In our Estonia iGaming market report, we look at the setting in Estonia, what the rules are, who is playing, and what tomorrow may bring to one of the EU’s most promising betting landscapes.

Contents:

Current gambling market in Estonia
Online gambling legislation in Estonia
Advertising rules for gambling in Estonia
Preferences of Estonian gamblers
Popular sports to bet on in Estonia
The future of gambling in Estonia

Current gambling market in Estonia

Estonia has long been known to be a preferred location for iGaming operators because of strong infrastructure elements, including a progressive legal framework, political stability, top-notch telecommunications, and a firmly developed financial services sector. As a result, many gambling websites operate out of Estonia, spanning across Sports, Casino, bingo, and more.

Recent studies estimate that 70% of Estonians have participated in betting for real money in their lives, with nearly half of the population of gambling age having paid for gambling in one way or another over the past two years. About 40% of adults have gambled offline, compared to about 30% of adults who have gambled online. Although as more operators enter the country and technology continues to evolve, the dominant and preferred way to go is on an online betting platform.

Online gambling legislation in Estonia

Estonia is a former Soviet Union republic and therefore has a brief gaming history as the USSR outlawed all forms of gambling. However, today paints a completely different picture.

There are two pieces of legislation that regulate all gambling in Estonia, making up the regulatory, taxation, and legal framework for all types of online betting.

The Lottery Act of 1994 and Gaming Act of 1995

After Estonia gained independence and made gambling legal, these two laws were the first gambling regulations to be enacted in the nation. A state lottery, which was a monopoly, was established under the Lottery Act, and the Gaming Act of 1995 was passed to make all offline gambling in Estonia legal, including betting shops.

The Gambling Act

This law, which was passed in 2009 and went into force in 2010, dealt with online gambling in Estonia. The Gambling Act of 2009 was the first law in Estonia to address internet gambling, whereas earlier legislation (The Gambling Act of 1995 and the Lottery Act of 1994) concentrated on offline gambling. The requirement for a gaming license was established by this Act and is still in effect today. The law also specifies which types of online gaming are permitted.

The Gaming Act formerly mandated that all servers be situated in Estonia, but that provision was removed in 2012 after the Act underwent modification. Operators are permitted to conduct business in Estonia under this amendment, provided that their servers are situated in a country or territory with a valid license. Additionally, the nation where the server is located must liaise with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board.

Don’t miss the opportunity to read our market report about Online Gambling in California!

Advertising rules for gambling in Estonia

The 2008 Advertising Act, which put a complete ban on advertisements for casinos and sports betting, governs the promotion of gambling services and goods in Estonia. The only area of gambling that is exempt from the ban is the lottery.

The document only permits the promotion of gambling games in the following circumstances:

• On the premises of the gambling venues (such as hotels)
• Messaging over email, phone, or the post if the individual is subscribed and can cancel that subscription at any time of their choosing
• Sponsorship announcements in form of outdoor advertising
• On board international ships/planes and in airports
• On official operator websites

Preferences of Estonian gamblers

As touched on earlier, a study of the Estonian gambling market was undertaken by statistics firm, Kantar Emor in 2019, showing that 70% of the population had gambled at some point in their lives.

According to the data, men between the ages of 30 and 39 make up most gamblers in Estonia. The offline gambling market is dominated by men from rural areas, especially those aged 40 to 49.

Back in 2019, there was a more pronounced preference for land-based gambling over online games, but following the pandemic, the difference has been narrowing rapidly. The study also showed that people living in rural areas are more likely to participate in lottery drawings and other offline games of chance, while urban residents choose poker and casinos.

In Estonia, both online and off, the lottery is the most popular game of chance. Over the last few years, 36% of Estonians participated offline and 25% online in lottery raffles. In terms of other games, the study highlights that 7% of the population plays slot machines, 6% bet on sports, 5% play casino games, and 11% play other general games.

Popular sports to bet on in Estonia

As Estonia is a European country, it stands to reason that football tops the list of sports bettors’ preferences. As well as international competitions, the English Premier League is highly popular.

Other top football tournaments and leagues that Estonians bet on include La Liga, Major League Soccer, Bundesliga, Serie A, French League One, etc. Then there are the domestic competitions including Meistriliiga, II liiga, III liiga, IV liiga; Naiste Meistriliiga, Naiste Esiliiga, Naiste II liiga, the Estonian Cup, Estonian SuperCup, and the Estonian Small Cup.

Basketball is a popular sport in Estonia, where the Korvpalli Meistriliiga is the national championship. However, Estonians also wager on basketball events held in other nations, such as the NBA. Other popular sports include horse racing, ice hockey, Volleyball, tennis, rugby, and Esports.

The future of gambling in Estonia

The current system looks to be beneficial to operators, regulators, and gamblers alike, and there doesn't seem to be much appetite for a significant change in Estonia's betting laws. Additionally, to attract more foreign operators to apply for licenses, the Estonian government may decide to reduce licensing prices in the future.

As the general legislation seems to be in a stable place, responsible gaming is coming into focus. There have been suggested changes with a player protection and safety focus, such as a nationwide self-exclusion list. To position themselves as proponents of responsible gambling, many operators will think about incorporating them.

With such a stable industry landscape, Estonia remains as one of Europe’s safest bets for suppliers and operators, and when it comes to online betting, the sky is the limit.

The post Estonia iGaming market report: A safe bet first appeared on Delasport.

The state’s lawmakers, poker room operators, and Tribal casinos are locked in an ongoing dispute, all with their own agendas and priorities, making a resolution difficult.

In our latest iGaming market report, we look at the current status of online and sports gambling in California, what the disputes are, and what the future may hold for the Golden State.

Table of contents:

Online gambling in California
The major players in California’s gambling complexity
The Tribal factor
Card rooms
The current campaign for sports betting
Conclusion

Online gambling in California

Currently, most online gambling activities in California are prohibited, including poker, sports betting, and casino games. However, there are a few exceptions, including horse betting sites, daily fantasy sports, sweepstakes, and social casinos. There are currently several ongoing legal discussions happening (more on these later), which focus only on sports. There will be a vote in November of this year, but even if online sports gambling in California is approved, online casinos will have to go through their own journey. The good news is that however long it takes, it will happen sooner or later – there’s too much potential to be wasted.

All gaming in the State of California is governed by the California Gambling Control Commission, including some Tribal organizations as well. If or when online gambling was to be legalized in California, the CGCC would oversee its regulation.

