A closer look at the industry post-COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on industry growth to date.
The online gambling industry has been growing slowly but surely since it first started back in 1994. While many factors contribute to the industry's current growth rate, one can't help but wonder what influence the pandemic had .
It's been three years since COVID-19 , and we decided to take a closer look to see how big of an impact it had on the rise of the online casino world.
Covid-19 and its impact on iGaming
During the time of COVID-19, everyone was faced with isolation and withdrawal from the norms of society.
Fun activities at home quickly became more sought after, with iGaming being one of the more adult-friendly avenues.
It was at this time that media consumption started to increase, and by 2021, there was a rapid increase in mobile gaming , especially from US and GB players . During Covid, the time spent gaming online increased rapidly.
After the pandemic, the numbers didn't go down rapidly but went down only by a small percentage, with players not spending as much time online as before .
Level up for the industry
The fact is that throughout the pandemic, industries were forced to adapt for survival, and the iGaming industry took full advantage of the situation.
Software providers and online casino operators have increased their efforts to change casino games and site designs and use the latest technology for a bigger and better experience.
Regulators have become more aware, and global changes are being made to ensure proper regulations and safe gameplay for online users.
Do people play more online nowadays?
In recent years, there has been great concern regarding the land-based gaming industry, as many wondered if COVID-19 would be the silent killer.
While more players have moved over to online gaming rather than in-person gaming, there is still plenty of activity in land-based establishments. Explore our article on the impact of COVID-19 on EU land-based and online casinos to see our prediction for land-based casinos and their future .
This is a case of different strokes for different blokes, where some players enjoy the modernity and convenience of online gaming, while others are old-school and prefer land-based gaming venues more.
It's safe to say that most players today participate in online gaming, too. Making us wonder if land-based gaming will eventually turn into that luxury treat you spoil yourself with occasionally.
While it's not always possible to game in person, with online or mobile gaming, you can access the top online casinos from anywhere at any time.
Mobile gaming
One industry that really benefited from COVID-19 is the mobile gaming industry . It didn't just play a role but was also considered one of the main reasons for the increased interest from players.
The majority of people today have a smartphone and use it for almost everything. With the increased mobile use, the industry has shifted to cater more towards mobile users .
Software providers and online casino operators focus more on providing users with a mobile-friendly experience . They try to create more and more mobile casino games that are running on desktops as well, giving users the freedom to play while on the move.
The mobile gaming market was projected to reach US$173.60 billion in revenue throughout 2023. The overall revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate of 6.42% from now until 2027, with the revenue stream reaching US$222.70 billion. According to Statista, the stats show that the number of mobile game users by 2027 is expected to reach 2.3 billion.
Mobile gaming has become the most lucrative gaming segment in 2023. It's also believed that the use of smartphones along with mobile gaming activity will continue to increase .
There's been a 2% decline since 2022, but still, the mobile industry is currently leading the iGaming industry as a whole.