The Future of Online Gambling Is Here: Trends to Expect in 2022

Transform. Adapt. Alter. Improve. Enhance. It is not difficult to imagine these words echoing in the ears of all gambling and casino developers in the iGaming industry daily and serving as the driving force for all the new and ingenious gaming solutions they bring to the table.

Online casino and sportsbook players are spoiled. They constantly want to see new gaming options, more high tech solutions, and other characteristics and features that will improve their gaming experience. Luckily for them, the industry has managed to meet their needs. 

Hereunder, you will find the latest gambling trends for 2022. These are bound to reshape the online gambling world. 

Cryptocurrencies Taking Hold

Cryptocurrencies are no novelty in the online gambling arena. There are scores of online casinos and providers that accept cryptos; some are even focused solely on these digital payment systems. However, stats show that cryptocurrencies are slowly taking over as the preferred method for most players. 

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ripple, and many other cryptos offer compelling reasons for their unwaning popularity. Their transactions are instant, both deposits and withdrawals. The fees that apply are very low, if any. Most of all, the security and safety you get while playing with cryptos are unprecedented. The blockchain technology behind them is virtually impenetrable, so the chances of your funds ending up in another user’s account are slim to none. 

Also, the very nature of cryptocurrencies allows you to keep your banking details to yourself. You won’t have to divulge any sensitive info to the operator to fund your account or cash out. 

While we will still be using standard payment methods in online casinos worldwide for some time, cryptos are slowly creeping in and waiting for the perfect moment to dethrone them. That moment could very well happen in 2022. 

Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Machine Learning

Supercomputers, advanced systems and algorithms have been around the online gambling industry for quite some time. Nonetheless, their reach has expanded dramatically in recent years, showing no signs of abating. 

Online casinos and gambling platforms have been using AI and machine learning to analyse customer behaviour and track their gambling habits to create more user-specific gaming experiences and bonuses. The systems have also proven to be highly effective in detecting problem gambling. 

With all this in mind, it is to be expected that their implementation will become even more widespread. 

The same can be said for the use of virtual reality. The combination of the underlying technology and VR goggles transports players into another dimension and brings the most immersive gaming experience possible. Imagine being able to “roam” around the virtual casino as you would in an actual land-based one and choose the slots and table games you wish to play. 

Smartwatch Betting

When gambling using your smartwatch was first introduced around 2014, no one knew exactly how it would pan out for the customers. However, years later, we are now witnessing a massive expansion of the gambling options available on smartwatches. 

The smartwatch market is on course to reach a market cap value close to $90 billion by 2027, and online casinos are bound to capitalise on that. You can already find a small number of online casinos with some slots optimised for smartwatches. 

To make more of their games optimised for smartwatches, online casinos will have to create special apps that users can download and use on their devices.

Conclusion

The world of iGaming is rapidly changing for the better. New technologies are making online gambling more user-friendly and unique, and in 2022, we can expect to see many such trends taking hold. Make sure to return to our blog for more details on the latest trends in gambling.

Nov 1, 2021
Igor Rumyantsev
Igor is the Head of Banking and Licensing Department at GamingLicensing who has over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is responsible for game and payment system integration, iGaming product licensing, and B2B certification. Igor is an expert in the gambling sector and game licensing. He keeps a close watch on industry trends and is always open to new ideas that can improve GamingLicensing’s services and help our clients.