The gaming industry is undoubtedly evolving, and we see better innovations year in and year out. Looking closely at this industry’s growth, we can attribute it to some trends. Some earlier trends set the pace for the evolution of the sector.
One popular trend now is esports as a gaming sector. Esports started as a very underrated gaming industry sector, and we can see how big it is now. The gambling industry saw it as a lucrative sector and ventured into esports betting as an independent niche. Today, esports betting offers and esports odds are one of the best you will ever find. Such a sector would not exist if the trend didn’t birth innovation.
Now, there are several trends in the gaming sector. It is only a matter of time before they turn into other groundbreaking innovations for different industries. So what are these trends? Let’s look into some with colossal potential.
Responsible Gaming
Gaming is very addictive, especially for the younger generation. We cannot blame them because it is fun and gets better each year. Even online casinos offering free to play slots are also getting famous. However, addiction is dangerous, especially when real money is on the line.
Players always want to win, and with real money gaming, it only worsens. Not knowing when to stop is dangerous, especially when your cash is at stake.
Brands recognized addiction as a vast problem and threat to the industry, so what do they do? They make intentional movements to warn against addiction and encourage responsible gaming. You see disclaimers on real money games that warn of potential financial losses and promote nothing but accountable gaming.
Gaming as a Profession
Games were something purely for fun. No one considered it a serious career, and people focused on games were termed unserious. However, the narrative is gradually changing. We are seeing trends of professional gamers emerging.
Professional gamers, in this case, are those that niche down to specific games and focus on them as a career. Interestingly, this career involves more than sitting with a screen and gaming 24/7. Now, some are into game testing and animation; companies even call them to test games before official release. This career emergence is set to influence the industry at large significantly.
Cloud Gaming
Games are becoming more demanding, and you need powerful computers to run them. They demand a better framerate, graphics card, storage capacity, and other stronger units in a computer. Getting a computer that meets these requirements can be costly. So what did the gaming industry come up with? What is the emerging solution? Cloud gaming.
With cloud gaming, players don’t necessarily need to have all the files required to run a game. Some games demand no files and allow you to stream them directly from a cloud service.
AI Data Analytics
The e-commerce industry has proven that data modelling and predictive analytics can tune into the needs and wants of customers in real-time. The online casino industry uses the same analytics technologies to enhance player experiences, detect fraud, and improve data-driven business decisions. iGaming sites can track player history, betting trends, game preferences, and other ”signals” of player behaviour. An analytics layer provides:
- Actionable insights and data utilization to an iGaming tech stack.
- Paving the way for personalized player experiences.
- Safer gambling environments.
- Gains in operational efficiencies.
Social Responsibility And Community Building
The focus on building trust with players will continue in the online gambling industry, with regulators, operators, and developers committed to improving players’ well-being, safety, and security. AI deep learning technologies are still in the experimental stages but show promising results in curbing irresponsible habits or detecting underage spenders. The technologies around community building are also part of social responsibility, as popular gaming chat platforms improve the social aspects of iGaming.
Skill-Based Slot Games
The latest online slots experiences do away with pure RNG and chance. Skill-based online slots offer hybrid play between the excitement of winning and the love of thematic gameplay. Players gain control over game mechanics such as quest progress, story completion, or missions and hunts. Wazdan games, for instance, use an innovative Hold the Jackpot mechanic, which changes depending on the theme of the game. These gameplay mechanics can include gathering power-ups, story progression, and bonus missions to multiply rewards for skilled play.
Casinos In The Cloud And 5G Connectivity
Cloud computing is a no-brainer for the continued growth of iGaming brands. Cloud resources are the bread and butter of digital development, offering quick turnaround times for game developers to launch new titles. iGaming in the cloud also provides more reliable services—less downtime for players and better connections as network connectivity optimizes for their region automatically. The proliferation of the 5G connectivity will also contribute to faster load speeds on smartphones and tablets, reducing frustrations with high-latency mobile gaming.
Internet Of Things
IoT technologies have always been on the horizon of innovation, promising to transform digital industries. So far, we haven’t seen the Internet of Things completely dominate the iGaming market, as many of the features remain relegated to brick-and-mortar, land-based casinos.
However, the data they deliver is still invaluable to online casinos and game developers. For instance, biometric identification for recognition, wearable tech, and new touch screens are all IoT-centric approaches to data collection. In 2024, it is expected to see more data-driven analyses of player behaviour patterns and machine learning tools to plan engagement or generate better marketing campaigns.
How Soon Will These Trends Become Mainstream?
The next few years will be formative for the online gambling industry. Adapting and responding to technology trends for modern operators and iGaming brands will make all the difference between reaching ambitious goals or falling behind in a competitive digital landscape.
You know, as they say, the future is now. These trends are already in motion, and other industries are gradually emulating them. The esports industry remains a good example. It is already estimated to generate billions of revenue, a feat achieved in a relatively short time. So, it is not too late to board the moving train if you like any trends.
