Starting an iGaming company, whether it’s opening a new business or taking your land-based casino online is a serious feat. The good news is that the industry is evolving very fast, which provides operators numerous opportunities for success. As a result, there are more and more operators entering the market, with the hope to leverage iGaming. Making it challenging for companies to survive and grow into respected operators.

Why the Right iGaming Software Provider Matters?

The extremely competitive market and increased player expectations make running an online gaming business challenges. The key to being successful in this ever-changing industry is having a trusted iGaming software provider. A high-quality igaming software provides secure and rigid business growth, and most importantly, boosts ROI.

When choosing your iGaming software provider, you need to make sure you can rely on this trusted partner to go through the stages of leading a successful online gaming business. Meaning, your trusted iGaming software provider should have the following features.

1. Robust and Flexible Platform

The provider should provide a scalable and flexible platform that will be the basis of your operations. It should be able to accommodate all your business needs. The platform will be the core of your iGaming business, and the place where you store all your user data and manage your gaming processes. Whether you go for a white label or turnkey solution, your iGaming platform must contain some basic features.

2.Wide Variety of Quality Games

Even the best developed platform is worthless if it doesn’t offer a large scale of top quality games. The platform should enable you to add comprehensive Sportsbook, Casino, Live Casino, VR Casino, and Skill games to ensure player engagement and enjoyable user experience. The most reliable iGaming software providers offer a wide variety of cutting-edge gaming and betting solutions to meet the varying players’ needs.

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3.Advanced Customer Relationship Management Tools

An iGaming platform should take special steps to attract players and keep them engage. One way to do that is by offering bonuses, jackpots and tournaments with big pool prizes. Most iGaming platforms come equipped with CRM tools that will enable you to better understand players’ needs. Then, offer them what they want, reduce the churn rate, refine player segmentation for targeted market and so on.  

4.Anti-Fraud and Risk Management Tools

Online gaming operators are often the target of cheaters seeking ways to take more than they fair share. Since risky players can cause a huge problem, protecting your gaming business from fraudulent activities is crucial. When choosing an iGaming software provider they offer an AI-powered real-time risk management system. Most modern ML-based risk management tools allow gaming operators to promote responsible gaming, and instantly detect and manage risky players, so they can preventing fraudulent activities before they happen happens.

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5.Multicurrency and Multilingual Support

Providing players with 24/7 support is another extremely important aspect of running an iGaming business. Cos if you fail to provide a correct answer to only one question, you risk losing a customer. But some of the trusted iGaming software providers also provide services such as – top-quality, prompt, helpful, multichannel, and multilingual support. Moreover, you need to make sure your software provider is also enable players to use different payments methods in multiple currencies.

Final Words

There are the top 5 factors you need to consider when choosing an iGaming software provider. The company you partner with needs to be able to provide you full support, comprehensive tools and featured that will help you run a successful iGaming business.

There are many gaming and betting software providers on the market that offer all-in-one, innovative solutions that ensure the growth of your company. And it’s up to you to do your research, and find that one that best fits your needs. Making the right decision and picking the best and most trusted iGaming software provides is how your company can stand out of the competition with a rich offering of quality games, increasing number of returning players and sustainable income. So make it wisely.

Online gaming and gambling are on a constant rise. The internet made online casino gambling available to anyone. Which was very positive to many players how now can enjoy their favorite games without having to make an expensive trip to the casino.

But just like traditional, brick-and-mortar casinos, the online casinos have their dos and don’ts. And before you enter one, it’s important to understand the etiquette, and prevent yourself form looking foolish or worse, like a total amateur. Read on and learn how to behave in an online casino. We’ll have you looking like a pro before your first log in.

1. Know the Law of the Land

Since you can play online from any place in the world, before you log in to your favorite casino, check to see if online gambling is legal in the country, state, province or region where you are residing at the moment. Consult our legality page.  So you won’t end up losing more than just your hand at poker.

2. Play to Win but Expect to Lose

“House always wins” is something we hear all the time, and there’s a reason for that. Gambling online affords players the luxury to take their time to master the games and learn their strategies. Use this to your advantage. Take time to master the games and play to win. But no matter what lucky charm you have on or how smart and strategic your moves are, expect to lose sometimes. Expecting to win all the time will only lead to frustration and no one needs that.

3. Play According to the Best Rules

Almost all online casinos offer the same games. But they may have different variations and not have the same rules. Make Google your friend and search for the rules which suit your preferences. Study the rules or print them out for future reference. That way, you set yourself for success.  

