In the past several years many of the big businesses and even whole spheres were drastically influenced by a number of negative factors including global pandemic and economic recession that was partly connected with the influence of COVID-19. When we are talking about the sphere of entertainment, we can name many particular businesses that have experienced negative effects of it as well.
Still, some managed to maintain their positions and even grow while the conditions seemed to be far from favorable.
Live casinos is one of those spheres that not only remained stable but also thrived. But how did it happen? Well, in the social reality where almost everything became "distant" and "isolated", live casino became a practical alternative to brick-and-mortar operators and managed to become a worthy alternative for millions of players worldwide.
Now we are going to get a closer look at the actual tendencies of the live casino business and will find out which features and factors turned out to be so crucial in the competition, how they influenced the way we play now, and how we'll be playing tomorrow.
The Reasons Why Live Casinos are Gaining Popularity
Live casino gaming, unlike brick-and-mortar casinos, allows you to play at any location, at any time, from any device you have, literally without any limitations imposed by the physical and geographical circumstances you are tied to. Absolute freedom, isn’t it?
The top reason for live casino popularity in the COVID times is the fact that you don’t have to leave home and breach lockdown regulations. Everyone knows that there’s nothing more safe and secure than your home. With the help from live casino providers and operators you don’t have to move an inch outside of it, still enjoying the games accessible at a brick-and-mortar casino.
10 Live Casino Trends and Gamers’ Preferences in 2021
In recent years, the gaming market has undergone colossal changes. It is constantly evolving and adapting to the ever-changing circumstances.
So, while many businesses are worrying about the effects of the pandemic, online casinos are getting the upper hand as they allow people to play any of the classic brick-and-mortar casino games in real-time with a real croupier. Apart from it, you can communicate with your dealer verbally or via live chat which helps to recreate the genuine gaming experience even better.
Operators strive to optimize their services and deliver an unforgettable online gaming experience that can be indistinguishable from real casino attendance. There are several trends that can dramatically change the face of the industry in 2021.
1. The Advent of Cryptocurrency Payments
Since their inception 12 years ago, cryptocurrencies have entered almost every aspect of our everyday life. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin are gaining popularity with more tech-savvy operators as payment methods for casinos, as they are secure and anonymous, which is a great plus when it comes to processing financial payments online.
2. The Rise of VR/AR Casinos
The advanced technology of Virtual Reality (Augmented Reality) is rising in popularity, and more online casinos adopt it these days. VR/AR offers a highly realistic experience that allows bettors to enjoy the majority of the casino's gaming portfolio in the comfort of their homes.
Want to turn your head and see the tables in the dealer’s room while remaining at home? You only need to obtain special gear and all the games will be at your fingertips both literally and figuratively.
3. Popularity of eSports Betting
With the rapid growth of the iGaming market, the players get more and more lucrative betting opportunities and more diversified betting options. It is obviously high time to get involved in some of the eSport events since the industry instantly employs innovations in order to keep up with the growing demand.
4. Bigger Value of Promotions
Competition in the gaming industry is fierce, and the retention of players must be achieved at any cost. So, the operators offer various generous bonuses, rewarding deals, and thrilling opportunities to make their services stand out. Would you like to have a no deposit bonus? That’s one of many casinos’ advantageous opportunities you can easily benefit from.
5. Great Demand for Live Dealer Games
Interaction and communication via social media is the new norm, and 2021 reveals a greater interest in live dealer casino as a part of it. The iGaming industry is working hard to make an online gaming experience closer to “real life”. The casinos hire well-trained conversationalists who can make your gambling experience more lively and almost indistinguishable from brick-and-mortar casino visits.
6. Social Responsibility
Modern gambling authorities stick to corporate social responsibility codes and strictly adhere to responsible gambling policies (age restrictions, deposit limits, self-exclusion, etc.) The advancement of responsible, regulated gaming ensures fair treatment of players and prevents the dangers of overindulgence.
7. Faster Access
The development of the cutting-edge 5G technology allows us to take advantage of a much faster internet connection which is also a great benefit for the iGaming market. With new opportunities, game providers can now make an emphasis on more tech-savvy gaming products with better graphics, animation, sound effects, and performance in general.
8. Mobile gaming
Mobile devices are part and parcel of our modern life. The almost magical possibility to have almost everything in the palm of our hand is enticing and compelling. No wonder mobile-friendly casinos and gambling apps are on the rise on the markets all over the world. The number of games to be played “on the fly” is increasing day by day.
9. Strong Story Arcs
“In the beginning, there was the Word”. In gaming, it’s impossible to overestimate the importance of entertaining story arcs for the narrative of games. A plethora of themes – expeditions, conquests, Wild West adventures, and treasure hunts – can enrich your experience in an alternate set of online casinos. With the growth of the industry, the diversity of themes and topics to draw inspiration from widens as the iGaming market becomes more sophisticated and more mature.
10. Online Streaming
Online streaming is the dearest child of the digital generation. From YouTube, the trend has migrated onto streaming online casino games, and a significant demographic is setting foot on the unexplored shores of betting online or even monetizing their streaming tips and tricks.
Conclusion
Online gambling value is predicted to hit the impressive $1 trillion mark in 2021. As the industry grows, it incorporates more and more of the new technologies just as those technologies reach the mass market - VR and AR, live streaming, mobile gaming, etc. The live casino industry isn't staying aside as well and its market is also growing responding to the new opportunities that they can get from live games nowadays.