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Why is iGaming one of the most promising niches for a job seeker today?

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As of 2023, gambling is considered one of the most popular areas of online marketing. All over the world, the attitude towards the vertical of gambling, as well as towards online casinos, is changing due to many factors, the most important of which is the recognition by many countries of the legality of this way of earning.

In this article, we’ll be discussing why working with a gambling vertical is so profitable and popular on the market. We’ll also discuss why you shouldn’t be afraid to try your hand at working with an online casino.

Online casinos emerge from the shadows

Today, more and more countries are inclined to believe that the legalisation of casinos is more beneficial for the economy than a complete ban. Shady gambling not only deprives players of the protection of the law and provokes the development of crime, but also deprives the treasury of additional income through tax deductions.

Therefore, even conservative countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, distinguished by historically strict morals, have adopted a law on the legalisation of online casinos as of 2022.

The following countries are where online casinos are not restricted by law:

  • Albania
  • Malta
  • Andorra
  • Faroe islands
  • Kosovo
  • Liechtenstein
  • Belarus
  • Isle of Man
  • Gibraltar

By 2020, the number of online casinos had grown from 45% to 60%, a number which, according to many forecasts, will continue to grow. This is due to the fact that it has become easier for operators to obtain a licence and play openly than to hide and constantly create new mirrors for the site. More importantly, it can now be done legally.

The popularity of gambling in numbers

The online casino market was formed 5 to 7 years ago and is considered one of the youngest areas of online marketing. According to Gambling.net, about 85% of American adults have played at online casinos at least once in their lives. Almost 26% (1.8 billion) of the world’s population gamble regularly, and roughly 5 billion do it at least once a year.

The 2021 report of the European Gambling and Betting Association states that almost 62% of Europeans have wagered on something during the year, the vast majority doing so at online casinos. In 2021 alone, online casino revenue in the United States amounted to $53 billion, once again proving the massive popularity of the gambling industry.

Gambling is popular not only in Europe, but also in African countries. South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya are considered the market leaders on the continent.

Reports from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) show strong online engagement rates that have continued to rise since the pandemic. It was then that a sharp jump in the popularity of the industry as a whole was recorded. As of 2022, the European online gambling market was 67% of the global one.

According to The Gazette and The Herald, online gambling accounts for 38.8% ($3.4 million) of total gambling revenue in the country. This trend is closely related to the decrease in the popularity of land-based casinos and gambling establishments.

The profit from the online segment in 2021 exceeded $180 billion. Games with elements of augmented reality and improved graphics were especially popular. Advanced gamers trust operators more with the ability to replenish their personal account from the balance of a crypto wallet, proving that online casinos are developing in accordance with current market trends.

Reasons for the development and popularisation of gambling

  • Emergence of new regions available for work

Many online marketers contemplating trying their hand at online casino promotion have been intimidated by the amount of upfront costs to enter the vertical. Those regions where promotion is considered the most profitable are distinguished by high rates and, as a result, great competition. The legalisation of casinos in individual countries has provoked the emergence of new countries available for promotion.

Gambling payouts are not tied to the local currency, allowing you to earn money anywhere in the world. Simultaneously, a wide selection of countries and detailed analytics from partner networks help you master new regions and contribute to successful work with them.

  • The reality of winning

Contrary to the common misconception that the probability of winning in online slots is extremely small, licensed online casinos are distinguished by a high level of RTP – “return to the player”.

The RTP determines how many bets a player will need in order to return the initial budget in case of a long game. If the RTP is 100%, it means that the chances of winning are equal to the chances of losing funds. The average RTP of licensed online casinos fluctuates around 96% and drops below with rare exceptions.

  • Safe gambling

In countries where online casinos are legalised or partially legalised, a licence is required to conduct gambling activities. It allows special commissions to control gambling activities and protect the rights of players on an international level. Licensed online casinos are mistakenly considered as representatives of the grey market. Like any business, they are interested in their players being satisfied with the quality of the services provided, and are therefore focused on cooperation in the long term.

