Online gambling has been going through the best years in its history. The estimations are the industry value will increase to $72 billion by the end of 2021. That’s a 12.5% growth rate compared to the previous year.
It doesn’t seem that growth will stop in 2022 either. Furthermore, it will continue at a similar rate. But what trends can we expect in the industry? Tech and market breakthroughs indicate that next year will be very exciting for online casinos. Here is what the expert says about the main tendencies on the worldwide market!
More Countries Legalizing and Regulating the Market
Players should stick only to legit online casinos that pay real money. That implies checking the casino’s license to operate and confirming it’s valid. But despite the desires of both operators and players, some countries failed to regulate the market.
You can find many countries where online gambling is not outside the law, but there’s a lack of a clear legal framework. We can expect changes in that area, especially since many governments could earn generous revenue from this industry. An unregulated market means that the country isn’t earning as much as possible from taxes. That’s why we are likely to see many local laws changing. That will be good for players since they can expect the legal framework to protect them better.
Online gambling might even become legal in countries where it has been outlawed so far. Two reasons are behind it, with the first one being the government’s desire to earn revenue. The other is public pressure since the authorities might look to score points with their citizens. Additionally, many countries already deal with illegal gambling. As that’s not likely to stop, it’s much better to legalize it and put it under control.
The Development of Crypto-Only Casinos
It seems like Bitcoin keeps reaching new peaks every month. The entire cryptocurrency market has never been this popular. For several years, gambling platforms have been trying to implement crypto payment systems on their websites. However, most have limited that to offering only Bitcoin or a few other currencies. We started seeing crypto-only casinos that focus only on these payment methods recently.
Crypto-only casinos are platforms where you can only deposit digital currencies. That means you need to head to Coinbase or Binance and get some crypto to invest in your account. The advantages of crypto-only casinos include:
- No need to share financial or banking details. The safest way to protect your sensitive financial information is not to share it at all.
- A higher privacy level. There’s no worrying about what will appear on credit card statements.
- Fast and easy to use. Deposits are instant and free of charge. The withdrawals are fast once you pass the identity check that might be necessary.
The Next Level of Live Gaming
Online casinos South Africa has to offer an impressive game selection. However, some players argue it can’t offer the same experience as land-based gambling properties. That’s where live dealer tables in online casinos come into play. They stream the action from a real gaming table, and a professional dealer navigates you through the game. Many platforms even encourage the dealer to welcome players or make comments to ensure a more authentic experience.
In 2022, we might see the next level of live gaming. That means improving the interactive elements and adding exciting features like new multipliers and bonus games. The developers will create titles that more resemble a TV show than a classic casino game. We can already try Deal or No Deal or Crazy Time. However, the addition of interactive elements will make the entire experience even better.
VR Gaming at Its Best
The reports indicate the size of the virtual reality in the gaming market was $6.26 billion in 2020. However, video games are a crucial part of that industry. That’s a trend that could start changing in 2022. Developers are working hard on improving the experience when playing VR online casinos real money games. However, it’s obvious there’s much more potential in this area.
Faster connections secured by the 5G network could make VR streaming more feasible. Apart from virtual, developers are working on augmented reality titles. They take the engagement with the dealers, but also the environment, to the next level. It creates an immersive experience without the player needing to leave their home.
New Features in Slot Machines
Slots offer the biggest jackpots, but that’s not their only attractive feature. There’s something that players find magically attractive about spinning the reels. It makes these games incredibly popular. If you pick a random online casino, the odds are you’ll find hundreds of slots on the platform.
The developers keep working hard on thinking of innovations for slot games in legit online casinos that pay real money. Megaways were the latest change that completely overhauled the industry. The next year could see another major feature that will change the gameplay completely. And even if we don’t, exciting new features might be on the way. That includes creative bonus games, ways of combining multipliers, and other twists.
Improved Responsibility of Gambling Operators
Reputable online casinos attract more players than ever, which automatically means a bigger risk of more gamblers developing an addiction. The industry showed they take this problem seriously. Internet casinos online South Africa now implement responsible gaming features like deposit limits and self-exclusion.
We can expect to see the entire industry rallying to raise more awareness about the importance of playing responsibly. The Responsible Gambling Council created a House of Wisdoms game, which aims to educate teens on gambling risks.
Final Thoughts
If one thing is sure, it’s that the online gambling industry has always strived for innovation. Each year has been more exciting than the previous one in the last decade. That’s why we can also look forward to some major changes in 2022. A bigger share of crypto-only casinos and better market regulation is only a start. The developers are likely to improve all gaming genres, ranging from slots to live dealer and VR titles. All that marks the coming year as an exciting time to invest in this industry, but also trying casino games and seeing why players worldwide love them so much.