The coronavirus pandemic changed almost everything. It influenced the way we work, lived, and play. In some cases, it even changed the landscape of entire industries. Needless to say, the online casino industry was not immune to the effects of the pandemic either.
Just like all other businesses, digital gambling platforms and their customers had to adapt to a new reality. The going was tough, but they managed to do it. In this article, we’ll explore how the online casino industry evolved during the pandemic and why your favorite games never quite felt the same after the outbreak of COVID-19.
Important online gambling stats
First of all, let us present you with the latest insights into the online gambling market. A report shows that the current size of the global online gambling market is almost $70 billion. However, the online casino business is projected to grow to nearly $100 billion in the next five years.
It clearly shows one thing – the industry is thriving these days. According to new research, regular gamblers are more than six times more likely to gamble online compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The stats reveal an incredible vitality of online gambling platforms, but let’s take a look at how they changed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Key changes in online gambling during COVID-19
It is still too early to identify all online casino trends and changes caused by COVID-19, but some features are highly visible already. Here are some of the key changes:
1. Casinos have become more accessible
In the post-pandemic era, casinos have become more accessible to people from all walks of life. It was a natural occurrence since your favorite casino’s online transition was the only way for it to survive. Online casino platforms had a large influx of guests from all over the globe.
The numbers increased drastically after COVID-19 because these platforms were among the few reliable digital entertainment options. Most land-based outlets had to close temporarily or even permanently, so online gambling became the only option for most players.
In some cases, users from regions with strict restrictions had a chance to gamble digitally for the very first time. Online gambling was practically their only opportunity to place wagers and place bets online.
2. The number of games keeps growing
The number of games available on gambling platforms has always been an important feature. However, the post-COVID-19 digital casinos offer up to three times more options compared to before the pandemic. How did this happen?
Well, online casino providers were able to add new titles and features thanks to one important factor – investments in talented game developers. To be more specific, game developers often took advantage of the pandemic to renew their software and come up with newer and more interesting games.
Many studios were able to release brand-new titles that blended old mechanics with modern design ideas. Of course, this is not to say that all post-pandemic online casino games are amazing by default. However, they certainly offer more options than before.
3. Broadened player choice
Another important feature of the post-pandemic casino games is their broadened player choice. What does this mean exactly? Well, you could play your favorite game at any time thanks to flexible hours and round-the-clock availability. Online casinos were among the only entertainment platforms where you could place wagers at four in the morning for no particular reason.
4. Players spend more time gambling
One of the most important results of the pandemic was that players started to spend more time gambling. This can be partly explained by a higher number of games and other factors, but it’s mostly because there were no other gambling options left out there.
Gamblers adjusted to the new reality, transferring their interest to digital platforms. That’s why we are witnessing a rising number of online casino players month after month. The best thing about it is that most gamblers are already used to playing games on the Internet, so we expect them to keep playing online for years to come.
5. Enhanced account security
The majority of COVID-19 pandemic casinos offer enhanced account security for clients. This approach was a natural development since online gambling operators were under a lot of pressure from regulators and officials during the pandemic era.
It’s worth mentioning that players use their real names and money when registering for a casino account, so it’s important that they feel protected and safe. New antivirus programs and security protocols give players peace of mind, helping them gamble in a relaxed and comfortable ambiance.
6. New technologies are entering the market
If we take a closer look at the post-pandemic casino industry, we will notice that new technologies are entering the market. There is no doubt that virtual reality is one of these technologies and it’s slowly taking over the entire industry. But it’s not the only one. The same goes for augmented reality, live dealers, and many other tech trends that impact online casinos these days.
Conclusion
Gambling is a favorite leisure activity for thousands of people around the globe, so online casinos have been able to attract most customers even after COVID-19. With so many traditional casinos being forced to close their doors in the past few years, online platforms took over to become a major force of modern gambling. Do you think it’s a good thing for gamblers?
