In every global crisis there are winners as well as losers. Whilst many industries have been decimated by the Covid pandemic, online gambling has boomed live never before. With bricks and mortar premises forced to close their doors for months on end, gaming companies have gone online where they have found a ready and growing customer base.
People have turned to gambling not only because it offers a ready source of entertainment, but also because it is a way of relieving the anxiety and stress of lockdown.
This boom is reflected in the figures – the revenue from online gambling worldwide increased 13% in 2020 to US $66.7 billion.
This increase has been driven by technology. In particular, with necessity the mother of information, even those operations that did not have a significant online presence before have been forced to embrace the challenge and create new websites and online platforms, And, with such rich pickings to be had, new competitors have entered the marketplace to give gamers even more choice.
This comprehensive list of Irish betting sites summarises all the available operators and what they have to offer.
One of the biggest factors behind the rise is the move to mobile gambling, which, in turn has been driven by the increasing prevalence of smartphones. Not only have they fallen in price so that they are accessible to more people, but they offer now enhanced capabilities, such as fasting loading speeds, enhanced graphics, and extended storage and battery life.
It has liberated people from their homes and desktops, meaning that they can now experience online gambling on the move, wherever they happen to be, 24/7.
Another enabling factor is the roll-out of 4G and 5G networks in many countries, providing fast and reliable internet speeds, essential, for example, for those who like to indulge in in-play sports betting, where the odds are constantly changing.
Nor is the pace of technological innovation set to slow down I 2021.
One development that is already taking place is the incorporation of AI (Artificial Intelligence) into gaming websites. Using highly complex algorithms and harnessed machine learning and “Big Data”, gambling companies are ale to learn more about their users’ behaviour than ever before, their likes and preferences, and use this to create a tailored gaming experience for their needs.
That may take the form of a customised page, interactive chat-bots that identify the user by name and promotions and bonuses designed to cater for their particular preferences. Some supermarkets have been doing this for years, and now the online gaming firms are beginning to catch up.
Similarly, both virtual and enhanced reality are likely to become increasingly part of the online gaming experience, which, for many, will become more immersive. People will increasingly feel that they are actually in a physical gambling casino, with the same sounds and dazzling lights, and even the same smells.
All this, of course, is not just done for the purposes of entertainment. Research has indicated that the closer the online gaming experience is to the real thing, the more money they spend.
And then there is the benefits offered by the adoption of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, not only as a secure and convenient means of transaction, but alco because the blockchain technology that powers it offers a powerful way of safeguarding against fraud.
Online gaming shows no signs of slowing down – in fact, powered by technology, it is likely to become even more popular in 2021.
