The last decade has seen a meteoric rise in the popularity of online gaming. By the end of 2016, the market was valued at $41.78bn, and projections for 2020 show that number rising to almost $80bn. To give you some perspective, online casino gamers now account for 11% of all internet traffic. Since new laws were passed in 2014, the remote gambling industry in the United Kingdom has grown by 300 percent, reaching about $6.7 billion by the end of last year.
Non-remote gambling, which includes bookmakers and casinos, has also witnessed significant growth in recent years, but it has lagged behind the growth of the remote-betting business. Bingo halls are the only land-based type of gambling that is not growing.
It’s natural to think that the meteoric rise of remote gambling is attributable to a change in preference for online over conventional gambling among bettors. However, this is not the case, as seen by the fact that both businesses have witnessed significant growth in recent years. This suggests that online gambling appeals to a wider demographic than simply first-time gamblers due to its novelty, convenience of use, and intrinsic interest. Even traditional gamblers who prefer to visit land-based casinos or racetracks are warming up to the idea of betting online.
To give you some perspective, Puzzle Games now account for 11% of all internet traffic. Since new laws were passed in 2014, the remote gambling industry in the United Kingdom has grown by 300 percent, reaching about $6.7 billion by the end of last year.
Why, Therefore, Do People Spend So Much Time Playing Video Games Online?
The explosive expansion of the online gaming market is not surprising when seen in the context of the whole gaming business throughout the world. More money was spent on video games in 2017 than on movies and music put together.
The explosion in gaming and online gambling sites popularity over the last decade may largely be attributed to the leaps in computing power that have occurred in that time. It seems simple, but as technology improves, so does the game experience. Rapid improvements in mobile technology have contributed significantly to the explosion in the popularity of online gaming. Accessibility and connection have increased with the development of new technologies. This expands the pool of potential customers for online casinos, which are now accessible to almost anyone with an internet connection.
In recent years, the gaming business has successfully transitioned from consoles to mobile devices, with mobile gaming being the industry’s fastest-growing platform. By the end of 2017, the worldwide gaming market was worth $47.5 billion. In comparison to the previous year, this represents a significant gain of 20%. Developers & remote gambling companies find it more simpler to promote to and attract new players using a mobile device, which makes sense given that the typical individual spends up to 40 hours per week on their mobile device. At one time, it was believed that mobile devices couldn’t participate in online gambling. As the world of online gaming shifts its attention to mobile devices, however, developers are designing apps that are optimized for usage on these devices. Players’ ability to gamble whenever and wherever they choose has been a major factor in the sport’s rise in popularity. Pundits may bet at the last minute on their favorite team, and they can even get updated odds and wagers in the middle of a game.
Increasing mobile gambling’s popularity and online gambling’s already high market share both bode well for the future of the industry. Simply said, as more individuals enter the market, the number of players and the frequency of payouts both rise. The fact that you may gamble on almost anything is also a major element. You can bet on almost any result in popular culture, whether you’re a football aficionado, a royal family devotee, or simply extremely into politics. Online gambling has expanded beyond the realm of sports enthusiasts, who formerly were its primary participants in the hopes of making money while also satisfying a deep-seated desire. It’s impossible to provide such a wide selection and easy accessibility at traditional gaming establishments.
The growing number of women who bet online is another crucial development. In 2015, women made up over half of the UK’s gambler population. Several studies have shown that female gamblers are more likely to use a mobile device and play in solitude. That way, girls won’t have to worry about feeling intimidated by male players and may play at their full potential. For this reason, several major gaming companies, like 888Ladies and Pink Casino, have developed female-centric platforms.
Sports Betting And Other Games Of Chance
The entertainment value of gambling, whether online or in person, has never been higher than it is now. The player’s deep investment in the game likely has a lot to do with this. You have no control over the outcome of a movie or a song, thus you can’t influence them through your participation.
Online gamblers, on the other hand, have the freedom to bet on real-world events and develop their backstories. As soon as money is at stake, the trip and experience become even more dependent on the players’ actions and skills, and they get emotionally engaged in the result.
People of all ages and backgrounds enjoy playing at online casinos. Ten years ago, it was assumed that most sports bettors were middle-aged men. As was previously said, however, the fact that bets may be placed on almost anything makes remote gambling appealing to a broad variety of individuals. The idea of online gambling is growing less foreign as the elderly get more used to and fond of utilizing technology, particularly mobile devices. This facilitates the growth of communities in which members regularly spend whole days interacting with one another in virtual casinos and bingo rooms. The younger generation is likewise showing a growing interest in gambling. It’s a thrilling concept to be able to watch a game and have a chance to win money based on your favorite team’s performance. Most 11-year-olds can use a contemporary smartphone with ease, continuing a trend of younger audiences being noted for their openness to and knowledge of new technology. It’s hardly shocking that more and more mature teens and young adults are taking part in online gaming.
The growth of the online gambling business may be attributed to the aforementioned technological developments as well as the genuinely enormous number of gaming options available. The business will continue to expand and become a common source of leisure time thanks to new developing markets and the widespread popularity of online gaming.
Gaming Uses In Real Life
Non-gaming applications of VR/AR in real life count as gaming, even if they are employed in non-gaming situations. Because these instruments are simulating life itself as a game!
Games are about achieving goals and having entertaining interactions while adhering to a set of unbreakable (reliable) rules.
Take, for example, Google Maps. This is gamification in action! The minimap has arrived in real life, rendering traditional paper maps useless.
Uber (the ride-sharing startup) used virtual maps to direct drivers to their destinations, pick up passengers, and gamify one part of society: traveling from point A to point B utilizing automobiles.
Food delivery providers are essentially doing the same thing. And all of this is achieved with only one technology (which hardly qualifies as AR): digital maps.
What about firemen, who would use AR headsets during operations to view real-time heatmaps — or the shortest way to safety?
What about waiters, who would no longer have to memorize orders because they would be recorded and written onto an order list, permitting the waiter to simply cross out orders as they were delivered?
There are several real-world uses. And businesses are already working on solutions. However, in the maelstrom that has been the technological revolution that we are still in (coupled with the destabilizing effects of the worldwide epidemic), VR and AR have not made their presence felt as powerfully as they could.
The Medium Of Video Games
So far, video games have been employed for both amusement and non-entertainment reasons.
However, there is one key factor that makes video games appealing to consumers, and that is narrative.
Many vintage video games have stayed with consumers because of their characters and stories. Even those with such basic aesthetics became known as pixel art.
And it isn’t limited to old-school video games. Nowadays, stories are being written and told with fresh titles and much more pop culture to build on than ever before!
And, no matter how many live shows, virtual events, prizes, and contests there are (and there are many! ), there is something essential about the designers’ ability to interact with people through the video gameplay experience.
Books, radio, movies, and television shows are all mediums that build a connection between the artist and the audience, allowing them to communicate their opinions or tell related experiences. Video games are the most recent addition to the narrative business, and many feel that this is the most crucial aspect of any video game.
Indeed, there are some games that players remember fondly because of the experiences, inspiration, and story that the game supplied them, and regardless of how big or small the gaming industry is, storytelling is the foundation of a good story experience that guarantees that players will return, if not to the game, then to the franchise.