The major players in California’s gambling complexity

There are four separate parties involved in the issue of online gambling in California, which is one of the major barriers to any substantial online casino growth in California. When it comes to the legalization of online gambling and similar activities in California, each of these groups has distinct goals, aspirations, and requirements. The four parties in concern are the state lottery, the racetracks, the Tribal interests, and the card rooms.

For the Tribes, anyone who wants to open their operation for online gambling should not be permitted – including the card rooms, who they do not perceive as legitimate. If statewide gambling expansions were to pass, they don’t want card rooms becoming further legitimized.

Then we have the card rooms, which are already well-established in the state. They argue that the Tribes are trying to monopolize the industry in California and have spent a lot of money and time in court to argue the point.

Another party is made up of the California racetracks, who are keen to be included in any new online gambling agreements. And finally, we have the California Lottery, which can potentially bring in a lot more tax revenue for the state if certain barriers are lifted or altered in their favor.

Take a look at our Brazil iGaming Market Report and find out more about the business in this country!

The Tribal factor

While California laws prohibit all land-based casinos, this does not extend to the sovereign territories of Native Indian reservations. This means that anyone visiting a full, traditional casino in California will be on those lands, with the operation owned/operated by a native Tribe. California has over 100 federally recognized Tribes, 73 of which own 76 Tribal casinos.

Annual gross gambling revenue from casinos run by Californian Tribes is estimated to be over $8.5 billion, amounting to more than 25% of all Tribal casinos' annual income in the United States. The state government also receives around $3.5 billion a year in taxes and revenue share payments from Tribal casinos, giving them a large amount of influence and voice amongst regional authorities.

Card rooms

Despite the ban on land-based casinos for anyone not on Tribal land, the California gambling market has nearly 100 licensed and legal card rooms, which sometimes refer to themselves as casinos. Technically speaking, these are not like normal casinos as they do not offer slots, roulette, or any other traditional casino games and mainly focus on player-vs-player poker.

Some also provide variations of other card games including baccarat and blackjack, albeit these games differ slightly from those found in casinos so that California law is not violated.

The card rooms were an established form of legal gambling by the time the first Tribal casinos began to spring up in the early 2000s. Disputes between the Tribes and the owners of card rooms have persisted for more than 20 years as each party contests the other's legal standing.

The current campaign for sports betting

As of right now, there’s an ongoing campaign to bring betting on sports betting within Californian law, which is the most expensive ballot-led legal fight in US history. On one side are the indigenous Tribes, and on the other are online gambling companies. For the victors, a potentially multi-billion-dollar marketplace.

Gambling on horse races is currently legal in California through the state lottery, in card rooms, and the casinos managed by Natives. But this is where the line is drawn, and legislation is yet to be defined. However, there are two proposals in play right now that would make that possible, each of which has a unique approach:

• The two proposals would open the way for sports betting but in strikingly different ways.
• Proposition 26 - would permit sports bets to be placed in person at retail establishments, including the four licensed horse racing facilities in the state, and casinos run by Native American Tribes.
• Proposition 27 - is supported by national companies like DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel, and others. The plan would alter state law to permit adult users of phones and other mobile devices to wager on sports online.
• California voters will decide the fate of these propositions on Nov. 8.

Conclusion

With both sides putting a lot of money into their respective preferences, it’s anyone’s race to see how things turn out in regard to online gambling in California. There is one certain outcome – that sports betting will become legal in some way. There’s simply too much money to be made for all stakeholders – it just depends on who’s terms it happens. And when that moment comes to pass, we expect to see a huge amount of revenue as hungry bettors are given their new freedoms.

As for online Casinos in California iGaming market, this will likely become another huge debate once the dust settles from the current events. But, we are confident that this too will come to pass.

The post Online Gambling in California: a game of many players first appeared on Delasport.

In our Brazil iGaming market report, we examine the country in greater detail to show why it represents one of the most exciting futures for the sector.

Contents:

Brazil's current iGaming market
Brazilian sports betting regulations
Legislation for online and land-based casinos in Brazil
Brazilian gambling taxes
Brazilian casinos' most-played games
Brazil's most popular sports events
Conclusion

Brazil's current iGaming market

The current gambling business market is made up of lotteries and horse racing, as these are the only ones permitted – but even these are limited because of an imbalance between the population and the number of betting shops.

With new online betting rules on the horizon, the estimated Brazil iGaming market size is 2.1b USD and is expected to grow to 2.6 billion by 2026. This is due to the ongoing digitalization of the country which has an internet penetration rate of 75%, an increase of 10% since 2018. Also, there are 96 cellular subs per 100 people, thanks to a large section of the Brazilian population (more than 87%) living in metropolitan areas.

Brazilian sports betting regulations

A federal law passed in 2018 recognized fixed-odds betting as a legal lottery activity. And Brazil's Ministry of Economy was given a four-year window to develop a competitive market for both offline and online sports betting, using a licencing or concession system.

The FIFA World Cup begins just a few weeks before the 2022 deadline, so officials will want to take all possible measures to put some sort of licencing structure in place so they can profit from the new industry. However, time is running out as the deadline expires at the end of 2022.

Legislation for online and land-based casinos in Brazil

Despite having already approved a law allowing betting on sports, Brazil's Congress is currently debating legislation that would legalise most other forms of gambling across the country.

In a landmark decision on February 23, the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies authorised up to 31 land-based casino resorts spread across the nation's 27 states. Additional casino licences were also made available for riverboats and oceangoing cruise ships, as well as gaming resorts in some tourist areas.

Brazil's iGaming market will likely become an extremely attractive location for operators looking to enter the next big market. Reasons include the abundance of space for large integrated resorts like those in Las Vegas, for cities like So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Other parts of the country will also present opportunities for mid-sized and boutique casinos.

Brazilian gambling taxes

Despite the fact that sports betting was made legal in 2018, no licencing system has yet been established. A few details still need to be worked out before the first wager is allowed to be placed. The existing fixed-odds betting legislation is only a portion of the overall legal system.

Although the new regulations have not yet taken effect, the legal framework is currently being altered. The wager tax rates for retail services decreased from 6% to 0.1% on July 15, 2021, and for internet services, they decreased from 3% to 0.05%. The 30% tax on winnings over $500 still applies.

Don’t miss the chance to read our Spanish iGaming Market Report!

Brazilian casinos' most-played games

Casinos are not allowed in Brazil, but the largest media company in Brazil, Grupo Globo, recently published a study in which 78% of the respondents claimed to play roulette in online casinos. 66% of respondents said they play blackjack, and 64% said they play table games. Participants opted for video poker (61%), and 63% for slots. Additionally, 50% of participants said they engage in live dealer gaming.

