Why The Live Casino Gaming Industry is Bigger Than Ever
The gaming industry received a boost in 2020 and 2021. Lockdowns, quarantines, and a need for escapism created a sizable surge in gaming activity, and while all creators and publishers were able to benefit from this, the gambling industry, and Live Casino gaming in general, saw the biggest increase.
Why Live Casino Gaming?
Casinos with live dealer Roulette online, as well as those focusing on Poker, Blackjack, and Slots, recorded a big jump in activity during 2020 and 2021, and this was true for most regions.
We know that gambling activity increases during times of recession and stress. It seems that whenever people are struggling the most, whether financially or emotionally, they turn to gambling, and that was definitely the case during the first year or so of the pandemic.
But that wasn’t the only mitigating factor.
Players were also seeking an escape, one they could cosy up to on their computers and devices, and that’s what gambling provided.
As for Live Casino gaming, the activity surge was likely down to two factors.
Firstly, the technology for Live Casino gaming was only introduced a few years ago, and the industry has been growing ever since. Every year the technology improves and there is a wider variety of games to choose from, as well as more casino developers jumping on the bandwagon.
In other words, we would have seen an increase in Live Casino gaming even without the pandemic. It just wouldn’t have been as notable.
Secondly, while slot machines and virtual card games are very isolating—using random number generators to produce the results and pitting the player against an automated casino—Live Casino gaming has more of a communal feel.
There are other players involved, and everyone is focusing on the same goal. There is also a real dealer who communicates with those players and bridges the gap between virtual gaming and real casino play.
It’s not quite the same as being in a real casino, but it’s the next best thing, and with the added convenience of playing from home, some think it’s an even better option.
What’s more, many casinos locked their doors during the pandemic and the same was true for card rooms and other gaming establishments, so even players who preferred the real deal still flocked to Live Casino games.
What Does it Mean for the Industry?
Some anticipated that the increased player numbers would subside when the world started getting back to “normal”. To an extent, that did happen, but most of those new players have stuck around and will probably stay for the long haul.
More importantly, all of the difficulties that Live Casino developers faced during the lockdowns are now starting to ease, and that is allowing them to generate even greater profits.
For instance, while the lockdown initially sent a lot of players to their devices, as well as their Xboxes and PlayStations, it also forced development studios to grind to a halt. They had to close their doors and send their employees home, and so they couldn’t create as many games or technologies as they had hoped.
As we moved into 2021, that began to change. Lockdowns were still happening, but they weren’t as catastrophic, and so the studios grew, hired even more developers, and took advantage of all that extra revenue and activity.
What Does the Future Hold for Live Casino Gaming?
Money makes the world go round, and it also facilitates the biggest changes. Now that the Live Casino industry has more money behind it, we should start seeing more games and advancements. What’s more, the increased traffic will convince other studios to get in on the act, and when they jump on the bandwagon and increase the competition, it will drive creativity and innovation.
Take the last couple of years as an example. We’ve moved from Live Dealer games of Roulette, Blackjack, and other classics to fully licensed Live Game Shows and various titles that blend slot machine elements with table game features.
The future is very promising for this industry, and the same could be said for the gambling sector and the gaming sector on the whole.