Biggest Changes in iGaming Over the Last Five Years
IGaming is a term used to describe the online casino industry. The type of games it provides has changed drastically over the last few years. We discuss the major changes in this article.
The online casino industry is always adapting. It has gone from the provision of local network poker to complex slot games and live dealers on global platforms. It shows no signs of resting on its laurels, but to see where it is going next, we must look at the major changes that have occurred over the last five years.
The Rise of Casual Gaming
There are many casino games that take some degree of investment. For example, poker requires a well-honed strategy to play and has a complex set of rules, depending on the version you wish to try. Even roulette, probably the most casual of casino games, requires knowledge of probability and where to place bets. Thus, to some people, casinos can be quite off-putting.
Millennials, between the ages of 25 and 40, tend to be the dominant age group in online casinos, making up around half of the player base. However, the generation under this requires a different type of title. They want something easy to access, with fast rewards and payoffs. They also crave a more social gaming experience. This has been the focus of many new titles over the last five years.
One prime example, and a game that was in many respects ahead of the curve, is Aviator. Released in 2019, it involves plotting the trajectory of an onscreen aircraft, which is determined by a random number generator. If the player stays in the game, then multipliers add to the Aviator bet they have made. However, if they don’t cash out before it crashes to the ground, they lose their money. Added to this is a wide range of social features, including a welcome lobby that lets people talk and discuss tactics.
This game captured the imagination of the audience many casinos had been looking for. It resulted in many copycat titles and even other games that used many of the same concepts in new ways. However, it has started a trend, and you can expect to see more games of this nature in the near future.
Live Dealer Gaming
The joy of online casinos is their convenience. You can play them from a device or browser at home or in the office. However, this makes them very solitary pursuits. You miss out on the interaction you get when visiting a physical casino. Using streaming technology, live games give you an experience that uses a real dealer. Using the integrated technology, the player can watch what happens and then make bets and decisions based on the onscreen action. Players can even use chat functions to discuss play with the dealer.
Live dealer gaming was a similar attempt to add a more social aspect to online casinos. For the most part, it has worked and even branched off into some quite unexpected markets. For example, it is not just standard tabletop games that now have live elements. There are whole games based on the concept.
Many are akin to small game shows. Players enter into bonus rounds and can take part in a whole world of exciting challenges to win multipliers and cash additions to their wagers. From Alice in Wonderland themes to well-known licenses like Monopoly, live games have become a mainstay of the best online casinos.
Gambling as Streaming Entertainment
When you speak to most people about Twitch, they know it as a social platform primarily used for the streaming of video games. However, it also has a huge following of people who watch gambling content. This has actually been happening for some time and started with live poker streaming. In fact, some of the biggest brands in poker have their own Twitch channels. Over the last few years, other gambling forms have been streamed, particularly online slots.
This has led to a rise in gambling influencers. These are online streamers who specialize in a niche and have huge followings. Trainwreck is one of the most famous and controversial, having moved platforms several times.
This has been quite hard for Twitch to police, especially in the United States. Here, each state has its own laws regarding online gambling. This leads to many Americans using offshore casinos, which operate in a grey area. To prevent its stream from showing illegal gambling in these states, Twitch has had to change its policies and practices on gambling content.
To compensate, rival platforms have developed that are more favorable to the streaming of online gambling. Kick is one of these. It prides itself on being more open with its content policies and not being unjust to those who stream on there.
These three factors are indicators of where casino gaming will go next. It will be easier to access, quick to pay and play, with social features. It is an exciting time to play casino games, so strap in and enjoy the ride.