Brazil's most popular sports events

It should come as no surprise that football is the most popular sport in Brazil, with almost everyone in the nation having some sort of affiliation with a national team. The two biggest football teams in Brazil are Flamengo from Rio de Janeiro and Corinthians from So Paulo – each of which has more than 30 million supporters.

Every day, hundreds of different markets are available for football that cover competitions from all over the world. The Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the Primera División in Argentina, the Copa Libertadores, and all of the major European competitions, including the Premier League and Champions League.

Mixed martial arts have been extremely popular in Brazil for more than a century, and because of this, MMA betting is hugely popular across the country. After association football, it is the second most popular sport in Brazil for online betting.

Brazil has produced many well-known NBA players over the years, including Leandro Barbosa, Nene, and Tiago Splitter, to name a few. Brazilians are therefore likely to wager on basketball matches quite frequently for both domestic and international competitions. Given that Brazil has so many beaches, Brazilians are also avid volleyball players, with the national volleyball teams among the best in the world.

Conclusion

It is undeniable that Brazilian players desire an iGaming industry similar to what the US market did in 2018. Gambling is a significant source of income, but the government is yet to understand how to regulate it properly.

Brazil iGaming market has tremendous potential for the industry thanks to a sports-loving population that is ready to engage with gambling operators. Once the sports betting industry is up and running and new legislation is passed, we’re sure that the sleeping giant of iGaming will wake up with a boom.

The post Brazil iGaming market report: A sleeping giant about to wake first appeared on Delasport.

Contents:

Current gambling market in Spain
Gambling Legislation in Spain
Gambling advertising in Spain
Taxes on gambling in Spain
Popular sports in Spain
Popular casino games in Spain
Conclusion

Current gambling market in Spain

Spain has a population of 46.75 million people with 54.34 million mobile subscriptions in 2021 - a mobile penetration rate of 116.2%, which is comparable to most Western European countries. Internet penetration is also high, at 91%. As would be expected, smartphones are the most popular device for accessing the internet, with 93.6% of all internet users choosing them as a preferred device.

In Q2 of 2022, the total revenue from online gambling in Spain (net of bonus deductions) dropped by 5.5% when compared to the same period last year. This was due to a margin-led fall of 38.7% (or €58.3m) in fixed-odds sports betting NGR. During the same period, online casino revenue increased by 17.3% YoY, and 5.6% sequentially to €117.2m.

The first quarter of the year saw a large increase in the amounts staked – to the tune of 10.1%, or €2.72bn – but conversely saw a drop of 38.7% in online sports betting NGR, year on year.

In online casinos for Q2, slots proved to be the big winners, heavily contributing to an overall revenue increase of 23% when compared to the same period last year. Live dealer roulette NGR also increased by 15.4% YoY (€34.1m), whereas RNG table games fell by a further 5% (€11.6m).

Gambling Legislation in Spain

While online gambling in Spain became legalized in 2011, the first license wasn’t issued until 2012 – and since then many online casinos and betting sites have been granted permission to operate, regulated nationwide by the Directorate-General for Gambling Regulation. Despite the legalization of e-gambling in Spain, exchange betting and online slots remained prohibited until the end of July 2014.

Depending on the scope of the activity offered, iGaming market in Spain is regulated on a sub-national and national level. As a country divided into 17 autonomous regions, each region is entitled to regulate any gambling activities that occur within the territory.  This means that land-based gambling operations are subject to both local and regional regulations (which may vary between regions), while online gambling is regulated at a national level as it transcends borders.

Lottery games in Spain are considered to be an oligopoly as there are currently only two operators who have a license – one of which is a state company. Fantasy games and Esports are currently not regulated in Spain.

Gambling advertising in Spain

• In November 2020 Spain's Royal Decree on the Commercial Communications of Gambling Activities went into effect, forbidding any sponsorship agreements with operators to reduce the exposure of minors to gambling advertisements.
• In addition to YouTube, advertising on TV and radio is now limited between 1 am to 5 am. On other social media platforms, operators are only allowed to share advertisements with those following their channel.
• Even though age gating is necessary to help limit minors' exposure to gambling, operators are still permitted to target registered and verified customers with special offers – but promotional bonuses remain forbidden.

These strict rules of advertising have not been met with open arms by everyone. Jdigital, Spain’s Digital Gaming Association, and media association la Asociación de Medios e Información (AMI), have both submitted appeals to the Supreme Court to challenge the restrictions, stating that the gambling market is being negatively affected by overbearing policies.

Taxes on gambling in Spain

A 20% gaming tax from GGR is collected from Sports Betting and online casino

For operators who become tax residents in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, the tax rates for online gambling will be 10 percent GGR

Taxation of Players’ Winnings- Gambling winnings are treated as taxable income.

Read our article about the Romanian iGaming Market Report and learn more about the industry!

Popular sports in Spain

While Spanish bettors wager on a range of sports, it comes as no surprise that soccer is the most popular – after all, Spain has some of the best national teams in the world, including Real Madrid and Barcelona. As such, operators offer coverage across all major soccer leagues including the Primera Division (also known as La Liga), which is the highest-level league in the country. Foreign leagues such as the Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, and the German Bundesliga are also well-covered.

Basketball also has high coverage in Spain, both in terms of viewership and wagers. The ACB is the domestic national basket league of the country and has a significant following, and the Spanish national basketball team has also seen success in international competitions. And then there’s handball, which is another major sport in Spain, with the national team winning two world championships and being the reigning champions of Europe.

Other popular sports include horse racing, baseball, golf, boxing, and motorsports, in both domestic and international contexts.

Popular casino games in Spain

According to the DGOJ, more than €1,300 million was spent on slots alone across Spain in the third quarter of 2020, making it by far the most popular casino game in the country – an increase of nearly 8% when compared to the previous quarter. This may also be due to the increased sophistication of video slot machines which can be branded and themed according to popular television series, stories, and folklore.

The traditional casino games such as roulette and Punto Banco do see a reasonable number of wagers, but blackjack takes the winning spot after slots, with €267 million being wagered in Q3. Live casino is also steadily increasing in profile, and we expect to see increased numbers with the vertical in the coming year.

The Spanish Christmas Lottery, also known as the Sorteo Extraordinario de Navidad, is by far the most widely used form of gambling in Spain. The largest lottery draw in the world known as the "Fat One" or "El Gordo" is held, with tickets costing €200 each, with an incredible jackpot of more than €2.4 billion.

Conclusion

It’s clear to see that the Spanish iGaming market is amongst the leaders in the continent. With clear legislation already in place and ongoing interest and investment from global operators, the industry will continue going from strength to strength. With a strong technological infrastructure and a population that loves sport, gaming, and gambling, it’s all for the taking.

