We are now more than halfway through 2021. That means we are in a position where we can examine some of the trends we have seen in online gambling over the course of the year so far. Many of these online gambling trends for 2021 are set to continue over the months ahead. Below, we go over some of the top developments so you can better understand the current gaming landscape.
6 Top Online Gambling Trends for 2021
1. Massive growth is continuing in online gambling all around.
First of all, the rapid growth we observed in the gambling industry online in 2020 has continued through 2021.
Mordor Intelligence explains in its market report, “The COVID-19 pandemic positively impacted the market, as consumers turned more toward the online platform to bridge their financial, social, and psychological crisis during lockdowns. One of the research conducted by the Lund University, Sweden, found that due to restrictions in sports events due to lockdowns, consumers have surged their interest in online gambling platforms.”
The report states that the increasing roles of machine learning and artificial intelligence will continue to feed into the growth of the online betting market segment.
According to the same report, female gamblers are becoming more prominent online as well. So, we may see more marketing toward female customers as 2021 continues to unfold.
2. Expect more regulatory compliance.
European Gaming reports that another big trend for 2021 has been an increase in compliance among online casinos and betting sites.
Improvements in compliance are taking a number of forms. Betting sites are more aggressively pressing gamblers to complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) verification earlier in the process of opening an account. Age restrictions are tightening. Websites are offering self-exclusion options to gamblers who need to take a break. Bonus amounts are dropping, and casinos are placing tighter limits on deposits.
It is also becoming easier for gamblers to locate reputable online casinos and high-quality casino games. In fact, you can read the games reviews before opening an account.
3. Esports is still growing as a pop culture phenomena.
Not surprisingly, esports continues to be a growing market segment as well. A report from Insider Intelligence quotes venture capital firm NEA partner Rick Yang as saying, “I actually think of esports as the mainstreaming of gaming, or the pop culture instantiation of gaming versus the pure idea of these players becoming professionals to compete at the highest levels.”
According to the report, another reason why esports continues to grow is because of the “direct connection” that it fosters between fans and competitors.
4. Virtual reality experiences are becoming more common.
As we already mentioned, artificial intelligence is playing a role in online gambling today. But another type of technology that is coming to the forefront is virtual reality.
For example, players can now sit down at a virtual immersive poker table while playing PokerStars VR. As many people will continue to gamble from home instead of at land-based casinos due to the pandemic, virtual reality environments like these help to bridge these two kinds of experiences. Some VR casino games require stakes, while others are free-to-play.
On a related note, we continue to see online casino games with live dealers gaining popularity. As with virtual reality, live dealer games offer a hybrid experience between online gambling and traditional gambling.
5. Football betting is big.
Mordor Intelligence mentions in their analysis of betting trends that football betting is a big deal this year. Gamblers enjoy staking money on events like the European Championships and the FIFA World Cup.
6. Crypto gambling is on the rise.
Last but not least, the public is more enthralled than ever with cryptocurrencies. A lot more mainstream online casinos and sports betting websites are accepting cryptocurrency transfers than in the past. These sites continue to offer hefty crypto bonuses, further fueling growth in the crypto gambling sector.
Crypto is fast, affordable and convenient as a deposit and withdrawal method for betting websites. Moreover, the volatile nature of crypto contributes to its appeal to the gambling mindset.
One thing to be aware of is that the growing trend of regulatory compliance means that more crypto casinos are requiring KYC verification. So, this is not necessarily a way to gamble anonymously. But it can give you access to Provably Fair games, which is another benefit of playing with crypto.
The Online Gambling Niche is Set to Continue Growing in 2021 and Beyond
Now you are familiar with some of the top online gambling trends for 2021. Expect to see these same trends continuing forward over the months and years ahead.
Looking to learn more about gambling online? Take a look at our full esports betting guide for 2021 to get started. You might also be interested in the ways in which the worlds of esports and casinos are coming together.