The casino industry in the US is growing gradually but steadily. It could have been bigger had there not been a pandemic wreaking havoc throughout the country. In this article, though, we won’t focus on where the sector could be were it not a host of challenges faced last year.
Instead, we’ll focus on what’s to come this year. What will be the biggest trends in the US casino industry this year? Will VR become part of ever casino? Will smartphone slots become a reality? Let’s find out below.
There sports betting fever is far from over. New York, Virginia, Maryland, South Dakota, Louisiana, Oklahoma—these are some of the states with bills aimed at authorizing sports gambling. Over 20 states have already authorized the industry, from New Jersey and Illinois to Indiana and New Hampshire.
In many states, authorities are giving out licenses to established brick and mortar casinos and racetracks. Where casinos have never been legal, independent investors can also bid for licenses. So far, most permits have been acquired by large gambling brands.
In other words, the easiest way to know the closest sportsbook to you is to checkout casinos near you. Use Google Maps or a similar website to find gambling locations in the US. Casinos.us for example, breaks down USA casinos by state and city through maps and pins that can lead you to any casino in the country.
That said, it’s interesting to note that states differ in how they’re legalizing sports betting. Many of them allow wagering on Major Leagues like the NFL, NBA and MLB. However, they are against gambling on state-based college games.
Are online casinos a threat to brick and mortar casinos? This was a big fear for politicians and casino investors a couple of years ago. But as research has showed, online casinos supplement instead of suppress land-based casinos.
In New Jersey, where all forms of online gambling are permitted, a study done in 2019 showed the brick and mortar casino was growing even after online casinos became legal. Apparently, there were a lot of people using online casinos to learn slots and card games before visiting Atlantic City to play these games in a traditional environment.
Against that backdrop, many casinos are moving forward with setting up online casinos, from Caesars and MGM Grand to Borgata and Hollywood Casino. Some of the casinos have more games online than they have in their physical establishments. Better yet, they have bonuses and comps for everyone and not just high rollers.
In the online casino space, innovation is changing how people interact with casinos. In Sweden and several more European casinos, you don’t need to create an account to gamble. What’s more, you don’t have to deal with the pesky issue of KYC verification.
You don’t even need to reveal your name and email address to casino. You deal with payment companies and they handle the casinos. This keeps your personal information private while also helping you gamble conveniently.
On the other hand, there’s a breed of casinos that let you bet on credit. They’re called Pay by Phone casinos because they work by Pay by Phone digital wallets like Boku and Zimpler. Basically, you need an account at Boku or Zimpler to get credit you could use at casinos. You then settle your bill through a phone bill or credit card.
Pay by Phone and No Registration Casinos are new developments in the casino world. But they are projected to explode in popularity this year. There’s no casino that offers either service in the US presently. But considering they don’t work in the UK either, only time will tell how successful become in the country.
Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard of Bitcoin, the explosive cryptocurrency Elon musk tweets about regularly. Bitcoin was founded by a person who chose to remain anonymous in 2009. It’s built on a decentralized, immutable ledger as an alternative to traditional currencies like the dollar or euro.
Although Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency, it’s not the only one. Alternative currencies like Ethereum, Litecoin and even the controversial Doge Coin can also be used as payment methods. With cryptos on the rise, expected more online casinos embracing them.
Many cryptos charge much lower fees than credit cards and banks. They are also fast and safe, which is why they they’re getting famous. What’s more, Blockchain, the technology through which most virtual currencies are built, is also becoming famous among institutional investors.
Blockchain can be used to design all sorts of projects, from streaming networks and video games to slots and online banks. Due to this, there’s a chance blockchain-based casinos and games will get popular this year.
Casino experts have been encouraging developers to create VR slots for years. Now, they’re doing it and players couldn’t be happier. A handful of slots, including famous games like Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst and Jack and the Beanstalk already support VR.
But as you would imagine, not many players are willing to invest in VR headsets and computers to play a few slots. That’s why VR slots are not as widespread as they should. Of course, this could change as developers continue to invest in VR games.
Esports was one of the biggest sports last year, especially when many leagues suspended games to help fight the pandemic. It was also a lifeline for betting companies, many of which had no betting markets for their customers.
Esports is projected to continue expanding this year. And now that states are opening up, it could rise to become a multibillion-dollar industry. As mentioned, eSports’ biggest contribution to the gambling industry is that it provides new betting markets.
But there’s something else often underappreciated. Video game streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube are also welcoming casino streamers. And in doing so, they’re creating platforms through which slot and card players can socialize and play their favorite games with fans streaming.