4. Learn to Assess and Trust the Odds

Most casino games are games of chance, that’s true. But some or not. Mathematical statistics are proven, and all casino games are designed on percentages and probabilities for a reason. Don’t rely on luck alone cos there’s more to it. Constant winners aren’t only “lucky” – they have a better understanding of the odds. Learn to calculate the odds – don’t hate them!

5. Always have a Timely Play

Yes, it is expected to take a moment to consider your next move. However, you should make your next move in a timely manner. If you need to do something away from your computers or smartphone, it might be better to use the “sit out next hand” button. The other players will be thankful you did that.

6. Don’t Bet More than You Can Afford

Gambling is meant to be fun. Winning some money plays a big role here, but to win, you must bet first. And the party mood goes away quickly when you spend your rent or grocery money away. Create a gaming budget and stick to a limit that you can realistically afford.

7. Don’t Bet on “Setting Systems”

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Stick to the rules and use proven mathematical strategies to plan your next move. Don’t rely on someone’s unsolicited advice or betting system they made out cos it is a surefire way to fill somebody else’s pockets.

8. Be Polite to All Players

Even though there are casino games where you play against a computer, keep in mind that online casinos are a real community, and most of the time you are playing against real people. Be cultured and polite, even if your playing style is aggressive.

9. Don’t Do or Permit any “Flaming”

One of the worst things you can do is take out your anger or frustration on other players. Or allow and instigate someone else to act angrily. Instead, calm down, and take sit the next hand out. If angry and insulting comments are directed to you, try to respond calmly and avoid getting into a ‘fight’.

Remember that even though you are playing online, it’s still an establishment where you are expected to follow certain rules and behave. Use our short guide to online gambling etiquette to learn the basic dos and don’ts, so you won’t end up being the annoying player that no one wants to play against.

When online gambling software developers consider the next markets, Latin America is rarely their first choice. That’s no surprise since the top countries by game revenue are China, the U.S., and Japan. Truth is, Latin America finished 2018 with 19% growth year-over-year on mobile platforms. And the predictions say that by 2021 there will be over 235 million smartphone users. Latin America is going through a rapid advancement and quickly catching up to global market leaders.

Let’s look at the Numbers

Latin America is comprised of 26 countries. Collectively, it is twice as big as Europe, and has almost the same number of people. And if all countries are consolidated, like the European Union, it would be the fourth largest. Yet it is still off the radar for most online gambling software developers.

Usually, this is due to the fact that there are income disparities and low bank account ownership. These facts, combined with the recent regional economic decline are making doing business difficult. But there’s still good reason for gambling software developers and operators to consider taking their businesses to Latin America. As it seems it will be the next big mobile gambling market.

For one, industry research shows that the LatAm mobile gaming and gambling market will be worth over $2 billion this year, making it over three times larger than Southeast Asia. Additionally, the growth rates are similar for both regions. The growth is expected to continue, even though only something over 150 million of approximately 630 million people have smartphones. The majority of whom reside in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Peru.

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In the past several years, Latina America has grown into a potentially huge market, which already accounts for 4 percent of the world’s total game revenue. But research shows that online gambling software developers do not consider this market important and spend less than one percent of their annual ad budget in Latin America.

The key to online gambling growth in Latin America lies in considering it as a region instead of a collection of countries. Mexico has 130 million people and is one of 20 countries that speak Spanish. On the other hand, there’s Brazil, with over 200 million people speaking Portuguese. This fact alone makes it very easy to segment potential players in this region based on language. Meaning Latin America has little of the linguistic complexity of Europe or Asia. Operators’ teams can partner with a local expert in the region and still manage global acquisition campaigns.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you need to appeal to the new generation of gamblers, the ones that prefer online gambling – e.g. millennials (the generation born between 1985 and 2000) who value personalised, innovative online experiences. This is one reason why games themed around a variety of niches are so popular online, providing choice for any type of gamer, regardless of how varied their interests.

Millennials also want to be able to choose between multiple touchpoints. Providing an omni-channel experience that enables playing on desktop and mobile devices is crucial. People in Latin America favour mobile gaming and gambling, the same as in the Western world. It’s just another area online gambling operators should consider when expanding to this market.

Last Words

Even though gambling restrictions remain in place across the world, governments are beginning to see the benefits of a legal but regulated gambling industry. But until online gambling operators see appreciable change in legislation in the U.S and Europe, they are on the lookout for new opportunities. So it’s no wonder Latin America’s one of their new targets.