With the advent of legal online casinos, the term “responsible gambling” has become established. The concept of responsible gambling for online casinos means providing access to gambling, including interaction with regulatory authorities in resolving conflict situations. For players, this guarantees the conscientious fulfilment of the obligations undertaken to protect their rights on the part of the operator. In the event of situations that violate the principles of responsible gambling, the online casino licence may be revoked.

  • Access to stock exchanges

Every company seeks to attract investors to help develop their business, and the most profitable scaling option is the issuance of shares for circulation on the stock exchange. In the future, trading in brand shares will allow companies to attract the attention of investors and funds for further development.

The IPO process is quite financially expensive. However, with a successful placement of shares, organisations are attracting large sums that contribute to their rapid development in the market. Many casinos have successfully put into circulation the shares of their companies and are continuing to develop. The IPO once again emphasises the legal side of the gambling direction.

  • Growing interest in a merger from large corporations

This market development is also proven by the number of M&A transactions in the gambling segment.

At the beginning of 2022, experts said that, as interest rates rise and European economies deteriorate, M&A in the gambling industry would slow down. Today, however, we can see a continuous growth in the activity of these transactions.

The EY Global Consulting report of the first half of 2022 speaks about the sustainability of the global mergers and acquisitions market. Although peak transaction activity fell by 27%, compared to the same period in 2021, it still grew by 35% over the previous 2015-2019 cycle. As of September 2022, more than 2,274 transactions totaling about $2.02 trillion were concluded in the world. At the same time, the technology sector dominated by almost a third.

In early 2022, one of the world’s leading gaming companies, 888 Holdings, which includes brands such as 888, SI Sportsbook, and Mr Green, announced the closing of a deal to acquire William Hill’s non-US assets from Caesars Entertainment in the amount of €2.25 billion, an amount which is not considered a limit. In the middle of the year, the American company, Scientific Games (renamed Light & Wonder) completed the sale of its lottery business to Brookfield Business Partners for a whopping €5.7 billion. Such amounts indicate the scale of the direction, as well as the openness and legal side of doing business

Reasons for the development of gambling as a trend in online marketing

Another trend in the online casino market in 2022 was an increase in the average bet size. The increase in rates began during the pandemic, when the gambling industry experienced a sharp jump in popularity among players.

Despite the fact that the Coronavirus has disappeared from the media field, an increase in the average bet size is still observed today. The average remuneration has increased in direct proportion to the growth of rates. Given the fact that, when working with the gambling vertical, earnings directly depend on the amount of deposits of attracted users, this had a positive effect on the direction as a whole.

  • Development of mobile traffic

The development of mobile traffic has been occurring over the past decade. While the lion’s share of the market previously fell on PC users, and browser games confidently occupied the tops, today, more and more players are using mobile applications. There are now many applications for gadgets on the market that allow you to play wherever and whenever it suits you.

In 2020, about 55% of users used mobile devices to play games. Compared to previous years, the impact of mobile traffic on gambling is much stronger. There are new ways to promote applications and measure user behaviour to retain it.

  • Implementation of blockchain technologies

The introduction of cryptocurrency as an additional payment method has had a positive impact on increasing the level of attention to the industry from those who store funds in digital currency. The replenishment procedure is not subject to commission for withdrawal and replenishment of funds to the balance of the wallet, and also simplifies the process itself.

Many gamblers who kept their currency in crypto, or played in digital currency markets in addition to slots, now easily replenish their accounts at popular online casinos, which increases the overall amount of traffic. For affiliate marketing representatives, this is an additional trigger that can be used when building a promotion strategy.

Conclusion

The gambling industry continues to evolve. New GEOs, slots, promotion approaches, and even payment methods appear regularly. In addition, more and more countries are reviewing their gambling policies.

Today, gambling continues to occupy top positions among the areas of online marketing available for promotion. Contrary to the established opinion about the taboo of gambling, more and more countries are reviewing their policies and gradually introducing changes to the legislation, allowing players to spend time playing their favourite games without any interference. At the same time, representatives of the digital spheres are also reconsidering their views on the gambling vertical.

