development process making even smaller studios ready to take on the challenge.

Conclusion:

The online casino business has great things coming its way and we are excited to see the progress and new trends it brings to the industry. Another fact is, it has an advantage over sports betting as it will advance along with the technology available more so than its iGaming equivalent. The major push in tech advancement applicable to casino gambling is in large part due to the video game industry which is seeing major revenue and investment growth for the better part of a decade. With continued new and intricate releases hitting the online scene daily, the healthy competition and proven value of Casino gaming will find an even larger foothold and further develop all iGaming alongside itself.

So we’ll continue to keep eye on the niche, how it develops, and what are the top trends in the business, so don’t forget to follow us and check our blog regularly for more useful articles and news!

Contact our team and [Get started]

The post Top trends in the online casino business for 2021 first appeared on Delasport.