Contents

Industry highlights
Industry Performance
Mobile keeps moving up
Markets
Player centricity comes to focus
Gamification and personalization
Delasport highlights
New technologies, new innovations
New markets
Awards and events
Company growth
Onto 2023

Industry highlights

Industry Performance

In 2022, the iGaming sector displayed strong growth caused by an increase in online gambling as a whole because of the COVID-19 pandemic that changed how people travel, socialize and consume products. Other growth factors include the release of better games, enhanced security protocols, 5G Internet, and the introduction of new payment methods. As such, the global iGaming market saw an increase from $73.42 billion in 2021 to $81.08 billion in 2022, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.4. Furthermore, the online gambling market is expected to grow to $115.13 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 9.2%.

Mobile keeps moving up

The market for online betting is being driven by the rising use of smartphones and easier internet access. Globally, mobile device usage is significantly higher than that of desktop or laptop computers. Around 80% of all online gambling users are on mobile devices in most countries. According to a study done by the Gambling Commission, mobile phones will continue to be the most popular way for younger people to access online betting in 2023 and beyond. And logically, iGaming operators benefit highly by having mobile apps on their behalf as well.

Global Internet users are anticipated to reach 5.3 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 6%, while smartphone shipments are anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 7%. This is then anticipated to fuel the iGaming market.

Markets

In 2022, legislation to legalize online betting was under consideration in six states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and New York), however, it was not passed. But it was decided that New York State would be launching its online sports betting market on January 8.

In other market developments, the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL), Germany's federal gambling authority, will assume complete market control.

Then there is the sleeping giant, Brazil, which has for many years tried to find a way towards regulation. The good news is that conversations are still happening, bringing in a sense of optimism that the country is getting closer to joining the global iGaming market.

Finally, on April 4, 2022, the Ontario government formally opened the market for sportsbooks and internet casinos, opening a new gambling scene that has fast grown into one of the most promising iGaming prospects in the world, with an estimated gross gambling yield (GGY) of 600 million euros and a population of over 14 million.

Player-centricity comes to focus

Player-centricity has been very much in focus throughout 2022 and will be continuing to evolve over the coming years. With so much global competition, products are no longer at the center of it all. Instead, operators and suppliers are looking to create experiences that gravitate around the player in the hopes of acquiring long-term players who buy into the ecosystem thanks to improved features such as personalization and gamification.

Gamification and personalization

Key components of player-centricity are gamification and personalization, which have also come heavily into focus over the past year. The positive psychological reinforcement from gamification gives players the thrill of beating the system, passing a milestone even triggering an exclusive feature.

In 2022, operators have also invested heavily in personalization with the aim to drive revenue growth through conversion improvements and acquisition cost savings, as well as increased player retention. For the players, personalization creates a more pleasurable onboarding and gaming experience by providing a balanced mix of familiar favorites and the sensation of novelty and discovery.

Delasport highlights

New technologies, new innovations

As a major driver in the industry, Delasport has had its own share of developments over 2022: most notably in the release and announcement of several innovative features and technologies.

One of these is "If Bet", a novel and creative feature that allows bettors to link several single bets with a single wager, thereby automating up to seven consecutive bets. The new feature adds to the betting experience by allowing players to cascade several bets with a single wager in a quick and automatic way.

Hot on the heels of If Bet, is something Delasport has been developing for some time and is close to being formally announced.  The ‘My’ era, features two products that are not only distinct from each other but from anything else in the industry as well.

‘My Sportsbook’ tailors the home screen for sports bettors after they complete a wizard-like questionnaire, giving them the power to see only what they want to see, right from the get-go. ‘My Event Builder’ takes personalization even further by giving players the ability to create their own custom events. For instance, bet for PSG to win over Man UTD F.C., while Man UTD is playing in real life against Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain F.C. is playing against Strasbourg. If in their events Man UTD score 2 and PSG score 3, the player has a winning ticket.