As a growing company, DUXGroup is always open for comments and ideas, and, with the rapid development within this gaming niche, we are always looking to add new team members. If you’re interested, go ahead and check out our current vacancies on our website. We hope we will soon have you on board!

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 11-17

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Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

AU10TIX announced the launch of a free Child Safety Age Assurance Risk and Readiness Assessment and Age Assurance Readiness Guide designed to help businesses better understand their risk and tailor their strategy to meet regulatory obligations. They support AU10TIX’s Selfie-based Age Estimation service, which delivers the industry’s most precise and unbiased age assessment in just two seconds. In the US, federal legislation such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires parental consent for users under 13, while the California Consumer Privacy Act mandates age verification for websites accessed by users under 16. Additionally, 19 U.S. states now enforce mandatory age checks for adult content and gambling platforms. Similar regulations are impacting social media and online services in the UK, EU and Australia.

Caesars Entertainment has launched its third fully in-house developed proprietary online casino title: Signature American Roulette. Now live in New Jersey, the game is available across Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino, bringing another standout addition to the Company’s Signature table game series. Developed by Empire Creative, Signature American Roulette reflects Caesars’ growing investment in building its own proprietary content, a cornerstone of its online casino strategy aimed at delivering a best-in-class player experience. Signature American Roulette follows the recent launches of fan-favourite Signature titles, Caesars Palace Signature Multihand Blackjack Surrender in May and Signature Blackjack Surrender in June, both also developed by Empire Creative.

Novig announced the successful close of an $18 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Forerunner, with participation from existing investors Y Combinator, NFX, Perceptive Ventures and Gaingels. Founded by Jacob Fortinsky and Kelechi Ukah, Novig is reimagining sports predictions as a transparent and fair marketplace. Unlike traditional sportsbooks, Novig allows users to trade directly with one another, rather than against the house, eliminating hidden fees, biased odds and the risk of being penalised for winning.

Partnerships

IGT announced that it has secured a multi-year sports betting technology and services agreement with Hipodromo de Agua Caliente SA de CV and Distribuidora Internacional de Equipos de Juego, S. De R.L. De C.V. that will significantly extend IGT PlaySports’ footprint to Mexico and Latin America via Corporación Caliente. Per the agreement, 42 Caliente sportsbooks in Mexico will leverage the IGT PlaySports platform and services from the Company’s Trading Advisory Services Team. Through a phased rollout, Caliente will also be able to provide select sportsbooks operators throughout Latin America access to IGT PlaySports’ technology, extending the technology’s reach to more than 100 additional venues across eight countries.

CT Interactive has announced a strategic partnership with Ondiss. Through this collaboration, CT Interactive’s top-performing titles are now integrated into the Ondiss platform, significantly expanding the company’s reach within the region’s regulated iGaming market. This integration adds value to the broad Argentine audience of Casino & Hotel Casino Magic S.A., which successfully uses the Ondiss platform. With CT Interactive’s certified and player-favourite content now available, operators on the platform are empowered to diversify their offerings and meet the increasing demand for engaging, high-quality games.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 11-17 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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PAGCOR Opposes Online Gambling Ban Amid Pressure to Criminalise the Industry

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PAGCOR, the Philippine gaming regulator, has opposed a proposed ban on online gambling, despite mounting nationwide calls to criminalise it over soaring numbers of addiction, debt and mental health cases.

The online gambling sector in the Philippines has been growing exponentially, with gross revenues jumping from $140M in 2022 to $2.4B in 2024, according to Senate Committee on Games and Amusement data.

The committee held a hearing last week, highlighting the human cost of the industry, with its members demanding to outlaw it, saying the country was facing a full-blown public health and social crisis.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who led the hearing on online gambling, warned that “as long as online gambling exists, we are breeding the next generation of addicts, debtors, and broken families.”

