UK Online Gaming Industry Set For Greater Boom
The UK has always been a tad conservative when it comes to online gaming. Unlike its counterparts in the US and Australia, the UK gaming market has always shown its preference for physical, land-based casinos over online ones. But this may soon change, given the phenomenal rate at which online gaming sites are mushrooming in the UK internet space.
The online gaming industry in the UK has picked up speed for two reasons. First, online casinos allow amateur players and first-timers to try their luck at games like poker and roulette, all in the comfort of their homes and away from the judgemental eyes of experienced players. Second, these websites offer players a plethora of games, many of which may be unavailable in land-based casinos.
But, the biggest reason for the exponential growth in the UK online gaming market is the type of wins offered to players. From cash to discount vouchers to freebies to cryptocurrency, the type and quantity of wins in the online market far exceeds the wins players can expect from its land-based counterpart.
Data and financial security is another thing that is better on online casinos. What with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in force, gaming websites and online casinos have started implementing more transparent and comprehensive data management regulations, which work in the interests of players. Legitimate data processing prevents money laundering and problem gambling and allows websites to assist players with self-exclusion when the need arises.
In fact, it is features like these that have significantly improved the performance of the online gaming industry in the UK. The country saw a 3.7% increase in its gross gambling yield (GGY) from 2017, with the industry reaching £4.9 billion in early 2018. This includes revenues generated from a variety of games such as pool betting, bingo, slots and poker.
In addition to the revenues, the UK online gaming industry also tops the social responsibility category by funneling a large part of their earnings towards charitable ventures. The industry has collectively provided a whopping £251 million for charitable causes in the 2017-2018 period.
Now, the online casino market in the UK is only set to grow further. Companies are experimenting with gamification to improve the user experience. New games are constantly being added, with older games being redesigned to provide a more immersive and well-rounded gaming experience to players. Virtual reality is another area that the UK online gaming market is stepping into.
With companies churning out new games and websites every month, players will have an extensive selection on offer by the end of 2018.
