The majority of the human population will not fondly remember the time period between 2019 and 2022, as this time period will forever be remembered as the COVID-19 pandemic. The period is known for lockdowns, social distancing, energy crisis, and economic crisis. The young people who aren’t too fond of going to school probably didn’t mind having their classes via Zoom, but the lack of social interaction definitely made that experience bitter-sweet.
However, it wasn’t doom and gloom everywhere around, especially when it comes to the gaming industry. After all, video games became more popular than ever, especially since they are used as a form of social interaction. The same applies to online casinos, which also saw a rapid rise in engagement. Here we will explore in detail how COVID-19 affected the live online casinos in the UK and the gambling industry in general.
Growth of Casino Industry in 2020 – 2022
The gambling industry as a whole didn’t do too well during this period. After all, both smaller gambling joints, and big casino resorts saw massive losses. The travel ban, along with lockdown and ongoing social distancing measures, significantly reduced the influx of customers.
Luckily, people didn’t lose their enthusiasm or desire to play casino games, so all of that activity was directed to online entertainment. It is why the best online live casino uk saw record high searches and traffic. There was even a surge of new users who were bored at home and decided to give online casinos a shot. This was a clear signal to operators that now is the time to create better incentives in order to capitalize on this newfound interest in casino entertainment.
Additionally, live casinos also saw an increase because another type of online gambling community was left without relevant content. Due to the pandemic, all of the main sports events were canceled so sports bettors turned to eSports gambling, fantasy sports, and live casinos.
What Is the Special Role of Live Casinos on the Market
Online casinos have been around since the 90s, but at that time they weren’t as nearly as popular as today. Live casino entertainment really added an extra layer of excitement to the whole gameplay experience, and during lockdowns, it became more relevant than ever. Live dealer games rely on real-time streaming technology, in order to provide a more authentic casino experience.
So, those who enjoy visiting real casinos can at least play some card games online, and feel like they are in a physical establishment. It also addresses one of the main concerns related to online gambling platforms, and that’s the lack of career opportunities. Creating live games requires a real person who will act as a dealer, and since they are available 24/7 that also means multiple shifts. Moreover, since the interest in this content is increasing, developer companies are likely to continue adding more live-dealer experiences to their offer.
Currently, only a few card games have a live-dealer version, these are:
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
- Hold’em
- Roulette
- Sic Bo
- Omaha Hi-Lo
Chances are the list will expand in the future, but it is also important to mention another type of live gambling, which is live betting. Those who are watching sports events can place live bets which are only available for a short time period. This is something that only online casinos can offer, as standing in line to place a real bet that is available for a minute or so is highly unlikely.
Can We Expect the Growth of the Casino Industry
Some might argue that once the pandemic is over and things are back to normal that interest in live games will dwindle. But that is not necessarily true, people still play online casino games, because they are more accessible and more convenient. Additionally, new markets are starting to open up, as governments saw the potential of internet gambling during the pandemic. One of the latest examples is the Netherlands which legalized online casinos during the COVID outbreak.
Additionally, this is a highly competitive market, so software developers are constantly working on new experiences in order to make gameplay more engaging. We will likely see more VR casino experiences and more innovative poker rooms. Right now the world is undergoing a massive change as the 5G network is gaining a foothold in multiple countries across the globe. With 5G we will have a more stable connection which opens up more possibilities for live games.
