There will be some expected changes in online behavior as customers in many countries around the world are restricted to their homes to help control the coronavirus outbreak. In the gaming sector, for example, there was an increase in all EU5 categories. In the week of April 6-12, 2020, visits increased by 19 percent (Germany and the United Kingdom) and 44 percent (Spain) as compared to the week of January 13-19, 2020.
The increase in online casino activity is unsurprising, given that customers are searching for new ways to pass time. Big players like Jackpot City Online Casino continue to register an increased number of new users, a trend that could push the numbers even higher.
Europeans are spending more time on gaming websites and applications amid the unpredictable Covid-19 behaviors. The rise is most noticeable in Spain, which saw a 44 percent increase in gaming time, followed by Italy (31%), and France (28%).
According to data from the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) for 2020, the pandemic has resulted in a significant shift in gambling from physical games and betting to online versions, with traditional gambling losses being more than covered by remote gaming.
EEEP’s overall gaming revenue increased 0.43 percent from 2019 to 16 billion euros last year, with remote gambling accounting for 72.11 percent (€11.5 billion) and physical gaming accounting for the remainder (€4.5 billion). Because of the higher rate of winnings for online gamblers, gross gaming revenues (turnover minus earnings) fell 27.14 percent to €1.6 billion years on year.
According to the EEEP survey, a significant number of punters who previously gambled in OPAP stores switched to remote gambling, resulting in a 35.85% annual increase in overall gaming revenues from electronic games of chance and a 34.46 percent increase in gross gaming revenues.
The Future Of Gaming Lies In Mobile
In 2019, mobile gaming produced $68.5 billion in sales, accounting for 45 percent of the overall industry, which also includes PC and tablet gaming.
Mobile gaming, despite being a relatively young segment of the industry, has grown at an incredible pace, with 2.4 billion people playing games on their phones in 2019. An inventive and seamless user interface that relies on engaging features such as in-app purchases and loyalty rewards can be credited with part of mobile’s rapid growth.
These pocket-sized game consoles could transform online gaming and make the industry even more exciting as the 5G age approaches.
The New Age Of Entertainment
As the number of players continues to rise, it is clear that online gaming’s technical possibilities are limitless. Some of them are already taking shape:
Virtual Reality (VR)
With companies like Oculus and Valve announcing cheaper headset options, blurring the boundaries between fantasy and reality is becoming more available to mass audiences, and the pace could pick up in 2021.
Cloud gaming
Cloud gaming allows players to download games rather than playing on a computer, taking advantage of quicker, more stable internet connections.
Real-time personalization
Games could create game content that is tailored to each player’s personality and playstyle based on their player data in the future.
With the advancement of these technologies, we will witness changes in how audiences interact with games. They will open up new opportunities for marketers and advertisers to capitalize on increased viewer engagement. Many players in the industry will succeed under the new circumstances, while others will fade away.
