It’s no surprise that, according to Custom Market Insights, the online casino market alone has already hit $19.7 billion. While this growth is already something, the industry could jump to $56.8 billion by 2033, accounting for a 12.5% CAGR. With the industry becoming more competitive, operators are now using online platforms to improve their edge.
Online platforms have indeed brought remarkable changes, allowing gamblers to access entertainment from anywhere, anytime. But modern players do not just want convenience; they want engaging experiences if they are to remain loyal. And catering to these needs is actually what separates a king casino from a mediocre one.
You can’t provide gaming experiences of the early 2000s and still expect to appeal to gamblers in 2025. This could make you less competitive and put you out of business in no time. However, since no one begins to do business with the mind of failure, casinos have been taking advantage of online platforms to maintain their hold on the market.
Catering to the increasing use of mobiles
As already mentioned, the rise of online platforms brought great convenience to this industry. At least, players could engage in their favourite titles without being forced to access physical destinations. But since personal computers were the most popular gaming devices then, websites were designed primarily for their consumption.
But things would change when smartphones started becoming popular. Remember, one concern about desktop-first websites is clunkiness – players must keep zooming or pinching when gambling on devices with smaller screens. Avoiding such experiences means developing separate website versions for computers and mobile phones, which can be costly, especially when it comes to maintenance.
And that’s where responsive designs come into play. These designs provide an optimal viewing experience across various devices, allowing website content to adjust automatically to fit multiple screen sizes. This ensures content is readable and navigation is easy across all devices, including those with smaller screens.
The beauty of responsive platforms lies in how competitive they make a brand. Do you know that, according to UXCam, over seven in ten users will be more likely to return to a website just because it is mobile-friendly? On the flip side, over 60% may never return if the site is mobile-unfriendly. These statistics are part of why many casinos have implemented responsive designs.
Aligning with the data age
According to Edge Data, about two-thirds of businesses intend to adopt data-based decision-making by 2026. No more reliance on intuition or guesswork! And at a time when about 73% of customers want companies to be able to distinguish their unique preferences, you don’t want to cling to generic offers. Modern consumers, including gamblers, have become super discerning and only want to interact with brands that understand them better.
Contentful cites a lack of personalisation as the reason more than seven in ten shoppers get frustrated with brands. This number is already too high, given that competitors are just a few clicks away. Unfortunately, while 73% of gamblers expect personalised experiences like loyalty rewards, Smartico claims that only 45% of casinos actually offer them. Therefore, as companies seek to lead the game in this sector, most could turn to personalisation to improve their competitiveness.
Customisation first begins with studying players’ interactions with online platforms. Which titles do they search for most? What time are they mainly engaged? Do they favour any specific payment methods? What about themes? Do they have any thematic orientations like sports, movies or ancient civilisations? All this information helps determine unique preferences so you can provide relevant recommendations. That way, you show players you care for them, increasing their likelihood of becoming loyal.
Reaching wider audiences
DataReportal has recently released a report valuing the number of global social media users at 5.41 billion. Almost everyone is on these platforms, and casinos know that quite well. As such, they have been partnering with familiar faces to improve their brand recognition and trust. Think of it this way: You want to buy a phone but are unsure about finding a reputable brand.
Amid the confusion, a close friend recommends one, claiming it has excellent customer service. Within no time, you will be on its website trying to complete your purchase, all because of trust. A similar thing happens when casinos partner with reputable figures. It gives an impression of trust, drawing more players.
When it comes to improving brand reputation, partnering with these figures is also handy. Can you believe that, according to Global Influencer Marketing Agency, about 10.7% of gamers discovered brands through creators? Most influencers have thousands upon thousands of loyal followers. As such, collaboration with them increases the likelihood of casinos penetrating new markets. Also, when your brand appears before these audiences many times, you improve recognition, which helps separate yourself from the crowd.
With the casino sector becoming more expansive, the need to become innovative also increases. As an online operator, you don’t expect to succeed here if you only provide convenient access to entertainment. Gamblers expect engaging experiences; otherwise, they may never become loyal. And since casinos know that, they have been aligning with trends like responsive designs to stand out from the crowd. Personalisation has also been a popular way of strengthening customer bonds, ensuring brands retain as many of them as possible.