It’s no stretch to say that the online casino industry in the UK is booming. If you watch any sport on TV, you will have seen countless adverts for online casino companies – and a quick search online will show just how many providers there actually are.
What is pushing people to playing their favourite casino games online? How do these providers net new customers and keep their current customers happy? What does the modern gaming industry look like today, and where is It going in the future?
Top Trends in UK Online Casinos
Sports Betting
The opportunity to have many different games at your fingertips is one of the reasons that people choose to play in online casinos. This can include the more obvious games like poker, slots, and roulette – but also the ability to place bets on sports events like the Premier League football, boxing, golf, and horse racing.
Some providers will also allow their customers to place bets on things like the outcome of TV shows like Strictly Come Dancing or the next president or prime minister.
Sports betting is one of the biggest sectors in the UK online casino market, and the providers that can offer the widest variety of sports and events are likely to be the leaders.
Bonuses
Bonuses are used to draw new players in – and it is an effective marketing technique. These can include things like free spins and deposit matching, and a cunning player can pick and choose their provider based on the best bonuses, which can be compared at places like casinos.com.
Omni Channel Experience
Several of the biggest online casino providers are also those that maintain brick-and-mortar establishments, whether that is the high street betting shop or the exclusive casino in the city.
Customers want to have a seamless experience no matter where they are playing, and the best providers are tuning in to the idea that customers want to bet and play in the same way no matter where they are.
Omnichannel experiences mean that players can take advantage of the same bonuses, the same games, and the same access to sports betting, whether they choose to play in-house, online, or through a smartphone app.
Mobile Gaming
One of the biggest boosts to the online casino market is the availability of smartphones, combined with the accessibility of the internet. Extensive free Wi-Fi being offered by businesses, and the rollout of superfast 5G data links are a big part of this – we are now more connected to the online world than we ever have been.
It’s mobile apps that have really made a difference. Instead of having to leave the house, get all dressed up, and make an evening out of going to a casino, players originally could just turn on their PC and play from the comfort of their own homes.
Native apps, downloadable from the AppStore or the Google Play Store, now allow players to get an app on their phone that they can use whenever they like and wherever they are. This convenience and accessibility have meant that people who might never have set foot in a casino before now can play games, learn techniques and strategies, and get access to some of the most fun games in a casino in a way that suits them most.
Online casinos are taking advantage of the growth of the video game market to improve their offerings – and the proof of that is in the rise of this sector in importance to the market.
Live Casinos
Combining the excitement of a brick-and-mortar casino with the convenience of online casinos is something that each provider wants for their customers – and there is technology available now that can make that somewhat of a reality.
Live casino games are part of this. Players can join a live game, which is usually being streamed straight to their screens. There is a real-life croupier at the table, playing the game as if you were there in person – and you, and the other players, can interact with the dealer as well as with each other. There are specially designed optical recognition cameras that match card suits and numbers with what you are holding in your hand, so you can still get the support with rules and winning combinations that you might be looking for, especially if you are new.
This move into live casinos is something that we are likely to see more of, especially if virtual reality technology becomes more widespread (and better supported). With the right technology, players might be able to insert their avatar directly into a virtual casino, wander through a realistic rendering of a real-life location, and interact with other players as avatars before sitting down and playing a game or two.
The future of online casinos looks bright – and shows no signs of slowing down.
