2017 for the gambling industry was quite successful. This is confirmed by a large number of new online casinos and manufacturers of slot machines. The growth of profit from quarter to quarter set new records. In the UK alone, the total annual revenue from gambling from April 2016 to March 2017 was more than £ 18 billion.
The online segment has grown the most. The remote sector, which includes online betting, casino and bingo games, now occupies 34% of the market, you will agree quite a lot. However, it should be noted that with the huge growth of the online casino industry, which appeared in 2017 as “mushrooms after the rain,” ground-based institutions, as well as online poker, do not develop so quickly.
What will the new 2018 bring for the gambling industry? It’s time to talk about the main trends that will shape the face of the gambling industry in the upcoming 2018!
Technologies VR (virtual reality) are increasingly entering the online casino. In 2017, a number of sites have already implemented and tested these innovations, which have proven themselves in the best possible way. Tendencies of cheapening, popularity and mass availability of VR gadgets suggest that now it is time for gambling projects to invest in virtual reality.
Top 5 trends in the development of the gambling market in 2018
Brand gaming machines
It is expected that in 2018 in the niche of slot machines will dominate branded slots – themed games based on the famous characters of movies / cartoons / comics.
Despite the fact that the first in the history of the brand slot noted, this year 13 years (in 2004, Microgaming introduced “Tomb Raider”) – 2017 – this is the year when brand slots have become a real world trend.
Playtech signed an agreement with Warner Bros and made this deal the largest in the history of online gambling. Some slots have already seen the world this year. Undoubtedly, Playtech became the king in the field of branded slot machines.
However, competitors are not far behind. The Swedish manufacturer of slot machines NetEnt has also developed several interesting video slots: Emoji Planet and Planet of the Apes. Microgaming launched Highlander, Phantom of the Opera (Phantom of the Opera) and Moby Dick.
Given the popularity of branded slots this year, experts predict that the trend will continue in 2018.
Gaming machines with movie and comic characters
Live casino games
The first live casinos were launched in 2003 by Playtech and by 2017 this innovation has become a powerful trend. Currently, operators can choose from more than 20 live casino offers from different suppliers (from flagships to fast-developing newcomers), each with its own functions and bonuses.
In 2017, the number of online casinos offering thisBier Haus slot machine game to play free & for real money with a live dealer has increased significantly. This software is popular both among the most visited casinos in the world, and among young players.
This wave will not stop soon. Many operators have not yet had the opportunity to add games to their portfolio with a live dealer, and they plan to eliminate this error in the near future. Among the casinos targeting the German market, not many can boast of games with a live dealer (the two most visited ones, while there is no live casino service).
Live casino games – the top 5 trends of the world gambling 2018
Innovative technologies
Operators who follow market requirements, are forced to use innovative technological solutions to win new users. The greatest success is the VR-casino. This trend has been preserved since 2015.
The first VR casino SlotsMillion has been successfully operating for several years. Such market leaders as William Hill and Comeon Casino followed suit. Alas, VR is currently only available to the largest operators in the gambling industry, since VR kits are quite expensive, and not easy to maintain. However, the future of VR-casino is quite optimistic. In 2017 an amazing combination of 3D graphics and 3D sound was received by players.
3D technology also remains a hot trend. This year it’s not just the graphics, like 3-4 years ago.
Innovative technologies in gambling
The growth of mobile casino
Mobile gambling gas got great success in 2017. The mobile market as a percentage of iGaming’s total share for the first six months of 2017 was 35.7% (compared to 33.4% in 2016). Until 2020 mobile devices will continue to attract a new audience.
That’s why experts suggest operators to add as much mobile games as possible to their portfolio (if you are looking for a way to increase the efficiency of your casino business, of course). Until the end of the decade – this is the key to success.
Growth of mobile casino
Demography of players
In recent years, there has been a decline in the average age of players. In 2018, a great interest of young people towards gambling is predicted. This is especially true for people working in high-paid office positions.
With this demography there are new opportunities for casino owners. Now they can expand their business on the Internet, while serving a group of young customers, which is more open to risk-related behavior.
Conclusion
In an effort to increase profitability, operators should not try to “boil water.” Some of the above tendencies may not correspond to the specifics of your market, some of them are not as active now as they might in the future.
Attentive approach and selectivity will help you to choose and follow correctly only those trends that will lead your business to prosperity and success.