The best and worst thing to happen to the gambling industry in recent years is the advent of online casinos.
Online gambling is great, because it allows almost anyone to play the games they enjoy playing, with a chance at earning real money, without having to leave their house.
But in-person casinos are seeing far fewer visitors now since people can just stay home and gamble. So while casino culture is suffering, gambling is still as popular as ever.
Wondering if it’s time for you to test out the wonderful, wild world known as the online gambling industry? Read one below to learn all about the current gambling trends that are shaping the future online casino industry.
- Wider Legalization of Online Gambling
Gambling is heavily regulated in the US. Every major step forward in the gambling industry requires a ton of legal work.
In the past decade, jurisdiction over online gambling was handed over to the states, as opposed to the federal government. Now, each state gets to decide which forms of online gambling are allowed, and which aren’t.
This decision was made in 2011, which led New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware to be the first states to legalize some forms of online gambling, such as table games and slot machines.
Over the past few years, other states have come on board as well. This also correlates with the legalization of sports betting in 2018. This too was a decision made to hand the decision over to the states.
Currently, a handful of states allow some form of online gambling, with others currently working on legislation to legalize it. States like Utah and Hawaii don’t allow it at all, and likely never will.
- Rise in Sports Betting
Sports betting became legal in 2018, and since then, several states have opened floodgates to their residents. Because sports are so heavily embedded in the American culture, from football to baseball to basketball, and everything in between, sports betting is a natural progression.
Patrons love participating this way, as they have the potential to win money while watching their favorite sports teams. It helps them engage more in the process and gives them a reason to continue paying attention to the sports world.
Sports betting has become much more of a strategic game, as there are complex ways to bet that go far beyond betting on the winning team.
- Acceptance of Cryptocurrencies
The adoption of cryptocurrency, both as an investment and as an actual currency, has exploded in the past five years. And there are tons of reasons people are stocking up on coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others.
Aside from massive growth potential, cryptocurrencies can be used to make purchases online. These transactions don’t have to go through a bank and add a layer of security and anonymity (though if you’re breaking the law, there are still ways for authorities to track you down).
Nonetheless, one of the biggest online gambling trends is the rise in online casinos that allow players to gamble with Bitcoin. Funding your account with Bitcoin is fast and easy, thanks to the blockchain network of digital currency.
And many of the best Bitcoin casinos utilize provably fair algorithms for their games, so you actually stand a chance at winning (unlike in Las Vegas).
But choosing the right Bitcoin casino is important if you actually want to reap these benefits. Check out https://trustgeeky.com/blog/best-bitcoin-casinos/ to learn about the top eight Bitcoin casinos out of more than 100 on the internet.
- More People Gambling for the First Time
In-person casinos are intimidating environments. They aren’t exactly welcoming to first-time gamblers.
Plus, the best casinos are congregated in certain metropolitan areas. For most people around the country, if a casino is nearby, it isn’t a fun place to be. Not everyone lives near the Vegas strip.
But with online gambling, the fun and thrill of gambling are accessible to everyone (who has legal access). So online gambling is seeing a surge in first-time gamblers.
- More Regulation Coming
The states that have legalized online gambling have seen a huge number of companies and websites facilitating gambling. There are also plenty of online gambling sites that look like real companies but are either scams or are not licensed to operate.
Online gambling is currently in its “wild west” phase, so greater regulation is likely to come to prevent scams and protect consumers.
- Soccer Is the Sport to Bet On
Sports betting is huge across the world, and now across the US. While US sporting fans generally prefer football and basketball, the world at large is betting big on soccer.
All eyes are on the European Championships (the Champions League and the Europa League), as well as the World Cup. If you want to participate in the biggest bets, soccer is the sport to watch.
- Fantasy Sports Is Still Dominant
Fantasy sports was the original way that players could “bet” on sporting events. And even though it isn’t new, it’s more popular and more appealing than ever before. While the vast majority of people would prefer to bet on real sporting events, fantasy sports tend to go hand-in-hand.
- E-Sports Growth
Competitive video gaming is bigger and better than ever before. Professional gamers and teams compete in the biggest events, and fans are betting big on these matches.
So even if you don’t watch traditional sports, you can still find a game like Overwatch to put your money on.
- The Gambling Industry Continues to Grow
With all of these factors and many more, the overall gambling industry is growing at a rapid pace. While there might be fewer people filling the smoke-filled casinos at 1:00 AM, there are more people engaged in gambling than ever before, and more people are drawn in daily.
A New Normal
The online gambling industry is taking over the entire gambling industry. What started as an offshoot of traditional gambling is quickly overtaking it.
Will we still see physical casinos in the future? It’s possible. But nine times out of ten, players are going to prefer gambling from the comfort of their own couch, without inhaling any second-hand smoke.
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