Gambling is as old as the human race, however, as an industry, it’s constantly evolving. The fact that we live in a hyper-connected world gave birth to the concept of online gambling but this was just the beginning. Soon, online gambling moved from desktop to mobile devices.
Then came the pandemic and those who previously frequented traditional casinos had to either quit or start playing from home. Seeing as how quitting was never an option, you can guess how this went. Now, two years into the pandemic, the majority of bans are lifted but we’re yet to see how many of these new online gamblers are going back.
With all of this in mind and without further ado, here are the top seven gambling trends you need to watch out for in 2022.
1.Crypto currency betting
A step towards greater use of cryptocurrency in online betting can bring a number of perks to both the players and casinos. First of all, cryptocurrency doesn’t charge a transaction fee, which means that it’s cheaper for everyone involved. Second, people are playing from across the globe, which is why using crypto as a currency may help avoid conversion fees. Crypto payment provides extra anonymity, which is welcomed by the majority of players. It also increases the safety of transactions, seeing as how the majority of crypto wallets use the best cybersecurity there is. Now, while the majority of cryptocurrencies look forward to
2.Esports betting
No matter how you try to put it, whether or not you follow esports is mostly a generational thing. On the other hand, gambling is a phenomenon that’s been present in every generation since the beginning of our species. Now, as Gen Z, which is primarily focused on esports, gets more financially potent, e-sports betting is bound to see a huge rise. We’re already seeing some staggering numbers, in 2020 alone, the e-sports betting revenue was in the ballpark of $14 billion. Naturally, due to the pandemic, all online activities have seen a rise in interest. Nonetheless, they’re still noteworthy.
3.Land-based casinos are back
The reason why online gambling picked up at this pace is mostly due to the fact that land-based casinos were closed due to the pandemic; this was an upset that was noticeable in all other spheres of life, as well. There was a boost in social media and YouTube numbers, an increase in Steam and Spotify numbers, etc. Well, while online gambling is much more convenient (in a number of different ways) people don’t always focus on convenience alone. Instead, they also look at the overall experience (feel), while some even prefer to gamble in person, so that they can socialize with other players. Sure, the threat of a pandemic is far from over but land-based casinos are quickly reopening.
4.VR gaming
According to industry experts behind AskGamblers, both VR and AR are still to show their full potential in the world of online betting. On the one hand, these technologies can be used to increase the immersion of an online gambler but, then again, there are other means of achieving this (something we’ll discuss in the next section). The biggest difference between VR and AR remains the fact that AR requires hardware that almost all players possess. Seeing as how the pandemic is still not completely over, the fact that both of these technologies are contactless also plays a massive role.
5.Live dealers in online casinos
The invention of the internet has, for the first time in history, ensured that a spoken word has as big of a range as a written word. Being able to see someone that we’re communicating with can increase our immersion in this interaction. This is why, although they’re perfectly capable of providing a suitable interface, more and more online casinos are introducing live dealers. Other than increasing the immersion, this also ensures that the casino experience (that so many people are fascinated with) increases its presence.
The problem with this concept lies in being able to fully staff your online casino. You see, now, other than just paying for the RNG platform, you also need to hire a veteran dealer. Moreover, you need to ensure that their onboarding process (to this new business model) runs smoothly. Now, naturally, this depends on the game in question, seeing as how online slots don’t really require dealers, to begin with. This internationalization of gambling can make a world of difference, seeing as how different markets have different game revenues.
6.Mobile gambling
More and more people are using their phones to place bets or play in online casinos. The great thing about phone gambling sessions lies in the fact that they require a smartphone (a device that almost all gamblers have), as well as the fact that they’re highly customizable. Instead of having to hope that your lucky slot is not occupied, an online casino account memorizes all your favorite games. Moreover, it gives you a chance to play for a couple of minutes/seconds at a time. This is only possible because you’re not required to physically travel in order to place bets.
7.Not just phones
Seeing how they’ve recognized the massive potential behind mobile gambling, there is an increased interest in introducing this to all the wearables out there. This means that you’ll soon be able to play via your smartwatch, as well. Now, keep in mind that this might be a bigger change than what you’ve expected, seeing as how we may soon see a completely new genre of games developing under this influence. Sure, this industry seems to have a bright future but it’s yet to unleash its full potential.
Wrap Up
While a lot of innovation has happened in the previous several years, with each year passing, their effect becomes more and more visible. Mobile gaming is going strong, the same as e-sports betting. Neither of these is bound to change much with the pandemic bans getting lifted. Then again, new hardware and software development may push online gambling in a completely new direction. All of this remains to be seen.