However, as legislation around advertising and promotion continues to have an impact, operators will have to find a way to navigate these restrictions or convince authorities to relax them. Despite this, the Spanish iGaming market is ready to play, and operators not part of the game are missing out.

The post Spanish iGaming market report: A European Powerhouse first appeared on Delasport.

Here is Delasport's most recent market analysis report, which examines the Romanian iGaming Market’s current state and how it has grown to be a desirable possibility for the biggest operators and their partners around the globe.

Contents:

Romanian iGaming market statistics
Romanian iGaming market legislation
Romanian gambling taxes
Romanian gambling consumer protection
Preferred casino games in Romania
Preferred sports games in Romania
Final thoughts

Romanian iGaming market statistics

The Romanian iGaming market size is estimated to be 900 million euros GGY, having almost doubled over the last three years. There were 16.79 million internet users in Romania in January 2022 – a penetration rate of 88% of the entire population. Data from GSMA Intelligence shows that there were 27.41 million cellular mobile connections in Romania at the start of 2022, equivalent to 143.7% of the total population. Romania’s number of mobile connections increased by 1m (3.9%) between 2021 and 2022.

Romanian iGaming market legislation

On March 27, 2013, the National Gambling Office (ONJN) was established, and the state promptly authorized it to provide licenses to internet service providers. However, to receive an online license, an operator had to have a physical presence in the country under its initial licensing requirements. Emergency Ordinance No. 92, which was adopted on December 29, 2014, modified the licensing rules such that foreign online gaming enterprises no longer need an offline gambling license to apply for a local license.

Online betting operators were entitled to apply for a license in one of three classes under the current regulatory framework, which went into effect in February 2016. Each class has its own requirements:

Class 1– The Romanian law authorizes the sale of any permitted products on the domestic market, whether it be in physical or digital/online form, so long as the operator wishing to sell it has the required licenses and authorizations. The holders of this license must be B2C businesses.

Class 2– Included in gaming law that is required for all legal organizations working in the traditional and online betting industries, as well as for conformity assessment organizations.

• Companies that must have a class 2 license include:
• Vendors who provide hosting and administration services for the gaming platform;
• Economic operators that handle production, repairs, maintenance and distribution, import, export, intra-community acquisition, intra-community delivery, or other activities with betting, for the purpose of marketing or use, in any form in Romania;
• Conformity assessment bodies.
• Organizations producing and/or distributing software specialized in the field of gambling;
• Marketing affiliates;
• Payment processors;
• Certifiers;
• Auditors;

Class 3 – Only given to the National Romanian Lottery, which has a legal monopoly on all types of lotteries.

Romanian gambling taxes

Tax on GGR is 16% but no less than €100,000 per year. Beginning on January 1, 2019, a monthly tax of 2% of the total monthly participation costs was implemented. The bettor’s deposit is used to pay this tax. More than 15,000 euros in winnings are subject to a 1% tax.

Don’t miss the chance to read our German iGaming Market Report!

Romanian gambling consumer protection

In addition to raising taxes, the new legislative amendments to the Romanian iGaming market seek to enact stricter regulations to guard against gambling addiction and minors engaging in gaming activities.

• Every player has the option to set daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits, as well as whether wins over a particular amount can be reimbursed in the same way that they were initially deposited.
• Every website must show a clock for players to keep track of how long they've been gambling, as well as a balance statement.
• Players can delete their account for at least 24 hours, either on a temporary or permanent basis. If the player wishes to permanently cancel their account, they will be unable to re-register for six months.
• Each player who engages in gambling activities more than once per 12 hours should get an email warning about the potential risks they face. All information should be supplied in Romanian.

Preferred casino games in Romania

The propensity in Romania is based on familiarity because it has a long history of land-based gaming and a strong betting culture. The Romanian iGaming market's most popular online video slots are those that have their origins in retail-based casino halls and casino sections in sports betting stores. With a market share of approximately 70%, EGT video slots are a global leader. Shining Crown, 100/40 Super Hot, and more well-liked games are available. The fruit theme is popular among Romanian casino patrons, and players are becoming increasingly interested in network-level progressive jackpots to win the largest of the four tiers of Jackpots.

In Live Casino, Romanian players prefer to play Roulette, Blackjack, and gameshows with wheel mechanics.

In Romania, where some of the biggest poker tournaments are held, poker is one of the most played card games. Romanian betting laws also allow players to access a global player pool, in contrast to many other countries where players may only face off against residents of their own nation.

Preferred sports games in Romania

Sports betting has a long history in Romania and has become a major part of the Romanian iGaming market. Football is by far the most popular sport, with Romanian gamblers wagering on leagues including Liga I, Cupa Ligii, and the Romanian Women's Cup. Romania also has many racing leagues, including Alex Cascatău Motorsport, the Romanian Endurance Series, and others.

Cycling is also popular with Ciclism Romania, Tour of Romania, and many more. Similar to other European nations, handball is a common sport with significant competitions like Liga Nationala. Then there is tennis, which offers a variety of men's and women's Grand Slam competitions in addition to ATP 500 series and ATP 250 series competitions.

The 15th World Esports Championship Finals will take place in Iași, Romania in 2023, and the WE Championships will return after last being held in Bucharest 2013.

Final thoughts

Romania's decision to legalize gambling has been welcomed as a major step forward for a nation that was formerly under communist control. It has made it possible for society to become much more open and free, as well as for there to be a culture that is forward-looking toward new technology and the wealth that online betting can offer to all parties.

Increased job prospects brought about by the expansion of the Romanian iGaming market have attracted young, talented individuals to the iGaming business in a nation that is already seeing tremendous growth in its technological sector. Romania will continue to draw the finest operators to the market and position itself as a significant participant on the global stage because of its rapid expansion and increasing legislative clarity.

The post Romanian iGaming market report – from strength to strength first appeared on Delasport.

Contents:

Current German market numbers
German gambling legislation
The new Interstate Treaty on Gambling
Gambling advertising rules in Germany
German gambling Taxation
Most popular casino games in Germany
Most popular sports to be on in Germany
The future of iGaming in Germany

Current German market numbers

Germany's iGaming market is predicted to grow to €3.3 billion by 2024, from €2.8 billion in 2021. As a technologically sophisticated country with 58.88 million mobile Internet users (87.4% of the overall population according to Hootsuite), 95.4 % of Internet users aged 16 to 64 possess a smartphone, 83.8% own a laptop or desktop computer, and 52.7% own a tablet, according to the same research. Hootsuite also reports that 78.81 million individuals were frequent Internet users, accounting for 94% of the entire population — a growth of one million compared to the same period in the previous year.