With the population of the continent standing at over 600 million, there’s a huge audience out there. And people have a strong appetite for gambling. What’s more, travel and tourism are booming in the region – at a rate of 5.1% per year between 2010 and 2020 – which adds the potential for gambling tourism. While it remains to be seen which online gambling operators and software providers will come out on top, there’s no doubt that large organizations with experience working internationally have a clear advantage.

It goes without saying that betting laws, rules and regulations vary for different countries. Different betting regulatory bodies also govern specific regions in some countries. However, the reach of the body’s authority is not always clearly stated, and leaves a lot of confusion to where gambling and betting are legal and where they are not. There’s no such issue in Russia though since gambling laws are pretty clear. Yet, betting is mostly illegal in Russia.

Gambling and Betting Laws in Russia

Online gambling is completely banned in Russia and all online betting activity by Russian citizens is deemed illegal. Additionally, land-based gambling is illegal in the whole country, except in four regions. In spite of the ban, Russians still gamble online with offshore operators. Yet, it doesn’t appear that it is likely the gambling legislation is about to change in the near future.

Brief History of Russian Gambling

In the period from 1928 to 1989 all forms of gambling were banned in the Soviet Union. But the tight grip was starting to loosen. In 1988 when slot machines were legalised in certain locations, then in 1989 all gambling and betting became legal on the whole territory.

As a result, land-based casinos started to open. By 2002, there were over 50 casinos operating in Moscow alone. As gambling’s popularity kept growing, the government felt necessary to control the situation. And in 2006, they voted on a law that prohibits all online gambling and betting. In spite of the ban, most gambling sites still welcomed Russian customers since they were one of the most enthusiastic online gamblers.

A few years later, in 2009, the Russian government decided to restrict land-based gambling too. The offline betting and gambling establishments that didn’t comply with the new Russian law were closed. Moreover, sports betting and casino gambling was only allowed at bookmakers and casinos working and operating in four Russian regions: Kaliningrad Oblast, Krasnador Krai, Altai Krai, and Primorsky Krai. Gambling and betting was banned in the other parts of the countries, which is still the case today.

Three years later, in 2012, the Russian Supreme Court took gambling prohibition a step further. This new decision stated that Internet providers must block all sites operated by online gaming and betting operators in order to make it impossible for Russians to access them. Additionally, a special regulatory body called Roskomnadzor was created. Its purpose was to track down illegal online betting activity and listing all illegal betting sites for Russians. This ruling was against the beliefs and policies of Russian Internet providers so they objected this law vehemently. However, the government’s stance was clear, and they threatened they would revoke the Internet provider’s licenses if they didn’t comply.

As expected, online gambling and betting operators closed their virtual doors to Russian players. But there are some operators that continue to provide services to Russian customers, and interestingly enough, the government hasn’t taken any steps to block these financial transactions.

The Reality of Online Gambling

Russian laws regarding gambling and betting are very strict, and it’s clear that you are breaking the law if you choose to gamble online. There’s also a debate whether poker should fall under this law since it’s a game of skill and not a game of chance, but sports betting and casino games are clearly illegal. However, despite the heavy restrictions, the real picture shows that online betting continues to be one of the favorite part-time activities for Russians.

This is due to the fact that the Russian government is more concerned with identifying and penalizing illegal betting and gambling operators than with individual players. Online gamblers who bet and play online don’t seem to be of interest to the Russian government. This is clear due to the fact that betting transactions between Russian citizens and offshore betting companies are still possible and continue to go through even though they are officially considered illegal activity.

Roskomnadzor is still actively blacklisting new sites, and their infamous list of forbidden online betting and gambling sites is constantly updated with new arrivals. Now, it includes even some of the most famous sites, such as Poker Stars. But the Russians who were using the Poker Stars app before the ban came in force can still use the site’s services.

Truth is, even though gambling and betting are considered illegal, Russians can still place wagers and gamble online if they find a way to do so. They will probably not be stopped, nor legally sanctioned for their actions. It is estimated that around 65% of betting in Russia is done illegally and most of this illegal activity is done through illegal online betting sites.

For the time being, domestic operators are prohibited from offering online gambling services, and Internet providers are required to block gambling sites. Unfortunately, we are not optimistic that the strict anti-gambling laws in Russia will change any time soon. But we keep our fingers crossed.