New markets

In 2022, Delasport has entered and fully complied with eight new markets: Romania, Malta, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Mexico, Germany, the UK, and soon Ontario. In addition, they obtained the Gaming Labs International (GLI) “Events Wagering System” certification standard GLI-33 and “Interactive-Gaming-Systems” certification standard GLI-19. These certifications enable them to bring their one-stop-shop Sports Betting, Online Casino and Managed services to the US.

For more industry information take a look at our new section Market Reports!

Awards and events

The year has been an exceptional one for Delasport, who have traveled to no less than 12 global events to spread the word on iGaming excellence – and to collect some awards as well. 2022 saw Delasport nominated for 23 awards and winning Online Sports Betting Supplier of the Year at the Sigma, and White Label Supplier of the Year at the SBC awards in Barcelona.

Company growth

And finally, in this 2022 wrap-up, we can briefly touch upon what has made the above possible: Delasport’s dynamic and ever-growing international team. 2022’s growth has been massive, not just in product scope and reach, but in certified, licensed, and compliant markets, (eight of them) as well as in manpower. Over 100 people have joined the company, each bringing their experience, passion, and talent to a business that is going from strength to strength. This number is likely to keep growing alongside Delasport’s holistic portfolio of products, services, and valued partners.

Onto 2023

So, there’s 2022 in a nutshell. It’s been an incredible year, both for the industry and for Delasport. We’re sure that 2023 is going to build upon all the above developments and reach new heights – and we’ll all be there for the ride.

The post 2022 wrapped: industry recap & Delasport achievements first appeared on Delasport.

Global technology company, Delasport, provides global operators with an all-in-one White Label iGaming solution. They have developed a reputation as a premier Sports betting and Casino supplier as a result of their expertise in the Gambling industry, taking home awards for White Label Supplier of the Year at the SBC awards in September, and Online Sportsbook Provider of the Year at Sigma Europe in November. And, with their ongoing global availability strategy, FansBet will be able to operate in many more countries.

Having established a presence in a number of key markets around the world, FansBet Group is dedicated to delivering engagement for the everyday fan and providing an experience with a player-first philosophy.

Delasport and FansBet both have a passion for providing players with the greatest betting experience possible. With a full sportsbook feature stack and innovative engagement tools never previously used for bettors, including tournaments, missions, spin the wheel, and more, Delasport's solution offers FansBet's users a range of modern experiences.

Commenting on the partnership, Delasport CEO, Oren Shwartz says:

“We are pleased FansBet chose us as their new iGaming provider and are excited to support their growth. I am confident that our premium package of Sportsbook, Casino, PAM, and Managed Services will help FansBet dominate its markets, engage players in novel and exciting ways, and experience rapid progress as a result.

Enda Gaffney, CEO of FansBet, also comments:

"We firmly believe in providing our customers with the greatest betting and gaming experience possible. With the help of our new cooperation with Delasport, we will be able to keep our end of the bargain and demonstrate our dedication to high standards everywhere. We are eager to see what the future holds for our business and our players as a result of having access to new markets.”

The post FansBet chose Delasport as its new iGaming platform supplier first appeared on Delasport.

Delasport’s in-house, one-stop-shop White Label solution of sportsbook, casino, and Player Management Platform (PAM) is boosted with a complete suite of managed services, allowing operators access to the most experienced iGaming professionals in the industry.

Delasport offers managed services suite that includes customer relationship management, cashier management, payout, KYC, responsible gaming, cross-sale, anti-Fraud, customer journeys, Player engagement tools, Sports and Casino management, VIP, customer service, and much more.

This recognition follows an incredible year of success for Delasport as its global expansion allows them to onboard more and more partners.

Reflecting on the win, Oren Cohen Shwartz, CEO at Delasport, said:

“It’s an honor to have received this award. The victory belongs to the entire team and is a testament to their hard work in creating something truly special in a highly competitive industry. We look forward to enriching our Managed Services offering even more; this award indicates that we’re already on the right path.