The main interests of German players lie with casino games and online betting. In a study conducted by Goldmedia, 12% of the interviewees played online every day, with 32% playing every week. Betting on Sports events also has a high amount of participation, with 15% of players wagering every day, and 29% every week.

German gambling legislation

In Germany, gambling is overseen by a legal structure made up of state and federal regulations. In 2021, a new interstate treaty was created to allow operators to provide online poker and slots on a federal level (for the first time). At the time, Sports betting was already available. This meant that a common legal framework could be placed for betting across Germany, with the government having the power to exact stricter regulations if necessary.

The new Interstate Treaty on Gambling

Taking effect on July 1, 2021, the new Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ISTG 21) incorporated significant changes to the regulation. For instance, online gambling was previously restricted to the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein but is now likely to be legalized across the rest of Germany, giving operators the possibility to access new licenses.

The new regulations are not without their stipulations. For instance, the way taxes and advertising are going to be handled will be stricter, plus there will be more control around betting and deposit limits. Here are some of the other new rules:

• Casino operators must have a registered office in the EU or EEA
• Operator websites must have a German-language version, including all essential information being in German
• Players must create an account that will be used to play on platforms by different providers
• A cool-down button with each operator having a clearly labeled opt-out option that puts players in a 24-hour exclusion period
• No auto-play in virtual slots, all games lasting at least five seconds
• Monthly deposits on websites are limited to €1,000 per player across all operators
• Stakes for virtual slots are limited to €1 per game
• Online gambling ads cannot be shown between 6 am and 9 pm
• Live betting is no longer allowed.
• Poker players must be randomly assigned to a virtual table
• The German regulator only allows a bonus of a max of €100 per year. Only a maximum of 10% of a bet’s stake can be covered by the bonus.

Gambling advertising rules in Germany

While advertisements are allowed, there are several rules to follow in the German iGaming market:

• Advertising on telecommunication systems is prohibited (exceptions apply).
• Advertising must not be excessive.
• Advertising must not be pointed at vulnerable target groups or minors
• Games of chance must not be presented as a solution to financial problems.
• Online and radio advertising of online poker, casino games, and slots cannot be shown between 6 AM and 9 PM
• Advertising betting on sports for a particular event directly before or during the live broadcast of the event is prohibited
• Advertising for sports betting with officials or active athletes is prohibited.
• In sports facilities, advertising for games of chance is only permitted in the form of umbrella branding advertising on jerseys, boards, and similar advertising media.

German gambling Taxation

The tax rate for online sports gambling, horse race betting, online slots, and poker activities is 5.3% of turnover. Online casino games are now liable for 19% VAT in Germany, according to amendments to the VAT legislation that took effect on January 1, 2015, regardless of whether they are operating illegally in the nation.

Most popular casino games in Germany

With games like Mystery Joker, All Ways Joker, and Fire Joker, Casino players in the German iGaming market are fans of the Joker motif. Book of Dead is a very popular video slot that has had a lot of momentum in the industry for numerous years. Slot machines, as in most other nations, are the most popular, although table games like Blackjack and Roulette are also well-liked. Many operators are producing their own takes on the classics, focusing on high-quality visuals, gamification, and sophisticated playing mechanics.

Most popular sports to bet on in Germany

As with most European countries, football is by far the most popular sport in the German iGaming market. As a result, it's no surprise that the sport is well-represented on betting sites catering to German customers. From the Bundesliga to the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and others, all of Europe's top leagues are available. Domestic cup tournaments like the DFB-Pokal, as well as European competitions like the Europa League and Champions League, are also widely covered.

Handball is also one of Germany’s most popular sports, so it stands to reason that betting sites are including it in their offering. With competitions in Denmark, Norway, Romania, and other countries, the Bundesliga, DHB Pokal, and Super Cup are among the most well-known national-level handball events.

Don’t miss the chance to read our Danish iGaming Market Report!

Amongst the German iGaming market, the rising popularity of Esports in Europe is evident. CS:GO is currently one of the most popular games to bet on, and almost every major sportsbook now includes an Esports section. From the world's top tournaments, such as the major championships, to lower-level leagues, everything is covered.

Other popular sports to bet on include Tennis, boxing, golf, racing, MMA, and athletics. Table tennis, snooker, badminton, and darts are also prolific. Horseracing is a significant business, but coverage is still uneven owing to licensing concerns

The future of iGaming in Germany

After the United Kingdom and ahead of Italy, the German iGaming market is the second largest in Europe. Local providers like as Tipico and overseas players such as bet365 have already entered the industry. The size of the German iGaming market is predicted to expand by around 10% year over year. Because there are still areas of ambiguity, operators, and software providers are waiting for the full regulatory process to be finished.

In the German iGaming market, selecting the proper technology partner is critical since regulatory requirements are complex and demand substantial development effort. Delasport's sports betting and online casino solutions comply entirely with iGaming German regulations, and the business already sells its software to market partners.

The post German iGaming market report: Major strengths and characteristics first appeared on Delasport.

Read on the Ontario iGaming market report because, in this special analysis, we examine the data, what the new rules are, and the kind of wagers Ontario residents are most likely to place in this rapidly growing and dynamic new marketplace.

Contents:

The current Ontario iGaming market
iGaming legislation in Ontario
An open license approach
Similarities to Europe
iGaming advertising in Ontario
Popular sports in Ontario
Popular casino games in Ontario
Looking ahead

The current Ontario iGaming market

The government passed bill C-218 in 2021, amending the regulations that prohibited online gambling and transforming the internet gaming scene in Canada. Following the passage of the law, the Canadian gaming sector was permitted to collaborate with provincial partners to provide sports betting enthusiasts with single-event wagering. On April 4, 2022, Ontario, which is home to 40% of Canada's population, opened its doors to legal online gaming. Since that time, 13 operators have gone online, and another 27 gaming operators have already registered with the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission.

According to the Auditor General of Ontario, the market size is anticipated to be 800 million CA$ GGY (about 600 million Euro), and the provincial government expects iGaming Ontario to have a net profit of 18 million CA$ for the fiscal year 2022–2023. After that, a net income of $26 million is anticipated in 2023–2024 and $31 million in 2024–2025; totaling $75 million over three years.

After the more established U.S. markets of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Ontario is likely to rank as the third-largest regulated online market in North America by 2026.

iGaming legislation in Ontario

The Ontario market was regarded as "Gray" until April 2022, with remote wagers being accepted from offshore operators. In contrast to other jurisdictions that have recently established their markets, the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) adopted a different strategy for establishing a regionally controlled market. The province of Ontario established a transition period during which offshore operators might apply for a new license and set a comparatively low tax rate known as "revenue sharing."

