In 2020, the world has come to a standstill. Companies have had to change their plans and go digital to keep up with demand. And the gambling industry was no exception. Those gambling companies that have adopted the new rules of the game have made huge profits. According to statistics, at the end of 2020, the betting turnover in the online gambling segment amounted to $ 950 billion. And the beginning of 2021 also was a great time for the industry, as the online gambling market continues to benefit from the pandemic.
Another key factor that has increased the value of the gambling industry is mergers and acquisitions. Gambling companies are always looking to expand their portfolio by acquiring other casinos or bookmakers around the world to solidify their position at the top. And many huge land-based companies take the opportunity purchasing online platforms to meet the needs of their players.
Due to quarantine restrictions around the world, land-based casinos and sports bookmakers had to think about new ways to generate income. Moreover, as many operators have moved their activities to the online world, this has opened up opportunities for new casinos and bookmakers to enter the market. Competition always fosters innovation as operators expand their capabilities to outperform the competition. This will bring to the industry innovation, quality service, better knowledge of customer preferences and new motivation.
New technologies played an important role in the development of the gambling industry
Let’s take a closer look at the most interesting areas of online gambling that will be in trend this year:
- Live casino. The technology development has made it possible to play with real people online and with high quality. Games with a real dealer give users an unforgettable experience: the real casino atmosphere and live communication.
- Artificial Intelligence. The development of software with artificial intelligence will help to implement an individual approach to each client. The system will be able to create a unique virtual casino for each player based on his favorite games.
- VR. Virtual reality is gaining momentum. The increasing use of this immersive technology and playing in a three-dimensional environment, like in a real casino, will give players a new experience.
- Slots with skill elements. Modern players want to see online slots not only in classic execution, but also in more up-to-date versions. We are talking about both 3D and skill games, especially in demand among the millennial generation. So online casinos are gradually moving towards skill-based games and some platforms even make them a basic offering.
However, traditional casino games will always find their audience, and when we consider that games like roulette have been used for centuries, this is unlikely to change anytime soon. Indeed, it is most likely that the new formats will become categories in their own right, complementing the market of traditional online casino games.
The gambling providers’ ratings are updated almost every month. And in order to maintain leadership positions, they have to keep up with trends. It is convenient to trace how the online gambling industry is developing, using a specific example. In 2016, the official website of the Shangri La casino appeared on the gambling market, which began to actively develop and arouse the interest of many players. The site initially featured slots, live dealer games and a traditional sports betting section. On today the indisputable advantage of the project is a large and varied catalog of gambling entertainment. The site’s portfolio includes 2,000+ games: 1,000+ online slots, scratchcards, skill games, new odds betting games and more. Livecasino games now have more viewing angles, the gameplay has accelerated and the games number has become much larger. The sportsbook has also expanded. Now you can place bets not only for pre-match, but also live, and sections of e-sports and virtual sports have been added.
2021 promises to be the year of the mobile gambling popularization
The improvement of communication standards and the new mobile devices development open up new opportunities. Now about 60% of gambling platforms users play by mobile devices. A couple of years ago, the percentage of players using the phone was only 10%. And experts predict that by 2023, half of the gambling sector gross income will be provided by mobile gambling. Each online platform tries to provide its users with the most comfortable game experience. So, casinos release their mobile applications or adapt the sites. Each option helps to provide high-quality mobile access and enjoy the game for those who are used to carrying the casino with them. Moreover, a new mobile gambling transformation is outlined. Developers are introducing VR technologies, as well as artificial intelligence. It will certainly not be easy. But such a step will transform the world of gambling beyond recognition, making it even more convenient and atmospheric. Following the trend, one of the latest innovations on the Shangri La Casino and Sports platform is its own mobile app. The application provides uninterrupted access to the site, supports a full range of entertainment and withdrawal methods. Differs in convenience and consumes a minimum of resources.
Modern online payment systems provide instant and secure transactions
The shift from land-based establishments to digital platforms has pushed operators to implement simple payment systems for online gamblers. Due to their convenience, credit and debit cards are one of the most common payment methods. Electronic wallets are intended for those with a special focus on security. Instead of linking your bank data to the casino, you can simply fund your account from your e-wallet. Prepaid cards are also the perfect choice for those who value privacy. Instead of funding an account with their card or e-wallet, the players can purchase a prepaid card and use its sixteen-digit number to make deposits completely anonymous. In addition, the share of players using cryptocurrency is growing every year. Even a separate segment of crypto games has appeared. It already has its fans that reject the so-called “classic gambling” and only admit what works on blockchain technologies and uses cryptocurrency.