3 Mobile Casino Trends to Look for in 2017
Posted by Harry Kane on Saturday, January 7, 2017
By 2017, it is estimated that the value of the global, online gaming market will have more than doubled in less than a decade. Next year will also see the projected value of the market exceed $50 billion for the first time, as even traditional console platforms continue to embrace online gaming and the freemium business model that underpins it.
Casino gaming is a huge driver of this, with an ever-diversifying range of games and lucrative sign-up bonuses incentivising both new and traditional gamblers alike. With the technology that underpins online casinos also continuing to evolve at a rapid pace, we are likely to see further growth and expansion during the next 12 months.
3 Key Mobile Casino Trends to Look for in 2017
One of the most seminal influences on this growth is the rise of mobile casino gameplay, which is changing the way in which players operate and access their favourite games. It is also becoming a key driver of reveneues, so here are three trends that will shape mobile casino gaming in the year ahead:
Tablets will Continue to Close the Gap on Smartphones
While smartphones may currently be the dominant device for mobile gaming, tablets have gradually closed the gap in recent times. In fact, the revenues generated through tablet gaming are rising at a noticeably faster rate than smartphones, and by 2018 the value of the market will have more than doubled (to 8.2 billion Euros) in just four years. This trend has emerged as dedicated gaming tablets, such as the Nvidia Shield, have been brought to the market, helping players to appreciate the benefits of larger displays, high resolution images and seamless, touchscreen controls.
With most online casino games requiring tremendous control and excellent hand-eye coordination, tablets are likely to become an increasingly dominant device during the next 12 months and beyond.
Slots Will Dominate Mobile Casino Sites in 2017
If we accept that mobiles now account for nearly 20% of all online gaming activity, it is fair to ask what has driven this trend? One of the main driving forces has been the development of games that are strategically designed to suit the mobile platform, with slots creating a relevant case in point. Usually immersive, simple and capable of delivering pay-outs of up to 97%, mobile slots are now the single most popular online casino games and play a significant role in attracting new players to the market.
This is sure to continue in the future, particularly as mobile graphics continue to improve and the range of creatively-themed slots diversifies further.
Mobile Gaming Will Become More Accessible and Efficient
On a final note, it is important to note that the quality of your broadband connection used to be a major concern when accessing mobile games. After all, a sudden loss of Wi-Fi or mobile connectivity could interrupt your gaming session and cause you to lose any money that you may have won up to that point.
This issue will become a thing of the past next year, as 4G connectivity becomes commonplace and develops continue to focus on designing games that can be accessed without a viable Internet connection. This will not only make mobile casino gaming more efficient and reliable, but it will also remove one of the main barriers to entry that currently prevent new players from embracing the platform (and particularly games that are