Since April 4, 2022, licensed operators who have registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and who have signed an Operating Agreement with the AGCO's newly established subsidiary, iGaming Ontario, may now provide internet gaming in the province (iGO).

The AGCO is the department of the Ontario provincial government in charge of gaming regulation. With the creation of iGO, there are now two Crown organizations under the AGCO's jurisdiction that are in charge of managing and regulating iGaming in the province.

• The Ontario Lottery and Gambling Organization (OLG) supervises online gaming in Ontario. Additionally, the OLG operates lotteries in brick-and-mortar casinos.
• The iGO, which was established as an AGCO subsidiary, oversees the management of online gaming when it is offered by private operators. It is not associated with any land-based gaming establishments and does not manage OLG concerns.

An open license approach

The government is unmistakably focused on the economic opportunity with its agenda for pushing internet gaming in Ontario. Under the province's open licensing approach, the number of online gambling operators permitted to register with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is currently unrestricted (AGCO). ‎

The "tethered" strategy, used in states like New York and Michigan, requires each online sportsbook to collaborate with a physical casino, making this the first model of its kind in North America. The growth of Ontario's new iGaming industry depends on the open-ended license programme, which should draw and register more online gaming enterprises than other comparable North American states.

Each brand (URL) needs to have its own bank account, B2C license, and a security deposit equal to the lower of $5M CAD or the last 12 months' GGR (first year based on the first 2 months of GGR (pro-rated).

The licensing charge is $100,000 CAD (about €70,000) per site/brand each year.

‎

Similarities to Europe

The independent source of iGaming business analytics, VIXIO GamblingCompliance, has reported that a number of features of Ontario's regulatory regime are more similar to those of European than American countries. For instance, the AGCO has similar limits on the design of online casinos as those observed in the UK, emphasizing responsible gambling and protection. Other similarities are that there is no limit to the number of licenses and that there are similar advertising restrictions.

Don’t miss the chance to read our German iGaming Market Report!

iGaming advertising in Ontario

The following advertising restrictions have been set by the regulators for any new sports betting and iGaming companies entering the Ontario market. ‎

• High-risk gamers, self-excluded people, and minors shouldn't be targeted.
• The iGO mark must be displayed on all operator websites, advertising platforms, and social media channels, and all advertising must include a message about responsible gaming.
• There are currently no regulations regulating the volume of sports betting advertising. Although this will probably be revised as the sector reaches maturity, broadcasters will ultimately decide how many gambling advertisements are broadcast.
• Players will need to provide their consent in order to receive deposits, sign-up requests, or information about bonus offers. Operators will not be permitted to market bonuses through open advertising or social media.
• A ban on algorithm-based advertising and targeted public advertising.

The Ontario market's advertising regulations resemble those of European markets more so than those of US markets. ‎

Popular sports in Ontario

Ice hockey is of course the national sport, but as the majority of Ontarians reside within 100 miles of the US border, they also closely follow American sports. As most Ontarians have cable access to American broadcast networks, and the province broadcasts all major American sporting events, including college football and basketball, sportsbooks often feature competitions from both nations.

Since the NFL has been shown on Canadian television for many years, most sports fans in Canada follow American clubs in addition to CFL ones. The Toronto Raptors are a fan favorite in NBA basketball, especially after the 2019 NBA Championship. ‎

Baseball, lacrosse, golf, boxing, and horse racing are other sports that will see a lot of action in Canadian sportsbooks. ‎35% of inhabitants of the province report placing bets at sports betting websites at least once each week, according to a poll by OntarioBets.com, a company that specializes in research and reviews of sportsbooks and online casinos. ‎

Read more about our Mexican iGaming Market Report‎!

Popular casino games in Ontario

The conventional games seen in brick-and-mortar casinos are also the most well-liked at online casinos. Like many other nations, Canada is a leader in the popularity of slots, with table games like Blackjack and Roulette also enjoying significant popularity. Given that Ontarians have previously played online casino games with European iGaming providers, their preferences for video slots are comparable to those of European players. ‎

Looking ahead

In the international iGaming sector, Ontario is without a doubt one of the most exciting prospects. Operators will be put to the test as they strive to enter the newly regulated and fiercely competitive market as more and more operators seek to participate in the fray with such significant opportunity. We will be keeping a close eye on how other provinces may follow suit.

Make sure you check our blog regularly for more iGaming market reports because there are more to come!

The post The Ontario iGaming market report: Open for business first appeared on Delasport.

Coming up:

Market size and growth for iGaming in Denmark
Danish online gambling legislation
Popular casino games in Denmark
Danish sports betting
Looking to the future

Market size and growth for iGaming in Denmark

Over 5.41 million individuals in Denmark have a mobile connection and there are 5.69 million users, or just over 98 percent of the population, who are using the Internet.

The percentage of GGR produced by online gaming in the Danish gambling sector has been rising since 2012, according to Spillemyndigheden's statistics. Online gaming income (across all verticals) made up 31% of total gambling revenue in 2012, increasing to 59% in 2020.

According to Spillemyndigheden's annual review for 2021, Danish players are increasingly preferring to place their bets through online channels, notably mobile devices, which is up 7.2% from Q4 2020.

Online casinos have a 64.3 percent market share in 2021 with a GGR of 700 million euros and 450 million euros in revenue. The GGR for sports wagering was 250 million euros, or 35.7%.

Danish online gambling legislation

The Danish gambling industry, which started offering commercial online gaming on January 1, 2012, is governed by the Danish Gambling Authority (DGA). Under this new Danish legislation, commercial licences for poker, casino games, and sports betting were made available. On January 1st, 2018, commercial licences for bingo and horse/greyhound racing became accessible, ending the market monopoly of the national lottery operator.

The current tax rate for online gambling and interactive sports betting is 28 percent of GGR, up from 20 percent in 2021. In order to raise the social obligations of operators, the government presented new laws in 2019. This legislation went into effect in 2020, comprising of:

• Limit requirements for weekly, daily, or monthly player deposits.
• No one promotion or promotional (free bonus) sum should be greater than 135 euros (DKK 1,000).
• Betting promotions cannot be worth more than 10 times the players' bet.
• Broader targeting for promotional offers; at least 100 players must get the same offer.
• Players must have at least 60 days to complete a promotion's requirements.

Don’t miss the chance to read our German iGaming Market Report!

Popular casino games in Denmark

Popular video slots that have gained a lot of momentum in Denmark are Book of Dead and Legacy of Dead by Play'n GO, Bonanza by Big Time Gaming, and Sweet Bonanza by Pragmatic Play. Viking and Nordic themes are also quite popular in Denmark. Live dealer and casino shows are likewise quite well-liked.