For more information on our White Label offering, Schedule a Demo Now and join our growing roster of partners!

The post Delasport awarded White Label Supplier of the Year first appeared on Delasport.

Dutch iGaming market

The Dutch regulated iGaming market is very much in its infancy when compared to other European countries, as regulation from the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) only came into effect in October 2021- signaling the beginning of a race for companies to establish their footholds in what is likely to be a highly competitive landscape.

By entering the Dutch market, Delasport will be able to deliver its sportsbook and casino product to partnership operators, which will include a complete betting coverage of 125+ sports, 100,000 pre-match, and 70,000 monthly live events across 3000+ markets. In the casino, players can expect a huge game portfolio of over 3000 games from 70+ providers (including industry leaders), and personalization features like geolocation and personal favorites – all of which are integrated with intelligent gamification tools like multiplayer tournaments, missions, badges, and more.

Commenting on this news, Delasport CEO, Oren Cohen Shwartz says:

“The Dutch market is poised to become one of the most competitive in Europe, and we are excited to be part of the pioneering wave of Sports, Casino, and PAM suppliers. We are keen to play a major role in the shaping of the Dutch iGaming landscape and look forward to partnering with new operators, and helping our existing partners grow.”

This latest entry follows a number of new entrances by Delasport, who in the past year alone have entered the US market with GLI 19 and 33, and the Danish, Swedish, Maltese and Romanian markets.

The post Delasport achieve GLI certification and enter the Dutch market first appeared on Delasport.

Influenced by the ongoing global pandemic, together with new player expectations, behaviors, and emerging technologies, here are the iGaming trends we expect to see in 2022.

2022 iGaming trends at a glance:

Market growth and regulation
Sports Betting as a must-have product
Gamification and video game elements
Video streaming
Consolidation M&A, leagues, and global media companies’ involvement
Esports trend gains traction
Mobile betting trends
Smart TV, augmented reality and VR

Market growth and regulation

According to H2 Gambling Capital, the online gambling global market size has already passed 70€bn a year and is expected to pass 90€bn in 2025. In 2021, 73% of the total market GGR was generated from regulated markets – an iGaming trend that is expected to continue as more and more are regulated. Governments are rightfully and actively seeking to find new revenue sources, and even more so due to the ongoing pandemic’s effect on economies. By forming regulatory bodies and legalized gambling activities, governments can collect revenues from gambling tax and licensing, increased employment, and decrease illegal betting all at the same time.

Sports betting as a must-have product

According to H2 Gambling Capital, the global sports GGR consist of 49% out of the total iGaming revenues. We expect to see a clear iGaming trend with the sports share growing even more than the other products. And not because of the football World Cup this year - but mainly because the U.S. is predominately a sports betting market.

The online gaming market in the US is valued at 2B USD and is forecasted to grow and reach 8.5B USD GGR by 2025, representing CAGR of over 15%. More than 25 states have already legalized mobile sports betting and 14 more are in process, while only six states have legalized iGaming (casino): Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

On sponsorship deals, we also expect to see more involvement in iGaming from leagues. For example, we have already seen The Premier Lacrosse League announce an agreement with DraftKings, BetMGM with Ladies Professional Golf Association, and PointsBet with the Colorado Buffaloes college team. Sports betting will also further become a must-have product as current casino operations may lose players to those who have discovered betting on sports, never to return. In addition, the CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) fees for sports players are lower than for a casino, with the bonus of some players still being successfully cross-sold to casino (mainly live Casino).

Gamification and video game elements

While video games in the traditional sense and iGaming have many differences, many elements from video games have been making their way over to iGaming as a sturdy trend. All with a focus on better visuals, more interactions, more mission-based gameplay loops, and more themed / role-playing mechanics. Companies like Green Jade, Skywind Group, and Spribe are experimenting with arcade-like games. For instance, Skywind’s Fly Jet is a real money fly-and-shoot game where players fly through five different locations and fight bosses to chase massive cash prizes. Another example that has gained large traction is Spribe’s Aviator, a social multiplayer game that originated from the video game industry.

