The iGaming industry has undergone massive changes in the last few years. Following the new gambling laws, technological advancements, and advertising, more people gamble now than ever before. Consequently, everyone is looking forward to what is to come.
Based on the research from www.uebas.net, the online gambling revenue will reach $97.15B in 2024 and go up to around $132.9B by 2029. In other words, we will have steady year-after-year growth and more and more people will be involved.
Considering 2025 is around the corner, many want to know what to expect from the iGaming industry. Although no one has a crystal ball, those who are part of this business and follow it closely have noticed some of the upcoming trends. That’s why it’s time to reveal them and see what we can expect.
More VR Options
Virtual reality has become very popular in the last couple of years despite not having the best start. Nowadays, the tech behind it is much better, so it’s no surprise that VR has changed the way we use some things.
- Interestingly, not many gambling operators take advantage of VR tech in 2024. However, we are confident that things will change in 2025 because gamblers worldwide seek a more immersive experience.
- VR can be used in various ways in online gambling. The people behind some of the most-loved titles can create way more realistic games that will allow players to feel a part of the game. We can also experience some of the currently popular options very differently.
Research has revealed that the VR market grows every year and is supposed to reach $24.08B by 2025. The improved technology behind virtual reality and the fact that people want new experiences mean that 2025 may be the year we see its broader implementation.
Personalized AI content
No one can deny AI’s importance and impact on various industries. Although many gambling platforms have yet to use the new tech in their day-to-day operations, others have implemented different AI tools from the beginning.
- Since we’re discussing the iGaming trends for 2025, we expect companies to use tech to provide personalized content. In other words, AI tools will monitor players and what they like the most. Based on that, the algorithm will suggest different types of games, provide exclusive bonuses, and more.
- Alongside personalized content, AI will also play a role in customer support and security. Many operators will rely on the new tech to spot cheaters, monitor their platforms, and answer players’ questions. 2025 may well be the year when the annoying chatbots that have been around for some time will finally disappear and be replaced by AI.
Focusing on the emerging gambling markets
People involved in the gambling industry know that some regions are much more developed than others. Europe is a good example because it is a place where iGaming has been flourishing for years, thanks to countries like the UK. The continent has some of the biggest markets today, but places like the US have surpassed them.
- One of the iGaming trends we expect to see is the focus on some of the emerging gambling markets. This usually includes countries in Africa and Asia because a lot of them have changed their gambling regulations.
- If we examine the stats for Africa, we can see that the online gambling market revenue will reach close to $1.9B by 2024. Even more impressive is that the expected annual growth is close to 5.81%.
- In addition to Africa and Asia, we also need to mention South America. Some studies assume that South America will be among the fastest-growing gambling markets, with a CAGR of 23.4%.
It’s no surprise that the iGaming trends for 2025 will focus on less-developed regions because the competition in the other ones is fierce. In a country such as the UK, for example, there were more than 2,400 gambling operators in 2022 alone. This means it’s becoming increasingly difficult for sites to appeal to new clients.
More focus on mobile gambling
Some of the iGaming trends for 2025 have been around for years, and mobile gambling is among them. Studies from 2022 show that close to 53% of online bettors relied on their mobile devices to gamble. This percentage has increased even more in the last couple of years because of how easy it is to have a smartphone.
- People spend more and more time on their mobile devices, so iGaming software developers will try to create content exclusively for these customers. Although most games and features already look good on the smaller screen, they will become even better. Moreover, all products will be optimized to work exceptionally, regardless of the screen size.
- When focusing on mobile gambling, we also expect to see improvements in connectivity. Most fans would also want a better overall experience, a special syncing process, and more.
Prioritizing responsible gambling
More people are interested in online gambling, which means more and more of them can get in trouble when playing. Consequently, one of the iGaming trends for 2025 that also began in 2024 is the focus on responsible gambling.
- There are many things that companies can do if they decide to prioritize responsible gambling. For example, some of them will finally decide to add more features than the ones they currently have. Most companies only have the self-exclusion alternative and hardly offer any other tools, such as deposit limits.
- When talking about responsible gambling, we also need to mention advertising. This is not an issue in all parts of the world because some countries have very strict laws regarding gambling advertisements. In other places, however, sites can use all sorts of marketing campaigns.
Interestingly, we have already seen some regulations regarding gambling ads in countries like Bulgaria, for example. In the latter, gambling sites could run ads on TV and pretty much anywhere else, but this is no longer the case.
We also need to include AI here because the new tech can improve this niche. Companies, regulators, and developers can use AI to detect potential gambling problem patterns and assist when necessary.
Evolution of what’s available
Old-school online gamblers know that the available gambling options have improved massively in the last couple of years. Even though many people enjoy what’s available today, one of the iGaming trends for 2025 will be offering new and better options.
- New social gaming options are among the first things people hope to see. Considering most gamblers’ lifestyles, people are happy when they get the chance to interact with other players. Since this is one of the things that keeps gamblers interested in land-based operators, we expect to see a lot of improvements in 2025.
- Another option that gambling sites will try to focus on is adding new types of games. For example, when the first Crash game became available in 2014, it quickly gained loads of fans. Since there hasn’t been something new in a while, 2025 might be when we see that.
- Lastly, most operators will focus even more on their eSports and virtual sports options. Since the esports betting market is projected to reach $3.5B by 2029, companies will try to make the most of it. The same is true for virtual sports, a $19.16B industry in 2024.
Unique customization options
Customization is among the iGaming trends for 2025 that most people never talk about, yet it is very important. Nowadays, many gamblers have been using certain operators for years and like what they offer. However, since companies rarely change their designs or offer unique features, players often get bored and want to experience something new.
- One way to keep existing clients happy is to provide tailored experiences. This means that companies must develop unique products that are only available to a specific user. As mentioned, this can be achieved by using AI or employing people whose job is to come up with unique rewards.
- Giving players the option to have a unique design is another big advantage. A lot of gamblers dislike the way their platform of choice looks. As you can imagine, they would feel much better if they could change it.
- Lastly, 2025 might see unique features, such as avatars you can level and play with. Some operators allow you to choose an avatar and get a specific bonus for it, but that’s all. Considering the growing competition and everything else, 2025 might be the year when this changes.
Conclusion
The iGaming trends for 2025 reveal that the industry will continue growing in size and popularity. Gambling online has never been easier, so it’s no surprise that so many new players are trying it.
Due to the high taxes paid by gambling sites worldwide, governments will most likely not take any drastic measures and ban gambling. Therefore, we will see even more of it in the next couple of years.
