What’s in for online gambling and casinos for 2019?
With the start of another year comes the rise of new trends in online gambling and casinos. So, here’s what you can look forward to as a punter or gambler in 2019.
By LEO GIOSUÈIsraelis flock to the Oasis Casino in Jericho, West Bank, in September 1998(photo credit: REUTERS)
The last few years has seen the immense growth of the online gambling industry. Despite legal restrictions and bans in some parts of the world, the numbers still continue to rise for the online gambling and betting market, as evidenced by a report released by Zion Market Research for 2018. From a net worth of $45.8 billion in 2017, the online gambling and betting market is projected to reach $94.4 billion by 2024,a staggering growth rate of 10.9% between 2018 and 2024.With the start of another year comes the rise of new trends in online gambling and casinos. So, here’s what you can look forward to as a punter or gambler in 2019:1. Advanced SecuritySecurity has always been one of the biggest reasons a lot of people are on the fence to play in online casinos and betting websites. But with the evolution of the technology used in online gambling also comes a more secured system that allows players to enjoy placing their bets or playing in slots without worrying about stolen personal information. More operators are also focusing on login technology to help players log in quickly to their accounts without the need to input their username and password repeatedly.Some gambling websites, especially those who target mobile gamers are also working on incorporating fingerprint logins to their websites to allow players to log in seamlessly on their mobile phones using their fingerprint. This is also an added security feature for mobile phone gamers because they can guarantee that their accounts will not be hacked even if their phone is stolen.2. Better Gambling OptionsA lot of online gamblers usually ask, “what slots can you play for real money?” and it’s understandable because there are so many options out there, some of which are unfortunately not as good as the others. But this year, gamblers will be seeing a lot of better options to play in—from slots to bets—and it will continue to improve as operators aim for a better experience for their clientele.3. The Rise of Virtual Reality Gaming2018 saw a decline in physical casinos and the rise of online gaming. But things are just getting started for online gambling because this year, virtual reality developments will finally be introduced into mobile gambling to give players a whole new experience. Casino players with virtual reality gear will be able to enjoy a more immersive gaming experience and more operators are looking to embrace VR into their own games. In fact, research has shown that the virtual reality casino market will be worth £520 billion by 2021. 4. Live Casino Gaming Is Still ThrivingIf you’ve never tried playing in a live casino game, you’re missing half of the fun in online casino gaming. Live casinos have been around for many years and they continue to be a popular trend because of how players get to experience playing in a real casino without being in an actual casino. Live gaming will also see a huge improvement this year where players can communicate with other players or even video chatting dealers.5. Game Quality ImprovementsPoor game quality is one of the downsides of the online gambling industry, but developers continue to work on improving the quality of games to give players a better gaming experience. For instance, HD graphics are now used more in mobile games and more players are also enjoying the benefits of live streaming. Game quality improvements have also enabled players to gain access to every type of game available online. Poker, for instance, is one of the most popular games of 2018 and with design improvements, online poker players can now enjoy a seat at the poker table for as long as they want, as long as they are online.6. The Popularity of Cross-Platform GamingResearch show that more than 50% of online gambling revenues come from mobile devices, and this is no surprise considering that more players are now eager to take their gaming experience on the go. This is why more operators are improving their games to make sure that they are accessible on mobile devices to cater to the ever-changing needs of their patrons.Of course, there are the regulations that have been the cause for debate over the last few years. Online gambling regulations differ a lot in various countries and many parts of the world are still strict about playing slots or placing bets online. But this year, the online gambling industry is looking to see positive improvements in gambling regulations that will allow players to enjoy online gambling but still regulate them for safety and reliability purposes. The industry is also looking forward to better rules for online gambling in countries where it is still prohibited.Online gambling has flourished over the years because people are looking for new and better ways to have some fun. And with more developments in the online gambling world combined with better gaming technology, we are sure to look forward to a bigger, more exciting and highly immersive gaming experience this 2019 and the coming years.