Online casino trends in UK 2022
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The iGaming industry is built on a variety of technological advancements, which are both crucial to how it operates and the main driver of its growing popularity.
With a projected value of $61.5 billion in 2021, online casinos have emerged as the iGaming industry’s most lucrative segment.
The UK market is homes to local operators and non UK casinos alike. The key technological developments in the virtual casino industry that are expected to further transform this market are examined below.
Mobile Apps
Almost all new casinos today have their own mobile applications and smartphone-friendly websites. The majority of casinos in the UK market are mobile-friendly. Casinos that are solely available on desktop computers are becoming irrelevant.
Due to the astronomical growth of mobile gaming, there has also been an explosion in the number of unique mobile programs that let players access their casino accounts and play a wide selection of casino games.
Because apps are more convenient and offer a wide variety of options, they are becoming more popular among both novice and professional players.
Crypto Gaming
The years following Bitcoin’s boom cycle have seen a rise in media coverage, business sector interest, and retail investment in cryptocurrencies.
Cryptos have become widely accepted forms of payment in recent years by a number of enterprises in the UK, including online casinos.
Casino websites now accept a variety of cryptocurrency payments. Players at crypto casinos can use their cryptocurrency funds to make deposits, to withdraw, and to access bonuses.
This is one of the most significant advances in the market, which increased its appeal as more players seek opportunities to bet using cryptocurrency.
VR-Based Gaming
Although virtual reality (VR) technology has been around for almost two decades, it has only lately become popular, thanks to new cutting-edge headsets. VR technology has useful uses in the online gambling industry.
For instance, some renowned game studios have developed VR versions of their well-known slot games, like Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst, and Twin Spin, to mention a few.
Additionally, the VR technology is being tested for table games and some companies even aim to develop Virtual Reality casinos to offer a fully complete VR experience.
But at the moment, VR casino games are only available on a select few platforms, and VR-based casino sites are still a thing of the future.
Enhanced Gaming Experience
Traditional casino games are not appealing to younger players. In order to offer more interactive video game-style online casino entertainment experience that combines gaming with social and skill, software suppliers are being compelled to step up to the challenge.
To keep players engaged and invested in the experience, more virtual casino operators in the UK are now offering incentive-driven gamification features. This involves tasks, competitions, earning points or the casino’s unique currency, etc.
Players are seeking a quick, flawless, and entertaining iGaming experience. This entails a quicker registration process—or none at all—immediate and/or same-day withdrawals, simple navigation, and a responsive user interface across all devices.
Wearable Technology
The latest developments in mobile gambling are seeing online casinos go above and beyond the bare minimum of having an app. Operators are now offering modular tech stack using their apps to enable or disable functionality as needed.
They are also making it as simple as possible for users to create an account. Additionally, in order to give users quick access to titles, discoverability optimization is becoming a priority.
In addition to mobile phones, playing on wearables like smartwatches is becoming more common. However, the small and irregularly shaped screen sizes, and a large number of proprietary operating systems, make it difficult to provide an ideal experience on smartwatches.
Live Dealer Games
The rise of more live casino games is being fuelled by modern technology centred around quick and dependable internet connections. Playing against other players is the primary distinction between brick-and-mortar and online casinos.
By providing live dealer games where players can chat with the dealer and amongst themselves in real-time, online casinos are recreating the land-based casino experience. On iGaming websites, you can enjoy a wide variety of live casino games.
These games can effectively replace a portion of the land-based gaming experience without the worry of slowness and a bad customer experience.
Better Visuals
Casino games have evolved to become more lifelike over time. Game creators play a vital role in this, which is undoubtedly one of the factors contributing to the advancement of the iGaming industry. Smartphones are essentially overpowered mobile computers.
You can see the upgraded graphics in the newest casino games. More computer power is being utilized by game producers, and cutting-edge networks can transmit games to customers without latency.
Additional graphics advancements, greater aesthetics, and higher resolution are to be anticipated. More polygons will also produce an immersive experience.
Effective Promotional Techniques
Social media sites are altering how casino owners advertise their offerings. When it became a little more difficult to advertise online casino sites on Facebook in November 2021, websites began looking into alternative business ventures.
The platform has now relaxed its policies, but the majority of webmasters have moved to other sites like TikTok and Instagram. Therefore, the online casino sector expands its internet marketing efforts at the same rate as other industries.
Enhanced Safety and Security Practices
Many players look for the most reputable UK casinos to play their preferred casino games. No business can be too cautious when it comes to cybersecurity or offering players a safe gaming environment.
The need to ensure legal compliance is increasing and the trend is expected to continue. This involves rigorous KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures to stop fraud and other illegal behaviour to safeguard consumers.
Setting limits, Self-exclusion, and other responsible gaming initiatives will all be crucial. Two-factor authentication, sophisticated login procedures such as facial recognition, and quicker withdrawal times are further noteworthy security trends for 2022.
Fraud and Money Laundering Prevention
The online gaming industry has undergone significant technological and economic growth during the past 20 years. However, there has also been an increase in money laundering investigations and compliance fines for casinos.
When looking at the 2022 trends in the UK, it is clear that the convenience and rising popularity of online gaming draw both genuine gamers and money launderers. Fraud prevention methods are gaining importance as a means of preventing financial crime on online gaming platforms.
