iGaming is a term that is used to describe any sort of casino gaming that takes place online. This covers everything from sports wagering through to online casinos, and even takes lotteries into account too.
The roots of iGaming are intertwined with the birth of the internet – the earliest online casino was brought out in 1994 by Microgaming, around the same time that the Liechtenstein International Lottery was selling its first ever tickets online to the public.
Since then, land-based casinos have slowly become less of a focus for those who want to chase that high of gaming, whether their preference is poker, slot machines, or whether their favourite sports team is going to come out on top.
Before the internet, if you wanted to get involved in any form of casino gaming you would have to either go to a bricks-and-mortar casino or to a local bookmaker. This might not seem like much of an issue, but for the UK market the strict regulation of these locations (as well as the lack of accessibility in many cases) meant that a casino visit wasn’t a regular occurrence.
Of course, we have pop culture to thank for our inflated image of what it is like in a casino; there are not many casinos in the UK that are like the ones we see in Vegas, but they usually have a dress code at the very least, not to mention entrance charges and memberships.
What iGaming has brought to the table is the ability for these wagers to be placed from the comfort of your own home – and even while you are waiting for a bus, thanks to the prevalence of apps and 5G. What this means is that the sector of the online entertainment industry that was originally considered a little bit ‘niche’ has grown and developed to become a major player and one of the fastest growing sectors globally.
Reports vary on the actual value of iGaming to the global market, but even the lower estimates of $96 billion is utterly mind blowing.
Now, this has not all been smooth sailing – in fact, governments around the world have been actively working against this growth market right into to the early part of the new millennium. However, it wasn’t rocket science for them to realise that it could be an excellent way to generate extra income.
Regulation and licensing are an important part of this. While limiting the harm that casino gaming can do is part of the regulation process, it is also an effective way to ensure that players can stay safe online and place wagers without worrying about the security of their financial information, for example. Fair play is another important part of the licensing process, and that means that if you are using an official, regulated site, you can play the way you want.
What About the Future?
iGaming has become about more than just a small part of the culture of sports, for example. Wagering on the outcome of a sporting event has roots in our ancient history, so it is no surprise that horse racing and football wagering are among the most popular forms of iGaming. Even those who don’t consider themselves to be gamers will have a ‘flutter’ on some of the biggest horse races such as the Grand National. Are you even a sport fan if you don’t believe your team has what it takes to win the League – and do you have the courage to put your money where your mouth is? iGaming and sports wagering means that you can place a wage on your favourite teams in almost any sport around the world, from the English Premier League through to Gaelic games, US sports, and even little-known Asian competitions.
Of course, the global leader in the industry is the online casino. Here is a place that is designed to hold all your favourite games in one place, so that you can decide whether you want to get involved in table games like poker and blackjack, or whether you want to take your chances with the ever-popular slot games.
Live iGaming is a growth factor too. The ability to place wages in play is a part of this, as is the opportunity for an early cashout if you can’t hold out for the final whistle. Another part of this is playing live casino games with Virgin Games, using the latest in video technology and optical recognition to play games against real dealers and other players – potentially the closest you will get to the physical casino without having to leave your home.
Add to these innovations like virtual reality, immersive graphics and sound, and the best security, and you’ve got an iGaming experience that is obviously only going to get better for the players.