Mobile Gambling: Prospects and Features

05.08.2020

Evolution of mobile technologies opened additional opportunities for gamblers. Today you do not need to visit a casino, betting outlet physically or spend time at a computer in order to place a bet on the outcome of a sport event or to gamble. All you need to do is to use your smartphone or tablet connected to the Internet.

What are the advantages of gambling using portable devices? How is mobile gambling developing today and what are its prospects? Read about all of it below.

Key features of mobile gambling

Year by year smartphones and tablets are getting more and more affordable and functional. Quality of mobile communication is improving and high-speed Internet coverage is spreading throughout the world. 4G networks are already available in different countries and some countries, for example Sweden and the Czech Republic, have already launched 5G.

These factors encourage a growing number of people to prefer using portable devices for communication, making a living, entertainment, and other tasks. According to the data of We Are Social and Hootsuite, there were 5.11 billion unique mobile users in the world in 2019. The figure is growing every year.

Extensive use of smartphones and tablets led to the active development of mobile gambling. Gambling operators started to adapt their websites to portable devices and release standalone applications. And gambling service providers create cross-platform products and games for smartphones.

Today in the mobile segment, gambling platforms work in the following formats:

Mobile website versions. Such Internet resources are customized for portable devices, different operational systems, and browsers. Their functions usually do not differ from desktop versions. Websites are correctly displayed on devices with different screen sizes and have a faster load time. Mobile version of a casino or betting website allows users to gamble, place bets, make deposits, withdraw winnings, contact customer support service, etc.
Mobile casino apps. These programs function with no connection to the browser. They are designed separately for devices with different operational systems. Download links to apps can be usually found on official casino and betting websites. Besides, users can find software for gadgets on App Store and Google Play.
Messenger bots. A chatbot is the program that acts as an intermediary between players and online casino. By activating a chatbot, user automatically connects to the server of the gambling platform. To play casino games using a virtual assistant, user has to enter commands or choose certain tasks from the list presented in the interface. For example, one can place bets and run financial transactions at Telegram casinos.

Advantages of mobile gambling for users

Mobile gambling managed to gain popularity among players quickly. Among other things, the following factors encouraged the increase in demand:

Affordability of new technologies. People with different income levels can afford a smartphone in developing countries;
Fast load time. Mobile website versions load faster than desktop. As a result, users can access games, make deposits, and contact support without delays;
Convenience in use. With a smartphone, online casino and betting services are available anytime and anywhere, for example, during a trip on public transport, staying in a queue to make purchases or even on the beach or a plane. The most important thing is to have Internet connection;
Special incentives for players. Operators that provide mobile gambling services offer customers unique bonuses. Only the users that play via portable devices can use them;
High quality of gambling content. Games from leading global gambling providers stand out for great quality of graphics, sound, and a wide variety of storylines;
Big choice of games. Modern software providers release many games for smartphones: differently themed video slots, table games, tournaments, etc.

Mobile gambling market: current state and prospects

Mobile is one of the most promising, fast growing, and profitable directions in the gambling business. Researches, published on Rub90, show that from 2012 to 2018 only, the number of gamblers that use portable devices to gamble increased by 117%.

According to the June 2020 report of H2 Gambling Capital and iGB, mobile revenue has grown significantly since 2003. Experts evaluate that the figure will keep growing from €22.8 billion in 2020 to €42.8 billion in 2025. For example, the gross revenue will reach €26.4 billion in 2021, €30.7 billion in 2022, €34.4 billion in 2023, and €38.6 billion in 2024.

Today many representatives of the gambling industry report that they get over 50% of revenue particularly thanks to mobile gambling. However, gambling via portable devices brings the most of benefits to bookmakers. In particular, 61% of the total mobile revenue accounts for sports betting, 30% – gaming, and 9% – lotteries.

As for the geographical distribution of mobile revenue, the biggest sums are common for Europe – 54%. Asia accounts for 32%, North America – 8%, Oceania – 4%, countries of Latin America/Caribbean – 1%, and Africa – 1%.

You can find out more about the most profitable directions in the Ukrainian gambling business and the development of online and offline segments of the market at Ukrainian Gaming Week 2020 held on October 6-7. The event will present advanced products and services for the gambling industry and will feature Ukrainian lawmakers and global experts.

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