It's easy to see why these live dealer presentations are so popular: they're entertaining, fast, and include a range of in-game choices to keep players interested. Players benefit from a deeper and more interesting involvement when presenters deliver the game in real-time.

Danish players choose games like Roulette, Blackjack, and Bingo the most. In Denmark, there are several physical casinos that also provide live games in specially designed TV rooms so that local players may participate in the online games as well.

According to data from Ficom Leisure and the Danish Gambling Authority, 73.5 percent of all users of online casinos play slots, making it by far the most popular game category. Blackjack and commission games made up 6.5 percent and 6.8 percent respectively, with roulette coming in second with 9.7 percent.

Danish sports betting

The most popular sport in Denmark is without a doubt football, which has produced numerous successful footballers and teams. The Superliga, a professional domestic football league with a total of 12 clubs, was established in Denmark in 1991. Other leagues with active betting include the Danmarksserien, Danish 2nd Division, Danish 3rd Division, and Danish 1st Division.

Over 100,000 licensed handball players play in Denmark, with the best professional men's handball league being HTH Ligaen, and the best professional women's handball league being Damehndboldligaen. Another well-liked sport in Denmark is ice hockey, with Metal Ligaen being the most prolific league since 1954.

Denmark has a very high rate of per-capita bicycle ownership with Bjarne Riis, Tony Rominger, Henry Hansen, Michael Rasmussen considered being among the best in the world. Numerous online sportsbooks targeting the Danish market provide coverage of major cycling events including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, World Championship Cyclo-cross, Milan-San Remo, and others.

Danes like playing basketball, badminton, gymnastics, American Football, and other sports. Danish athletes are also interested in VR sports, and the demand for VR leagues is increasing quickly as a result of the pandemic ban on live competition. They can operate all year long and are not impacted by seasonal fluctuations, therefore they are expected to remain popular.

Looking to the future

The tight restrictions around promotions will force operators to look at how other sectors have used customer data to increase engagement with new customers while retaining those already in the ecosystem. With so many rules and regulations, traditional promotions will be taking a backseat and operators will instead need to enhance the overall customer journey and experience. By accessing technology and working with the right partners, they will be able to improve their Player Lifetime Value plans through better future personalization, gamification, and other important elements.

Delasport is ideally positioned to advance iGaming in Denmark with a variety of products and solutions created to provide players with the finest experiences. Delasport is in many respects a secure bet for operators wishing to enter the Danish market thanks to its GLI accreditation to operate in Denmark with Sportsbook, Casino, PAM, together with the availability of market-leading technological solutions.

The post Danish iGaming Market Report: Leading the way first appeared on Delasport.

Contents:

Mexican online gambling laws
The current Mexican iGaming market
What online games are popular in Mexico?
Popular sports to bet on in Mexico
Challenges and prospects in Mexican iGaming
What we expect to see in the future for Mexican iGaming

Mexican online gambling laws

Despite the fact that the Federal Gaming and Raffles Law of 1947 do not directly prohibit internet gambling, it is deemed permissible under the 2004 regulation. Online operators must have a license, but B2B providers do not need to get a separate gaming license. Operators, on the other hand, are required to disclose the identities of their providers.

Currently, there are dozens of sports betting and casino operators in Mexico, the majority of which are working with internationally licensed operating firms – that are permitted to and actively welcoming to Mexican players.

The current Mexican iGaming market

The size of the Mexican iGaming market size is estimated to be around $500m GGR with year-on-year growth of ~10%. The gambling market is divided into two ty­pes of products: sports betting and casino. Online operators must get a license from SEGOB (Secretariat of the Interior), whereas B2B suppliers do not - and operators must pay a 30% tax rate from GGR earnings.

With nearly 80 million Mexicans owning a smartphone by 2020 the rapid adoption of mobile devices has had a big impact on the iGaming industry, with operators increasingly providing mobile-friendly experiences and applications to guarantee that players have access to the features they desire (like our new Ifbet function) and that they don’t fall behind the competition.

What online games are popular in Mexico?

Slots (like in many other countries) are amongst the most popular casino games played online in Mexico's leading casinos. Blackjack is also quite popular, and it is frequently featured prominently on casino sites. There is also a lot of interest in live casino gaming, particularly blackjack and roulette.

Many of the same games are available in Mexican online casinos as they are in international ones, but local gamblers have their own preferences when compared to those in other countries. Video slot games with Mexican and South American themes are popular, such as Inca, Da de Los Muertos, piñata, and others. The Mexican e-casino market is well-developed enough to provide popular games, mobile gaming experiences, bonuses, VIP programs, and other benefits.

Popular sports to bet on in Mexico

Mexico's tax income from sports betting is estimated to be over $300 million USD each year. Mexicans, like the rest of the world, worship football, and this enthusiasm naturally extends to sportsbooks. With a large number of spectators and bets, Mexico's Primera Division is the most popular football competition in the country. International leagues such as the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, and Spanish La Liga are also regularly bet on and viewed in the Mexican market. Mexican sports fans are surprisingly enthusiastic about American football to the point where the NFL makes it a point to play games in Mexico City every year, with NCAAF also getting high viewership.

Baseball is also popular in Mexico, with local leagues attracting a lot of attention and wagers - as well as the Mexican Baseball League and Major League Baseball both seeing a large number of bets.

Don’t miss the chance to read our Ontario iGaming Market Report!

Challenges and prospects in Mexican iGaming

Around 60% of Mexican gamers wager on sports, while 40% gamble on more typical casino games including slots, blackjack, poker, and the lottery. While operators will undoubtedly provide experiences in both of these verticals, the quality of those experiences will be what gives operators the edge over the competition.

Experiences must evolve – Mexican operators have a significant challenge against rivals that provide high-quality digital sportsbooks and online casino experiences. The overseas market is already developed in this regard, so players already know what good experiences look like. As a by-product of this, the number of specialist providers who can integrate advanced features into an operation has also increased, providing complete solutions that don’t need to be created in-house.

Marketing matters – As demand and customer numbers go up, Mexican operators are finding it necessary to invest heavily in marketing.  Rather than relying solely on above-the-line communications such as billboards, radio, or word of mouth, operators looking to grow their online business will need to embrace social media and other major digital platforms to raise awareness and demonstrate that they are authorities in their field and that they understand the importance of today’s digital landscape.

