Online gambling constantly evolves. It’s driven by rapid technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences, not to mention regulatory changes. Over the past few years, the iGaming industry has seen unprecedented growth, reaching new heights in terms of user engagement and revenue.
As we move into 2025, several emerging trends are expected to shape the landscape of new online casinos. It goes beyond the simple launch of new casinos, which are monitored by authority websites on the subject. New casinos are launched all the time, but new technologies pave the way for a brand-new gambling experience. Let’s take a look at some of the expected trends.
VR Casinos May Finally Be a Thing
VR and AR technologies have been gaining traction in the gaming industry for years, and iGaming is no exception. While it has been the talk of the town for years already, always with the expectance of finally making a groundbreaking change to the gambling experience, we have high hopes for 2025.
Although still in its early stages, the introduction of VR casinos has provided a glimpse into the future of truly immersive gambling. Players can enter virtual environments that replicate real-life casino settings, complete with realistic graphics and interactive elements. The goal is to mirror the experience of a brick-and-mortar casino and give you a taste of Vegas from your living room.
This has long been the dream, and the technology has been available for years. However, accessibility has been a big hindrance, preventing casinos from truly investing in this opportunity.
VR devices have always been expensive and have limited usage since few games, etc., are available in the medium. But this is bound to change. As VR has grown to be more and more mainstream during the last 10 years, it is reaching it’s tipping point. According to a study by Statista, the revenue in the AR and VR market is set to reach €37.3 billion in 2024 and 58.1 billion in 2029, so it’s a market in massive growth.
VR and AR technology will become more accessible, with lower hardware costs and improved user experiences. Online casinos will invest heavily in creating lifelike virtual environments where players can interact with each other, chat with dealers, and explore a variety of games in a 360-degree setting.
AI-Powered Personalisation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a groundbreaking new technology that has truly changed how we use the Internet, and it’s both good and bad. While the images may look tacky and it overexplain everything, they work perfectly for handling big data and creating a personalised user experience beyond simple algorithms.
It has already started to revolutionise the iGaming industry by providing personalised recommendations, improving customer support with chatbots, and enhancing fraud detection mechanisms. Players now receive tailored suggestions for games based on their preferences and behaviour.
We believe AI will play an even more central role in shaping the user experience in 2025. With advanced machine learning algorithms, online casinos will offer hyper-personalised gaming experiences. From personalised bonuses and promotions to dynamic game suggestions, AI will make the user experience more engaging and customised than ever before.
Additionally, AI-powered customer service will provide instant, accurate assistance. While chatbots can be frustrating at times and should by no means replace human support, they can assist with the most mundane queries that take up 90% of the support team’s time.
Sustainability and Responsible Gambling Initiatives
Responsible gambling has had a heightened focus in the industry for years, and we expect it to further grow in 2025. With increasing awareness about environmental issues and responsible gambling, the iGaming industry has not only started to adopt more sustainable practices; strict regulations ensure they must enforce them.
The exact initiatives depend on where the casino operates, but as a minimum, they should offer tools for self-exclusion, spending limits, and time management to promote responsible gambling.
Furthermore, the UK Gambling Commission will implement stricter regulations in 2025 to ensure responsible gambling according to their Gambling Act White Papers overhaul. Some regulations to come are:
- Financial Vulnerability Checks: This is set to start on the 28th of February 2025 and forces the operator to conduct financial checks when deposits minus withdrawals exceed a total of £150 over a 30-day period. This is a steep decrease from the current £500 threshold.
- A longer spin speed: All non-slot games are required to have a minimum speed of 5 seconds to ensure the gambler has more time to make their decisions. Additionally, autoplay -features are completely banned. This feature must be added by January 2025.
While these regulations only impact gamblers from the UK right now, we often see other regulators taking inspiration from the UK market.
Moreover, responsible gambling measures will be enhanced with the help of AI, allowing for more effective monitoring of player behaviour and interventions when needed. While this is still in the works, it’s likely to become a feature over the next year to further emphasise responsible gambling.