To truly stay ahead of the competition and trendy at the same time, developers will need to continue improving the visual fidelity of their games to match the screen resolutions of today’s more sophisticated smartphone devices to provide more immersive experiences.

Video streaming

In 2006, Google identified the future of video streaming and acquired YouTube for 1.65B USD. In 2007, Evolution Gaming started to stream roulette live dealers, introducing the concept of enjoying gambling experiences from the comfort of home, while retaining important social interaction.

The ability to play casino games remotely while interacting with a genuine live-person dealer has turned out to be considerably more exciting than anyone could have expected. Logically, it became a must-have iGaming trend because live dealers, after all, not only provide a more authentic and legitimate gaming experience – they create a deeper connection with the players and can even foster a better sense of trust between operators and players.

In live streaming, we will see more and more studios trying to get a share of the growing market, including companies such as Skywind Group and EGT. Other expectations include the continuation of the localization trend where studios produce local games like Andar Bahar, and the continued adoption of Show games that have been popularized by Evolution Gaming – as we can already see from Pragmatic Play with their very first Show game, ‘Mega Wheel’.

Consolidation of M&A, leagues, and global media companies’ involvement

iGaming companies are looking to increase their market standing, with some looking to acquire technology companies to own the software and control their own destiny - while others are looking to quickly expand to existing and emerging markets by acquiring companies that already have access to licenses and knowhow in local regulation requirements. We have already witnessed 888 acquiring William Hill’s European business, Fultter acquiring The Star Group, Draftking’s acquisition of SBTech and we will see more M&A activities in the U.S. online betting industry.

We also expect to see more involvement in iGaming from leagues and media companies following leagues like the NFL, as well as media companies such as Fox and Sports Illustrated looking to take a piece of the action.

Esports trend gains traction

There are now more options to gamble on Esports than ever before and this will continue to be a developing iGaming trend in 2022. Once considered as a niche market, eSports are now attracting a rising following – to the point where some TV channels stream Esports-focused channels as part of their bundles, creating an even wider appeal. This is especially prevalent for generation Z, who already play these games for recreation. According to NewZoo prediction, the Esports market share will grow to $1.8 billion by 2022.

The increased sophistication of traditional video games has also added to this trendy rise. Better graphics, more complex mechanics, and deeper gameplay loops can make for more competitive and engaging experiences. Gamers from all around the world can now wager on games like FIFA, League of Legends, Dota 2, Valorant, Overwatch, Fortnite, and others across console, PC, and even mobile platforms.

Mobile betting trends

The trend of mobile betting will continue. In all markets over 50% place bets on mobile devices, and in some markets, it has already reached 90% of overall transactions. With 5G speeds becoming the norm, gaming on smartphones has never been easier or more seamless. Some operators are even offering welcome packages exclusively to mobile. In the Apps category, we may see Google and Apple opening more markets for Mobile Betting Apps.

Smart TV, augmented reality, and VR

Technologies such as AR, VR, and Smart TV applications are still in their early adoption phase in the mass market and are even more in their infancy when it comes to iGaming and online casinos. However, we do expect to see them gain traction and become a real gambling trend in the coming years as the technology becomes more affordable and accessible to the average consumer.

Conclusion

The iGaming industry has come a long way and has evolved from niche beginnings to become one of the world's largest and most profitable industries. The rivalry in the online casino industry is also fiercer than it has ever been, with many online casinos going to great lengths to differentiate themselves.

Ultimately, every operator's purpose is to attract gamers. While bonuses, promotions, awards, and customer service are all great motivators, staying on top of the latest technological and social trends will be essential for their survival through 2022 and beyond. So, make sure you keep a close eye on the latest iGaming trends in order to stay on top of your game!

The post Expected iGaming trends in 2022 first appeared on Delasport.