Like in technological, innovations in iGaming are gaining momentum. New products are being offered, and the old ones are getting updates or a moved off the shelf. But many of these innovations happen thanks to technological advancements. That allows for the development of many new tools and techniques, which when applied to iGaming sites and platforms, take the experience to a whole new level. And not only that, but the latest developments in technology are making the entire iGaming industry grow exponentially. Numerous reports predict that the global iGaming industry will be worth over $45 billion.   

Challenges in iGaming

As the iGaming industry grows, so does the competition. With new online gaming operators and online gaming software provides emerging on a daily basis, it’s become a real challenge for companies in the industry to gain a digital edge. Staying competitive relies on your ability to innovate and offer player a completely immersive, multi-channel experience. Creating great games is not enough on its own. The games and the online gaming platforms must be supported throughout the promotional mechanisms, and offer and evolving entertainment functionality. Usually, this requires having a collaboration between all departments, internally and externally, and setting clear, realistic outcomes. For many companies this translates to creating new fun games, along with gamification features to the older offering. And additional, cutting-edge concepts and omni-channel support.

Innovation through Adaptation  

The last several years have brought rapid growth to the digital space. Players have become so attached to their mobile devices that playing games on them is a given. Knowing this allows content creators and online gaming software providers to move development boundaries and create completely new experiences for players.

One of the biggest challenges that iGaming is facing are the incomplete experiences that players are offered across channels. Instead of being able to enjoy their favorite games on desktop or mobile device, and have a seamless experience, that allows game progress and earning rewards across all platforms, players are often forced to start over when switching devices. This ideal experience is not beneficial only to players, but also to iGaming operators. That way they will have a complete view of the players, their behavior and preferences. And this holistic view can be used to offer them a more robust and personalized loyalty programs.

Another challenge that online gaming operators face is the evolution of players. Consumers are getting more “game intelligent” and know what kind of games and experiences they want. With so many choices, operators can’t afford to have boring games because that will lose them customers. Players look for entertaining experiences and significant gratification. And online gaming providers need to ensure that’s what they provide to players.

One way to do this is find new and innovative ways to stay aligned with players’ changing demands and preferences. Players have to be at the center of online gaming software providers’ ideation process. Since consumers expect digital and mobile options for nearly all aspects of their lives, it’s mandatory for online gaming software developers to create solutions that meet these expectations. Moreover, these solutions need to accommodate the needs of global audiences, including their gaming preferences and payment methods.

New technologies and social media continue to influence iGaming. Making staying ahead even harder. The key is to constantly evolve and create new gaming solutions for players. To do this, iGaming software providers need to leverage the team’s creative gaming and technological expertise to provide evolving, innovative gaming moments. A major part of the process is setting clear understanding and expectations between the marketing and development teams. None of the digital growth is slowing down, so iGaming operators need to offer their most compelling options to players to keep them engaged and entertained. Creating a strong relationship and fantastic gaming experience on all devices should be the main focus and key driver of growth and innovation. 

Innovation is Key for Success

Operators must be smart as they plan their future development. They have be on the lookout for new technologies and changing trends. Giving players what they want is the definition of success, and only those who can maximize their potential through innovation and adaptation will succeed in the iGaming industry.  

Introduction of innovations and new technologies, whether gradual or disruptive, is essential for expansion and growth of iGaming operators. The digital landscape changes and shifts continuously, and the ripples impact the iGaming industry as well. One way to stay on track and not lose course is staying focused on updating games and platforms regularly to keep them working seamlessly with modern technology. All the while, working on the creation of new, innovative products.

Casinos and gambling are still illegal in mainland China. But, it is allowed in Macau and Hong Kong. Over the years Macau has emerged as the gambling hub of not just China, but all of Asia Pacific. Over the years, Macau has gained international importance and has become at par with Las Vegas. In fact, Macau has been dubbed the new Gambling capital of the World.

Lack of Online Gaming Legislation

The Chinese gaming and gambling market is one of the fastest growing in the world. While land-based gambling is legal in Macau, online gaming is not regulated. So, in most parts, the lack of online gaming licensing translates into ‘online gaming is legal’. This is true for players though. The public can place bets with foreign-based online casinos. But the lack of regulation implies that operating an online casino in Macau is illegal, which works against the online gaming operators.

As a result, there are many iGaming operators that operate offshore but serve Macau. These online gaming operators use state of the art technology to ensure that players have the best online gaming experience no matter if they use desktop computers or mobile devices. Online casinos are easily accessible and have an extensive selection of fun and exciting games. They also offer players the option to make quick deposits and withdrawals, making playing easier and more enjoyable.

