Social connection is one of the most transformative forces in the iGaming sector. It is not only fast-paced and rapidly evolving but also a definitive way to understand, reshape and experience how games are developed and played. Social connection in iGaming also creates a sense of community fostering by ensuring there is an interactive online engagement. It is helping drive innovation through social dynamics which in turn is helping to reshape the entire iGaming landscape. Social connection can very well shape the future of iGaming. Appropriately used, it has the ability to play a pivotal role in driving iGaming trend assessment, analysis, user engagement and innovation. It has the power to influence iGaming and its potential.

With an intent to increase user awareness, create a culture of interactive engagement, give users a personalised experience and make iGaming more immersive, the power of social connection and its importance in the sector is far-reaching.    

Influencer Marketing and Community Fostering

Gaming influencers play a very major and pivotal role in the development of the iGaming sector. Collaborating with influencers on different levels can help create a certain level of user acceptance and understanding of the what-clicks element. This also creates a significant impact on iGaming trends. Influencers can help garner a sense of confidence with the user community while displaying new games, discussing playing strategies, launching marketing campaigns and creating awareness around new games.

Game developers and iGaming portals often thrive on user feedback for improvements and innovation. A lot of information gathering happens when there is more interaction with player communities and users. Such feedback and suggestive systems help developers and iGaming portals to create better games that meet player expectations.

Social Sharing

Integration of iGaming with social media has helped develop innovative strategies to improve user involvement and also bring about responsible gaming. iGaming platforms are now permitting players to share their experiences, successes, and failures, and also invite others from their communities and groups on the portal through blogs and social media links. This becomes a kind of recommendation from existing players, which attracts new players, thus making it credible.

Other important aspects of social sharing include the launching of marketing campaigns by game developers, who leverage the social dynamics of users already present on the platform. This enables a more personal level of interaction with potential new players.

Engage With The Audience

The best way to encourage audience engagement is by conducting question-answer sessions. Among a large number of sites and portals hosting iGaming and announcing bonuses and rewards for players: askgamblers.com/online-casinos/countries/in/bonus, clearly outlines the bonuses while also answering frequently asked questions. This kind of integration between social connection elements and iGaming is likely to positively influence the industry’s growth trajectory.

Another way to increase engagement with audiences is to prompt a reaction through interactive content and seek their thoughts through a structured feedback method. This type of two-way interaction not only gives insights into audience perception but also helps foster a sense of community development.

Personalization  

The most beneficial use of social connection in iGaming is the collation of valuable user data. This data then helps game developers and portals to enhance user experiences and launch personalized gaming preferences for esports, online cricket betting, and online casino games. Data from social interactions also helps ascertain player behaviour which in turn is used for offering personalized content to users. The huge gap of whether or not esports can be expanded into other genres like casino games, is now answered with the help of hyper-personalization.

Players like to receive relevant, engaging and thought-provoking content. This further boosts user satisfaction and ensures user retention. Once players realize they are getting what they prefer most, word-of-mouth marketing starts.

Ethical and Regulation-driven

Responsible gaming is always the cornerstone target for all iGaming developers and portals. Responsible gaming includes finding time for yourself, taking breaks between games, and ensuring you have a healthy lifestyle apart from gaming. Social connections and channels of social media help to promote ethical gaming practices at all levels and in all possible ways. A lot of platforms prefer to include self-exclusion features and set pre-fixed limits for players. All such information and education is done through social connection networks. In the world of iGaming such practices are a bare necessity.

Through social connection and social media, players can get community support, guidance and help. Regulatory authorities make it a point to audit all such iGaming platforms and websites to ensure there is proper compliance and diligence being followed.

iGaming is an industry that embraces and actively incorporates all new technologies. This is clearly seen in the example of mobile technologies. According to statistics, about 68% of the world’s population were smartphone users by the end of 2022, while their overall shipment was about 1.2 billion units. Mobile technologies can bring new opportunities for casino providers. For example, in Poland, the annual revenue from in-app casino purchases reached $14.39 million in 2022.

Also, reputable Polish gambling sites like GG BET PL use them to simplify the gameplay and increase accessibility for players. Smartphones develop every year, bringing new opportunities for casino operators. With constant boosts in processor power, increasing RAM, and creating better displays, smartphones already allow you to launch any casino game and enjoy it without lags and freezes. As for the latest trends in the mobile casino industry, blockchain, Metaverse, VR, and AI play the most significant role.

Blockchain

Blockchain (and NFT) technology became a game changer, allowing players to use virtual money to make deposits, withdraw winnings, and buy different items. This approach is based on a decentralized network without a third party to confirm transactions.

It significantly reduces their processing time (which can be a few minutes) and cost. If you decide to play your favorite game for real money, you may use one of the crypto banking options available on the site and do not be afraid of your sensitive data security thanks to the following:

• Key management;
• Deposit/withdrawal endorsement;
• Smart contracts, and more.

Plus, all transaction data is recorded on the blockchain, and you can check it anytime. Speaking about blockchain, many mobile casinos use NFTs to motivate players, boost their engagement, and personalize rewards. According to 2023 research, more than 50% of mobile casinos have already integrated blockchain technologies and are actively exploring the potential of DeFi and NFTs.

Artificial Intelligence

It is hard to deny that currently, it is an era of AI. According to statistics, the AI software market’s annual revenue (global) is over $50 billion. Statistics show that AI technologies will contribute over $15 trillion to the world economy by the end of 2030. So it is unsurprising that with the AI revolution, the iGaming industry incorporated this technology because of obvious advantages.

First of all, machine learning helps provide better security without extra pressure on customers by exploring new malicious practices and fraud prevention. The same is true for cheating by casino users. For example, AI tools can quickly analyze bet patterns that are made via automated systems. Along with detecting non-human inputs, it is possible to monitor red flags and identify vulnerable individuals.

Virtual Reality

Based on statistics, the VR gambling industry is set to grow from $0.4 billion in 2017 to $2.4 billion by 2024. Not all online casinos fully implement this approach, but it is a promising technology that can fully immerse into the gameplay and boost customer engagement. Gamblers get new playing opportunities, including the following:

• Dive into the game due to the 360° video technology;
• Travel along the virtual world;
• Communicate with other participants and more.

This already changed the perception of, for example, video slots. For example, you can already try to play the following slot titles with VR headsets or 3D goggles: Gonzo’s Quest VR, Jack and the Beanstalk, Twin Spin, Miss Midas, Thunderstruck II, and Starburst.

Metaverse

In fact, this approach is a combination of blockchain and VR technologies mentioned above. Thanks to this technology, you can fully plunge into the atmosphere of a land-based casino without leaving your home and enjoy your favorite slot, card, table, and other games.

One of the peculiarities is that such gaming sites cooperate with special platforms (for example, Metaverse Casino Management), which play the role of hosts for casinos. These platforms provide multiple opportunities to casino operators, including the usage of dApps and the ability to manage their domain autonomously.

Casino software developers are not limited to using advanced API and creating top games within the Metaverse casino framework. To get started, you should also use a VR headset or 3D goggles and, of course, a casino that supports this technology.

Although not many casinos offer this advanced approach, the Metaverse seems like a promising direction to develop. Based on recent research, the global Metaverse market will increase at a CAGR of 38.0% by 2027, from $36.81 billion in 2022 to $710.21 billion in 2027.