Online Casinos in 2021: What Lies Ahead for the iGaming Industry?
Published January 6, 2021 by Ivan P
The new year is upon us, bringing with new prospects and challenges. What can we expect from online casinos in 2021 and the iGaming industry as a whole in the next 12 months?
The year 2020 was unlike any year in the recent history. The Covid-19 pandemic had an impact on almost every aspect of economic and social life on a global scale. The online gambling industry was affected as well but, unlike many land-based businesses, it actually saw a lot of positive movement.
The question that comes naturally is: what comes next? What are some of the trends we can expect in 2021 on the global and local levels?
Strong Growth Expected to Continue
In the first few months of the new year, the online gambling sector will likely continue to thrive. Although the world is on the track to return to the pre-pandemic state, some more time is required before it happens.
Almost iGaming verticals saw significant increases in 2020 and online casinos in 2021 will probably enjoy increased traffic at least during the first quarter of the year. Things are looking better for the sports betting sector as well as major competitions are now back on track.
More Stringent Regulations Are Likely
Even prior to 2020, the online gambling industry was headed down the path of regulation, with a growing number of countries introducing laws and rules to both protect the players and make sure they're getting the fair share of gambling proceeds.
If 2020 was any indicator, though, online casinos in 2021 will have to deal with much stricter rules if they want to continue operating in certain jurisdictions. Places like the UK, Spain, and Sweden have already introduced strict guidelines pertaining to players' deposits, bonuses, advertising, and more, and many other countries are likely to follow suit in the coming months.
Continued Focus on the Mobile Market
Trends in recent years have shown a strong shift towards mobile gambling. A growing number of players are choosing to enjoy their gambling sessions on the go, playing via their phones and tablets.
Online casinos in 2021 will probably put even more focus on their mobile solution to answer the players' needs. Although there are some top-quality mobile gambling solutions out there already, there is always room for improvement, and seeing how competitive the iGaming sector is, we will likely see a lot more innovation in the upcoming months.
Cryptocurrencies Will Continue to Thrive
The number of online casinos in 2021 accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is likely to grow. As the number of people understanding and embracing the concept of cryptocurrency increases, gambling operators will look to keep up with the trend and seize the momentum.
We'll likely see some movement in traditional payment systems as well. For a while now, players from certain countries have had access to instant deposit casinos that don't require traditional registration, and this trend will likely spread to more markets.
New Games & Software Solutions
There was no lack of new gaming titles in 2020, and there is no reason think that this trend will change in 2021. Game providers will continue to release new games, fighting for their share of the global player base.
Depending on the circumstances in the upcoming months, 2021 might also be the year when VR solutions finally get more attention. With people spending more time online, it seems like a savvy business move that could help one of the gaming studios edge ahead of the crowd.
