Online gambling is an ever evolving field that includes sports betting, casinos, fantasy sports, and more. It is developing all over the world by leaps and bounds: just blink and you are already lagging behind its latest trends. In recent years, there has been a boom in the industry in the United States: more and more states are legalizing sports betting and online casinos, and their number will increase even faster in 2023. When the coronavirus restrictions were introduced, the online gambling sector was one of those where profits and customer base grew the most. Statistics, artificial intelligence, and algorithms are coming to the fore in the gambling space, and players are becoming more experienced and sophisticated. So, what changes and new trends are waiting for us in Internet gambling in the coming 2023?
Cryptocurrencies and Payment Methods
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and so on. Cryptocurrencies and NFT have become one of the main areas of online investment in the last five years. They are closely linked to the continuing active development of esports, as well as to the metaverses, which may become a new reality for Generation Z. The NFT bubble has not burst yet: major gambling operators such as DraftKings are adding trading platforms with tokens as currency to fantasy sports and online casinos.
Several leading bookmakers, online casinos like Luckydreams, and betting sites have added cryptocurrencies as a way to deposit and withdraw funds on their websites. These payment methods are characterized by wide limits and a quick and easy deposit process. It is expected that even more gambling sites will follow this trend in 2023. Gambling itself is not the only developing field. The availability of convenient ways to top up your account and withdraw money from it is an important factor for players choosing a bookmaker or an online casino.
From Revolut, PayPal, Interac, and other electronic wallets to familiar online banking systems like Visa or MasterCard, it is essential for operators to constantly improve the offer of payment methods to make interaction with their accounts as convenient as possible for customers. Society continues to move towards cashless payments, and in 2023, new technologies in this area can undoubtedly be expected.
Mobile and Live Betting
Currently, more than half of play daily jackpot slot bets are placed right during the event. This is evidenced by the reports of such large betting operators as, for example, Bet365. Mobile betting applications are optimized for live streaming and live betting and are used as an additional incentive for gamblers to register on the site and play from a smartphone or tablet. Today, 80% of all players prefer mobile devices to traditional computers. Live betting allows users to place bets with good odds and offers several alternative betting markets that make watching the game even more exciting. At the same time, it also increases the lifetime value of the customer for operators. In 2023, it is worth paying attention to “Same Game Parlay” (SGP) bets, which promise to be a popular trend.
Live Dealers and Virtual Reality
What makes casino gaming exciting? For many, this is being surrounded by other gamblers and croupiers, and VR and live dealers convey these feelings best of all. Wearing a virtual reality helmet, you can find yourself in a gambling establishment without leaving home. Personal contact and the human factor are no longer a feature of only land-based casinos. VR and augmented reality can give you a sense of presence in a real game room among the same players.
Innovations are constantly emerging in this area, smartwatches, VR helmets, and other devices are being actively developed. “Games should be optimized for VR glasses and chips should be added to demonstrate the advantages of this system. The market must be ready, it takes time, but it can be called a trend of the 23rd year,” Sergey Shibkikh, SoftGamings.
Promotions and Bonuses
There is no better way to encourage players to register on a gambling site than to offer them a first-class welcome offer as well as regular bonuses. Promotions for users have long been a trend in the online gambling industry, and 2023 will not change anything in this regard. Some establishments now offer first deposit bonuses of up to $2,000. This is a great advertisement that allows them to attract a lot of new customers. In addition, welcome offers are promoted on their sites by affiliates who earn a lot of money from this. Wagering requirements (i.e., the amount of bets that a player must place on bonus funds) play an important role in the payback of such promotions.
Responsible Gambling and Player Safety
In the new technological era, great attention is paid to responsible gaming and user safety. This is not just important — gambling sites are required to tell customers about responsible gambling and provide resources to get help and information. Any platform dedicated to casinos or online gambling must now also comply with the rules and regulations and promote the principles of responsible gambling by posting links to relevant materials and help services.
In addition to self-exclusion options and setting limits on deposits per day or per week, gambling sites today offer various tools to protect players. SSL encryption and data protection technologies guarantee the digital security of gamblers. In addition, new software is being introduced to combat fraud and verify users. Among the examples of new security measures used in online casinos are identity and income checks.
Conclusion
The online gaming sector is still going through major changes as 2023 draws near; these changes are a result of both shifting consumer preferences and the rapid growth of technology. Numerous fascinating advancements addressing a wide variety of industry elements are shaping the future of online gaming.
