Online gambling industry has always been very dependent on technology and quick to adopt the latest innovations. Today’s online casinos look nothing like the early websites that had limited functionality and lots of security issues, and the best providers are constantly looking to integrate emerging technologies into their platforms and products. The evolution is accelerating in recent years, as the leading providers try to compete with each other for an ultimately finite pool of new players.
As a consequence, the world of iGaming in 2024 is increasingly becoming more user friendly and offering a safer, more satisfying, and more flexible experience. Let’s take a closer look at some of the major trends that can be expected to have the greatest impact on the future of this industry.
Crypto Is becoming a mainstream payment mechanism
A common argument against cryptocurrencies is that they lack veritable use cases in the real world, but their increasing use to handle the transactions to and from gambling platforms puts this argument to sleep. When you think about it, it is quite obvious that iGaming and crypto are a match made in heaven – there are few demographic groups more concerned with privacy and expediency than online casino players and no digital payment systems better equipped to provide exactly that than crypto coins.
ADVERTISEMENT |
A very encouraging sign is that it’s not all about Bitcoin (which still accounts for more than 70% of crypto transactions in iGaming, to be fair), as more and more websites are now accepting less heralded cryptos such as Ethereum, Tether, Litecoin, Dogecoin, etc. In 2024, a majority of transactions is still conducted in fiat currencies but this might change in the near future, especially if fluctuations of value that are currently complicating practical use of cryptos become less extreme. It’s obvious that blockchain-based digital payment systems are maturing and gaining wider recognition, and iGaming companies are more than happy to include them among their payment options.
Data-based game recommendations improve player satisfaction
One issue was creeping up on iGaming providers as well as players for years while going mostly unacknowledged – the constantly growing offer of casino games. While having more choice is a good thing, what happens when you start having too much choice? For example, the number of casino slots Canada based players can see on an average site is far too large for anyone to realistically try them all. Effectively, that prevents players from finding slot games that suit their style of play and visual preferences simply because they are buried under a mountain of less interesting content.
That’s where AI-based game recommendation systems come into play. Big casino sites are deploying features based on machine learning that analyse the players’ behaviour and recommend games that are likely to fit into their typical patterns. This is really a win-win, as the players enjoy the offered slots and other games more while casinos get additional engagement, higher rate of player retention, and potentially significant financial windfall.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Providers are taking responsible gambling Ssriously
Despite the industry nominally embracing responsible gambling years ago, in 2024 we might be witnessing a start of a real attempt to put a stop to problematic behaviour. There are a couple of reasons for this, starting with clearer legal guidelines emerging in numerous jurisdictions around the world. Casino sites are now quick to suggest self-exclusion or other steps designed to keep the player safe when they notice a player racking up big losses, in part because they are compelled to do so by the regulators.
While much remains to be done especially on the international level where many offshore sites are operating with almost no oversight, the readiness of governments as well as business decision makers to act is a welcome development. Another factor is the existence of technological tools needed to track online actions of millions of players and process that data quickly enough, which simply wasn’t viable a decade ago. Better awareness of the dangers of gambling addiction and increased availability of treatment options also play a role, which provides some optimism that this trend is here to stay.
The best iGaming providers want to have steady membership so they are introducing features that would keep players on their platforms even when they are not actively playing. This is often taking the form of direct or indirect communication between players, adding a social dimension to what was previously mostly a solitary endeavour. In most cases, this dimension is completely fused with the website’s primary functionality, so it doesn’t take away from the gambling aspect.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Some of the interactive elements commonly found on gambling websites in 2024 include chat windows, friend lists, shared live streams and other features that we are used to seeing on social media platforms. It could be argued this is a trend driven from below, as today’s players mostly belong to generations that grew up with social media. It makes sense they would expect to have the same possibility to share their experiences on other digital platforms, which is why they gravitate towards casino sites that have a sense of community built into the brand.
