We live in a world where playing games online is one of the most popular leisure activities. In the past several years, great strides in technology have brought in many new changes in the gaming industry. iGaming encompasses a wide range of activities, including, but not limited to online sports betting, poker, casino games, and lotterie. The Asia iGaming market is predicted to rise up from $2.8 billion in 2022 to $5 billion in 2025, a growth resulting out of the industry transcending regional, gender and age barriers in both gamers and game developers. Experts attribute this trend to the immersive and interactive features of the gaming experience, enhanced by the incorporation of technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Web 3.0, 3D gaming, and Blockchain to name a few. Affordability of high speed internet is another factor aiding this trend. Cashless transactions, cryptocurrency and the pandemic induced accelerations are further propelling the growth of iGaming. The emergence of the new era of iGaming is arguably erasing the boundaries between online and traditional gaming experiences in more ways than one.
Gaming to get more persuasive and immersive
Artificial intelligence (AI) enables data mining of player behavior, helping game designers understand gameplay patterns, popular segments, and the reasons for players to play or not play a game. Game AI also runs and controls non-player characters (NPCs) or computer/device controlled characters, thereby creating challenging (virtual) opponents and tailoring the difficulty level to suit individual preferences. Similarly, Machine Learning, through immersive, aesthetically pleasing visuals and innovative audio edits, provides a more realistic playing experience. These innovations are only making igaming an ever growing segment. The future of igaming is only going to get more immersive, persuasive, and alluring to the target audience with their personal preferences.
A homogeneous gaming space
The phenomenal advancement in technology is completely evolving the igaming ecospace. Web 3.0 is a decentralized gaming approach, providing wide interoperability among various gaming ecosystems by linking the in-game assets and players across different platforms. They are built by integrating blockchain into the gaming ecosystem, letting gamers express their opinion in the manner in which the game should evolve. Online casino games often use 3-D technology to create virtual representations of the casino floor which makes it very close to real. Augmented Reality (AR) goes a step ahead of virtual reality by seamlessly blending digital elements with the real world in real time. Devices enabled with AR also capture the environment surrounding the gamer, and then meticulously monitors their movements. This takes place with a precision that lets digital objects be superimposed onto real world objects, creating a dynamic participation for the gamer. Nowadays, with AR, live dealer betting games can be played across one’s smart devices. The adoption of AR into gaming is expected to grow at a rate of 21.98% between 2021 and 2028.
iGaming going the career path
Massive popularity and rising influence of gaming in culture and entertainment lead players to look for ways to generate some income through their hobby, explaining the surge in iGaming platforms. During the pandemic, with many physical casinos either closed, or under restrictions, there was a notable surge in these interactive iGaming options. There are now diverse career paths within the gaming industry, such as becoming a game-tester, a professional gamer or a gaming coach. These options vary in their duration of engagement, in proficiency, and in generating profits, opening new opportunities for iGaming experiences and services.
A report from Bain and Company showed a 40% increase in time dedicated to gaming over other forms of social media. Recent developments highlight a surge of engagement of gamers in the 13-17 age group, while even older players seem to prefer playing online games as a way of spending quality time with friends over in-person meetings. The Metaverse, in this sense, has been bringing a community of individuals together and gaming is now a popular way to socialize, make friends across the globe and be part of virtual environments. In the coming days, gamers will continue to enjoy extensive control over their gaming experiences as they have the freedom to choose how, where, and with whom they can play.
Nearly most of the popular iGaming platforms like Bitstarz, BetUS, Lucky Block, Mega Dice, etc accept and offer bonuses on cryptocurrency, since it is a faster, secure and transparent method of transactions. The lack of intermediaries minimizes the processing and gateway fees, which is beneficial while playing or betting on/with overseas players. Additionally, payments made through these blockchains are completely anonymous, without needing personal information. By integrating crypto payment gateways into their platforms, iGaming and e-casinos can allow their users to bet anonymously without revealing their confidential details.
(The author is Dmitry Belianin, CCO Parimatch International, and the views expressed in this article are his own)