He called for a ban and to “prosecute not only the operators, but also the enablers — in the government and in the private sector — who profit from this misery.”

PAGCOR, which is both an operator and regulator, said it “is not in favor of a total ban and instead advocates for stricter regulation.”

The regulator said that illegal operators are the real problem.

“Unfortunately, many of these unregulated online operators are based overseas who target Filipinos, most of whom do not realize that the sites they are playing on are not licensed by PAGCOR. This is where problems arise, especially regarding age restrictions.”

But a survey cited by senators indicates that age was not the main issue. It indicated that 66% of Filipinos aged 18 to 40, and 57% of those aged 41 to 55 were engaged in online gambling. Nearly a third bet multiple times a week, some wagering up to $53 per session.

Majority Leader Joel Villanueva warned online gambling is a “growing national crisis” in the Philippines.

“People are not just risking their hard-earned money. They are putting their futures, families, and lives on the line. The lure of instant wealth has already led many down a path of addiction, debt, and despair,” he said.

“Online gambling is not just a matter of financial loss. It is strongly associated with serious mental and physical health issues, broken relationships, family conflict, increased cases of domestic violence and suicide, crime against persons and property, and ultimately, the erosion of opportunities and dignity in the lives of many Filipinos.”

The post PAGCOR Opposes Online Gambling Ban Amid Pressure to Criminalise the Industry appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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UNLV International Gaming Institute Launches New AI Research Hub

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The UNLV International Gaming Institute has launched a new AI Research Hub (AiR Hub) to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the gaming industry’s digital transformation.

Co-founder Kasra Ghaharian, the institute’s director of research, said the AiR Hub will address critical questions reshaping the sector: How is artificial intelligence transforming gaming operations? What governance frameworks should guide AI implementation in this traditionally regulated industry? Which emerging technologies must operators master to stay competitive? And how can the sector effectively integrate responsible AI practices with cutting-edge academic research?

“So all of these things that you might expect a research institution to do,” Ghaharian said, “we wanted to do specifically for this intersection of AI with gambling.”

While scattered research around AI in gaming has existed, Ghaharian said there hasn’t previously been a central hub for it. He and AiR Hub co-founder Simo Dragicevic, an International Gaming Institute (IGI) adjunct fellow, saw the opportunity to generate evidence, research and insight that could help the industry better understand and navigate AI technology.

“I think IGI has always had this place to be a thought leader in terms of knowledge, insights for the breadth of stakeholders across the gambling industry. And with the growth and expansion of this new technology, which is artificial intelligence, I think it’s important for us to continue that reputation,” Ghaharian said.

AI is and will continue to have a fundamental impact on all aspects of society, said Dragicevic, who is an industry veteran with experience in gaming software, regulation and AI.

As the gaming industry naturally focuses on product innovation and growth, it’s important someone is also looking at the potential safety aspects that may arise from AI — and AiR Hub is prepared to take on this critical role, Dragicevic said.

“Given the arguably controversial nature of the gambling industry and the gambling product, when it intersects with this technology — which, in and of itself, is controversial — I think that highlights the need for scrutiny; for some research to help guide the ship,” Ghaharian said.

The AiR Hub has received financial support from a variety of industry stakeholders, Ghaharian said. Founding industry members will also serve on an industry advisory panel to ensure that what the hub is doing is practical and relevant.

“It’s kind of that analogy of the ivory tower, right?” he said. “We don’t want to be just in a silo, not speaking to the industry, doing research that we think is relevant, that might not be applicable.”

There’s a reason the new entity is called a “hub” and not a “lab,” Dragicevic said, and that’s to emphasize its collaborative nature.

AiR Hub will build a framework and tools for regulators to help them ask the right questions before making any decisions on whether regulations need to adapt to change, he said, by inviting them to work with academics and partner universities in the early stages of projects.

It will also be important to engage the industry to ensure framework and tools are practical and factor in the complexities and nuances of the industry, Dragicevic said.

The post UNLV International Gaming Institute Launches New AI Research Hub appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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