iGaming continues to steadily grow in popularity and has been over the past few decades. It is now popular across the world, especially since the rise of smartphones and mobile devices.
With so many different choices for people with roulette, balckjack, cash machine slots and so much more there really is something for everyone. This has led to a global gambling market size of around $63.53 billion in 2022 which is expected to continue to grow, with many projections seing an 11.7% growth in profits from 2023 to 2030.
Across the United States, iGaming continues to thrive since the 2018 U.S Supreme Court decisison to allow individual states to decide upon whether to legalise it or not. By 2023 there were nearly 40 states which supported the legalisation of regulated online gambling.
It was reported that in 2022, a survey indicated that 32% of the participants preferred sports beeting, while 31% favored the lottery. Slots, table games and card games at online casinos also continue to engage gamers with more younger participants preferring them to elderly.
This shift in iGaming style, along with the ease of access for younger gamers to “play live keno” and other games, helps to sustain the industry’s growth. With online casino and sports betting options all within one app, such as DraftKings, gamers have all their entertainment choices conveniently in one place.
Some of the biggest factors which have helped with the growth of iGaming across the United States include:
- Mobile Devices
Possiblly the most important factor which led to the exponential growth of iGaming has been smartphones and mobile devices. Bringing gaming to people’s fingertips, anytime, anywhere, has been revolutionary.
Being able to download a sportsbook or online casino app straight to your phone or tablet has allowed people to access the games at any moment of the day. The technology which has ensured that the quality of the games are at an all time high. Players do not have to deal with delays or glitches in the gameplay, it has all been made so engaging.
- Bonuses for New and Loyal Customers
There are so many ways in which gamers can benefit while playing. New users can be enticed in with sign up bonuses which offer players the chance to grab free bets, bonus spins as well as so much more.
Loyal customers are also rewarded with more offers to keep players coming back and continuing to play. Each online casino and sportsbook will continue to look after their loyal customers and keep rewarding them with further bonuses and extras.
- Competition
While the improvements continue, the fact that more companies continue to enter the market gives customers far more options. This has led to players being able to be selective on the types of online casinos they choose as well as sign up for multiple ones at times as well.
As competition grows, players looking for iGaming options have become inundated with offers, with many places focusing on specific games and carving out a niche in the market.
Some of the biggest online casinos and sportsbooks have begun to merge and acquire smaller competitors in a bid to conquer larger market shares and vast profits. Wider markets are reachable with ease and the amount of games available in one app.
No longer are there the issues of space which bricks and mortar casinos face. Online, the options can be vast and varied, each provider can have hundreds of slot machine games, as well as plenty of themed table and card games as well as buy in options.
With the developments of online gaming technology the sky seems to be the limit. Virtual reality can take gaming further, giving customers the chance to get the full casino experience and interactions in incredibly realistic layouts.
Virtual reality and artificial intelligence will take the industry further and online casinos and sportsbooks have also taken to growing their blockchain technology, allowing payments through crypto currencies such as BitCoin.
It cannot go unnoticed how the COVID 19 pandemic which forced the word indoors, also contributed to the growth of the iGaming industry. As we were required to socialise and remain at home in our bubbles, finding ways in which to entertain ourselves and pass the time changed. Finding these games which reminded people of their evenings out or activities spent with friends helped people through the lockdowns and have since continued to be a big part of how people enjoy online betting.
This shift in the way we use our mobile devices and how the iGaming industry can be right at our fingertips ensures the future looks bright for online casinos and sportsbooks. THe way in which we bet has gone online and this doesnt show any signs of slowing down. In America, six years on from the U.S Supreme Court’s decision, people across the country continue to sign up and play on a daily basis.