What we expect to see in the future for Mexican iGaming

Mexico is well-positioned to become a significant global player in the iGaming arena because of its fast-growing technology adaptability, population density, and operators hungry for success. In Mexico's iGaming market, we foresee tremendous growth, with both existing operators looking to establish themselves before the local market reaches saturation.

This isn’t to say the opportunities have already been snapped up – the industry is still very much in its infancy in Mexico when compared to Europe and North America. To catch up quickly, we expect to see Mexican operators partnering up with companies such as Delasport to provide them with the technology they need to attract the players.

Our sportsbook and online casino solutions are already fully featured for the modern player and are perfect for companies who want to start trading as soon as possible.  Our recent partnership with Winpot, a licensed Mexican operator, is just one example of how we’re making an impact on the industry and we expect to be working with more companies as the market matures.

The post Mexican iGaming Market Report: Growing fast first appeared on Delasport.

Integrating gamification with sports betting, online casinos, and related activities is something of a no-brainer, but what may be less obvious is how powerful a tool it can be to retain players and cross-sell between products and services. But what are the tools available, the benefits they offer and how can operators ensure they are taking the optimal approach?

Coming up:

Gamification tools for iGaming
Why should operators add gamification tools?
Why gamification is good for players
Cross vertical gamification
Understand the customers
Choosing gamification rewards

Gamification tools for iGaming

Gamification in online gambling is generally used for stickiness (repeated visits and interactions), rewards, retention, loyalty, and training players on the usage of a specific product or platform. The tools used can include:

Missions: Specific actions that the player needs to perform to accumulate points, which can be a general activity (such as logging in, depositing, responding to a notification) or product-specific, which directly relate to specific betting activity.

Levels: An artificial ladder that indicates player progression throughout their journey, with milestones and targets to unlock better store purchases. These can be themed, such as evolving from Trainee to Golden Boot winner in football-related online gambling games.

Badges: Medals that the player can earn for an activity, more suited to providing additional flare and to help with storytelling.

Points To indicate player progress, level-up thresholds, and to be used as a currency in iGaming stores.

Store: An area where players spend their currency points. Items sold here can be gameplay-related or tangible in other beneficial ways.

Communication channels & activity: An overview of the journey a player has been through on your online casino or sports betting platform, with the milestones and actions they have achieved on the way.

Tournaments: Competitions involving 2 or more players, all participating with the purpose of reaching the top of the leaderboard by achieving the same goal and earning a prize.

Why should operators add gamification tools?

If operators can add features that are interesting and entertaining for players, they will naturally spend more time with the products and return for more. This allows operators to offer other products and services to gain players, who will be more inclined to try them out based on the trust and familiarity which has already been established.

However, it is crucial that this engagement process is informed by data and analysis so casino and sportsbook operators can select the promotional methods to assure long-term success. One other major importance of gamification in iGaming is that while campaigns and marketing efforts are usually limited in duration, gamified environments can be leveraged to attain goals over much longer periods of time.

Why gamification is good for iGaming players

Tools like achievements, leagues, and tournaments make players feel part of a community and promote healthy competition, so it creates a real sense of satisfaction when certain milestones are reached. The numbers we see at Delasport speak to this, as we saw an increase in player engagement of circa 85% month to month from 32,000 completed missions to nearly 59,000 just a month later.

As discussed in our list of expected iGaming trends in 2022, the positive psychological reinforcement from gamification gives players a thrill of beating the system, passing a milestone even triggering an exclusive feature. Even a small fanfare when they pass a certain threshold of bets or an anniversary of their registration can make them feel like they are part of something, and that the operator is giving them proper attention.

Cross vertical gamification

Players should be given as many ways as possible to enjoy and gamble. For instance, in the right circumstances, sports gambling players can enjoy a few spins of roulette during half-time – and the same goes for online casino players who might want to have a punt on a major sports event that happens to be going on.

Through gamification in iGaming, those betting on sports can be given special awards or badges when they cross over to casino games – or vice versa. To help support this, operators will need to identify the players most likely to do this and give them the proper incentive to follow through.  In addition, with a holistic approach, an operator can offer players points in a tournament across verticals, allowing them to use them on their favorite casino games and sports events.

Understand the customers

The mechanisms underneath gamification must be intelligently balanced in order to attract and retain iGaming players, maximize the quality of the experience; all while still maintaining a favorable ROI. It’s not as simple as adding new features to a game and hoping for the best: it must be carefully planned, adjusted, and supported by insightful data.

The approach is also important, as a number of people who place bets often do so to be entertained, rather than making an income. As such, gamification should enhance their reason to play, but not be the main draw. Instead, gamification in iGaming should only elevate the entertainment factor and not overpower the gameplay.

A final note on customer awareness is to properly understand the different values different players offer to an iGaming operator, and that the appropriate mechanisms and awards are in place for them. For instance, a higher-level casino player may spend ‎€50K per week and should therefore have better rewards than another player who spends €10 per week.

Choosing gamification rewards

Having real insight into your customers is crucial when trying to understand which rewards will be the most appealing to which iGaming customers. One of the best ways to do this is to keep things ‘fair’ is to demonstrate that the house is paying out and that both sides can win (where the business gain, is naturally, the lion's share).

It goes without saying that online gambling Operators must deliver on what’s promised and give the reward to winning players – or risk a serious loss of trust. It’s usually best to give the reward on the spot in the form of achievement or milestone.

A few other aspects of rewarding will depend on your customer profile and targeting. For instance, when it comes to scheduling, you can:

• Give the reward at the end, for instance, if they have done a certain action or triggered a certain number of times, like a deposit.
• In the beginning, where the customer already knows the reward is there, but they must complete certain actions first. This is not the best approach as it can feel a little ‘carrot and stick’.
• Progressively, where the reward is given according to the player’s progress throughout their levels. For example, collecting pieces of a puzzle where the collection of a final piece releases an award.

You can also incorporate different types of reward, such as fixed (known from the start), randomized (from a pool of options), or surprised (given without expectation).

It’s time to up your game

Gamification in iGaming is a great retention and revenue tool for operators, but it’s not easy to implement. Understanding your customer is the key. The mechanics (journey, gameplay, rewards) should be personalized and applied upon player segmentation. Your player should be able to easily see the value when they ask the ‘what’s in it for me’ question’ and should clearly understand the journey to achieving their reward.

Knowing that you need gamification in your iGaming business is only half the battle. What about the implementation and maintenance of such an undertaking for your sportsbook or online casino? If you want to take your iGaming operations to the next level but need support, Delasport offers the technology and experience to make it happen. With decades of experience in the online sports betting and online casino industry, we know what it takes to gamify and succeed. To find out more, get in touch with our team today.

The post The importance of gamification in iGaming first appeared on Delasport.