63% of gamblers now prefer online channels over offline: YouGov survey
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The times are changing, and it’s something that’s even more evident in the gambling business.
Online gambling achieves ‘new highs’ globally
The past year has seen more and more consumers steadily making a shift towards new digital experiences in the safety and comfort of their homes, be it for work and study, as well as for social and leisure activities. This is especially apparent in the gambling industry, which has seen a dramatic rise in popularity and adoption amid the coronavirus lockdowns.
YouGov recently conducted a survey in 13 markets around the world including India, and found that 63 percent of its respondents now choose to gamble online rather than the traditional in-person alternative. “Fueled by innovation, de-regulation in key markets, and the pandemic, it’s clear that the popularity of online gambling globally has achieved new highs,” YouGov said.
Lottery remains to be the most popular regulated online product globally, with 42 percent of YouGov respondents saying that they had played a form of lottery online in the last 12 months. After lottery comes sports betting with 36 percent, followed by online casinos with 13 percent, and bingo with 11 percent.
In India, online gambling is the way to go
Seventy six percent of YouGov’s survey respondents in India said they prefer the online gambling vertical, the highest percentage compared to Great Britain’s 70 percent and Italy’s 69 percent.
This is not surprising. India, which has a deep seated passion for gambling, is moving towards becoming a mobile first market, and players are now opting to use their mobile devices as “the primary medium” when playing on their preferred online casino sites. The popularity of online gambling in India is on an upward trajectory, be it casual mobile games or even skill-based real money blackjack games or when you play online roulette for real money!
Online gaming searches have spiked in the past 12 months, according to a recent ENV Media study. In fact, “both Google Play and Apple’s App Store reported an average of 50 percent increases,” ENV Media analysts said, adding that “the pandemic-stricken 2020 also pushed India to the top of global mobile game download rankings.”
The ENV Media report cited a Nielsen survey, which showed that Indian consumers spend an average of 218 minutes playing mobile games on a weekly basis—an increase from 151 minutes recorded during pre-pandemic times. The segment is divided into players who play in 10-minute sessions between daily chores or when taking breaks, and the committed gamers who spend “up to an hour per single sitting” per playing time.
“More than half of all players download a new game every week and keep several gaming apps on their phones. Important gambling staples like card games remain at the foundation of such behavior, along with board and puzzle games,” the report stated. “The COVID-19 pandemic was an unexpected event for all. Yet, it turned into a factor that pushed most digital trends in the same direction they had already taken. Reportedly, around half of all smartphone users in India play mobile games at this point. Over the course of a difficult year for humanity, many consumers found solace and entertainment outlets in mobile games, spending more than an hour with them, on average.”
(Disclaimer- Brand Desk Content)
