Year after year, we are seeing a massive expansion of online gambling. Some reports are predicting the global revenue of iGaming to exceed $100B which makes it a massive player in the global digital economy. But can this industry grow indefinitely, will it change, and how? This article will try to untangle these questions and predict some of the gambling trends for 2025 and beyond.
Government Regulations and the Rise of Offshore Casinos
For every country that’s loosening its gambling laws in order to boost its revenue and profit from both brick-and-mortar and online casinos, there is also one that’s tightening its regulations. This will only enhance the boom in “offshore” online casinos, functioning on international licenses like Malta or Curacao.
Geo-restrictions are a source of difficulty for many players all over the world, which has pushed some online casinos to become more friendly towards virtual networks. If you are looking for tested VPN-friendly gambling sites you can find them here. In addition to anonymity and the extra layer of network protection, most of them also offer crypto deposits and withdrawals and bigger bonuses. We can expect that even more casinos will become tolerant of using VPNs to cater to restricted audiences.
Mobile and Cross-Platform iGaming
More and more online casinos will be focusing their efforts on optimization for mobile games. The convenience this approach offers is unmatched by other devices, and the increasing player base only proves it. Tablets, PC, and even consoles still have their share of players, which has driven even more of the operators to implement cross-platform support. This provides the option for people to transfer their profiles from one device to another, and to play with friends using different platforms in real-time.
AI/ML Innovations
The world of artificial intelligence and machine learning has already grown exponentially in the last several years. The many transformational values of this tech are already being implemented into online casinos, from fraud detection to NLP bots that scan the public chat rooms for phishing and coercing flags. In the near future we will most certainly see a wider application of ML algorithms for detection of scams and illegal operations on a larger scale.
Blockchain Integration
Seeing that the world of iGaming is, after all, based on using money for bets, it’s understandable that a lot of effort is being put into the security of players and their financial info. That is why the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals for online casinos and poker is a perfectly logical step. The future will certainly see other aspects of this technology become a staple of the industry. Right now, many online operators are implementing blockchain-based RNG systems that guarantee true randomness of the draws with the ability to check the logs at any time. This is just one of the practices we predict will become quite common very soon.
VR and Immersive Experiences
Flowing over from the increasingly immersive world of video games, getting inside the game might be the next big thing in the world of online gambling. Affordable VR sets and the rise of faster and more stable network connections is now giving the developers an opportunity to build virtual reality venues for new interactive experiences. As the games with live dealers are growing in popularity, we can expect that VR/AR variants will be a rising trend with many operators who have the technical requirements to host them. Metaverse is another playground to cover, giving casino companies new “virtual” real estate to build upon and giving the players a chance to experience venues from the comfort of their homes.
Increased Gamification
Mobile gaming and using the tools to increase immersion and encourage players to interact with all of the features of their online venues. So, in this trend of amplification of social interaction, it’s expected to see even more operators introducing some kind of loyalty programs for bonus points. With better chats and multiplayer games, online casinos should continue the trend of becoming social venues rather than just single-player slot simulations.
Rise of eSports
While these two worlds are not strictly connected, we can bet that eSports wagering has a bright future in the online gambling landscape. The popularity of competitive multiplayer gaming is brushing off the iGaming industry, and many venues already offer the option to bet on eSports matches. One significant upcoming feature that goes hand in hand with blockchain implementation is the introduction of peer-to-peer wagering on both physical and digital sports.
Improved Transaction Times
One of the current drawbacks of online casinos is the sometimes too-long withdrawal times. This goes doubly so for crypto gambling venues where verification can take from a minute to upwards of 15. However, we can expect that transaction times will significantly reduce with some of the crypto innovations and wider adoptions that are coming our way. With more and more digital wallets and integrations into financial systems, even crypto-friendly casinos should soon allow almost instantaneous deposits.
Fraud Detection Advancement
With easier and more advanced KYC protocols and AI-driven monitoring, better security and fair play are a certainty for the future. The industry is already working hard on new ways to battle money laundering and other frauds, and automation tools are just one in the vast array of weapons to battle scammers. Online gambling will certainly become even safer as we see new technologies merge and grow together. Combined with the evolving regulations that prevent any foul play, betting online should never be a cause of concern for the players’ information or funds.
The Bottom Line
Tech world is evolving rapidly, and the gambling industry is not lagging behind. The focus on mobile development is in some way shaping the future of this branch of entertainment, with security and safety taking the spotlight. Other improvements like blockchain-guaranteed fair draws, immersive VR experiences and modern gamification systems are just another in the long line of exciting new features that should become the new norm of iGaming.
