Top iGaming Trends and Statistics 2023

The world of iGaming is constantly evolving, with new trends and statistics emerging every year. As we move into 2023, it's clear that the industry is experiencing significant growth and transformation. Here are the top iGaming trends and statistics for 2023.

Rise of Mobile Gaming

According to Statista, mobile gaming is expected to generate over $100 billion in revenue in 2023, marking a significant increase from previous years. This trend is driven by the increasing ubiquity of smartphones and the convenience they offer for gaming on the go.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in iGaming

VR and AR technologies are becoming increasingly prevalent in the iGaming industry. Grand View Research predicts that the global VR gaming market size will reach $92.31 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.2% from 2020 to 2027. This indicates a promising future for VR and AR in iGaming.

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency in iGaming

Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies are making their mark on the iGaming industry. According to DappRadar, the total value locked in blockchain games reached $2.3 billion in Q1 2022, a 639% increase from Q1 2021. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 as more iGaming platforms adopt blockchain technology and accept cryptocurrencies.

Regulation and Legislation

Regulation and legislation continue to play a crucial role in the iGaming industry. H2 Gambling Capital reports that the global online gambling market is expected to reach $158 billion in 2028, with regulated markets contributing 87% of the total. This highlights the importance of regulatory compliance for iGaming operators.

Social Gaming

Social gaming is another trend shaping the iGaming industry. Newzoo predicts that by 2023, there will be 3.07 billion social media users worldwide, providing a vast audience for social gaming platforms.

Live Dealer Games

Live dealer games are becoming increasingly popular in the online casino sector. According to iGaming Business, the live casino market is expected to reach $3.7 billion by 2025, driven by players' desire for a more immersive and authentic gaming experience.

Esports Betting

Esports betting is a rapidly growing sector within the iGaming industry. Eilers & Krejcik Gaming estimates that the total esports betting handle will reach $14 billion in 2023, up from $7 billion in 2020.

Metaverse Casinos

Metaverses, online communal spaces, have recently emerged in their current form, a phenomenon also related to the increased acceptance of blockchain technology mentioned above. Platforms like Decentraland and the Sandbox operate on the Ethereum blockchain and employ fungible and non-fungible tokens to enable transaction capabilities. Gamblers use some of the ERC-20 variants to wager on games of chance presented in different locations across these virtual worlds.

Novel Presenter Games

Evolution, the world’s top supplier of live dealer products, launched innovative VR-enabled online live game show Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt in 2022. This game combined presenter and RNG gaming, providing players with new entertaining options. Other companies like Pragmatic Play Live and Playtech are expected to follow suit in 2023.

Skill-Based Gambling

Operators have started to investigate skill-based gaming to appeal to young adult audiences. Games like the arcade-style shooter Fish Catch from RTG heralded the arrival of games where players can reduce the operator’s advantage through skill. These types of games are expected to become more popular in 2023.

Complicated Loyalty Schemes

Loyalty schemes have evolved, especially at crypto gambling platforms, to include Rakeback, loot-box-type promotions, investment opportunities, and more. The concept of staking, where casino users lock a portion of their assets in a website’s vault in exchange for a proportion of the platform’s profits paid out as dividends, is particularly intriguing.

Virtual Reality

VR appears to be making a significant comeback in interactive gaming. A VR version of the Gonzo’s Quest slot is soon to be released by Evolution-affiliated NetEnt.

Player Behavior

Operators are predicted to shift their focus from product-centric to user-centric business models. Launching mobile and smartwatch versions of casino and sports betting projects is expected to win over new audiences seeking easy and quick access to the online gaming functionality.

Operations

Operators will seek ready-made software products offering real-time access to clear and transparent data on their projects. In 2023, experts predict that app developers will redirect their attention from such exclusively financial KPIs such as the first deposit, GGR, and NGR towards the game session length and bet count metrics.

Standalone Statistics

• 60% of the third-party experts surveyed by SOFTSWISS named Payments and Licensing as the most crucial category influencing the iGaming industry.
• 66% of bets are placed during live events against 34% of those placed in advance.
• 49.6% of jackpot players increased their average bet sum in response to a global jackpot campaign.
• The most widespread types of fraud are bonus abuse (69.9%), money laundering (9.9%), and payment system fraud (5.9%).