However, that are many operators that backed out of Macau because they want to avoid getting in conflict with the Chinese government, which has a very strict stance against gambling in general. But for now, Macau is still one of the most liberal gaming and gambling environments in the world. But when it comes to iGaming, the lack of legislation is similar to the rest of the world. iGaming operators are shut out of the place, but the public is free to enjoy online gaming at their own leisure, and risk.

China wants to Strengthen Gaming and Gambling Regulations

Regardless of the huge revenues that come from Macau’s gambling, and gambling tourism, the Chinese government is pushing Macau to tighten its gambling industry oversight and strengthen regulations. There is also a desire for Macau to monitor the changing trends in the casino sector and diversify into non-gambling activities. China wants Macau to focus on leisure and family tourism and put gambling in the background. However, there is now more of an emphasis being put on entertainment and retail stores across the region.

But if China wants Macau to be more aware of the latest trends in casino and gambling, what does this mean for the legalization of online gaming? Is China going to accept the dominance of online gaming and finally create legislation that allows online gaming operators to work on Chinese soil? We can only wait and see.

Through the years, the media has often criticized the gambling industry. As a result, many people believe the stereotype that gambling is harmful, and just another vice that can cause addiction due to human desire (and often greed) to make easy money.

In reality, though, there’s another side to that coin. Gambling can be very beneficial to local communities that have been hit by an economic crisis. And it helps in terms of creating employment opportunities, generating tax money, and much more.

Creating Jobs for the Locals

With the opening of a new business, comes the need for hiring workers. Legalized online gambling can play a crucial role in improving the employment rate, in small cities and megalopolises alike. And since the online casino industry is open 24/7, need stuff more than the regular 9-5 businesses. This means that whenever an online operator or an iGaming software provides opens a venue, they are creating employment opportunities for the locals. From highly skilled employees to front-line workers, these companies need many people to provide front- and back-office support to players.

The gambling industry, including online casino operators, iGaming and casino software providers can be a very motiving and rewarding working environment, which encourages people to get a job and stay with the business longer. For example, online casinos offer almost all of the jobs we see in traditional casinos – their online dealers, customer support, technical (back office) support, and much, much more. So people starting as dealers can easily work they up into managerial positions.

Additionally, iGaming software providers earn significant amounts; they are able and willing to pay their workers more. Statistics show that countries, where online casinos and iGaming software operators are legal, have higher employment rate, and average salaries are also higher. Which makes it clear that this industry has a lot of potentials to bring positive (economic and societal) changes to local communities.

Giving Back to the Community

Just like any other entity, online casinos and iGaming software providers are supposed to pay taxes. Also, the players who win (big) money are required to fulfill this obligation. While tax rates vary in different countries, casinos iGaming software providers still have to pay corporate income tax, just like any other business in the country. There may also be different fees on top of the taxes. Similarly, gamblers have to give a specific amount of their winnings, which depends on the country’s laws, and types of games they play.

In addition to being taxpayers, the gambling industry can additionally help and encourage economic growth by means of organizing charities and participating fund raising events. Since gambling has a bad reputation, sportsbook and casino software providers are also supporting local initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of other people, raising gambling addiction awareness, sponsoring gambling prevention centers, etc.

Increasing Interest in Sports

Online sports betting is a huge segment of online gambling. While it’s very profitable for the economy, it’s also helping other businesses attract more customers who are interested in a specific sports event covered by the betting agents. This includes local bars, cafes and bistros that live stream games and matches, shops that sell sports and fan merchandise. Even sports venues where gamblers can engage in their favorite sport.

Sports are present in almost every local culture, and online sports betting can additionally increase their influence and turn local sports teams and competitions into internationally known stars and events that attract tourists. A great example of this is the football leagues. Football fans regularly place bets and (most of them would) gladly travel to watch their favorite team play live.

Arguments Against Online Gambling

While we can see that legalizing online gambling can be very beneficial to local economies, there are still many opponents that speak of the social costs of gambling and the harm it does to society. They connect it with problem gambling or gambling addiction, and very often to crime, thanks to cinematic representation in the 20th century.

However, these effects have a lesser impact than the long-term economic and social benefits associated with gambling legalization. All reputable online casino operators, iGaming and sportsbook software providers have policies that address problem gambling and are actively involved in preventing it. They also contribute a substantial part of their profits to organizations that help people who are addicted to gambling to recover. Research has even shown that the expansion of online gambling has no impact on the level of addiction among players.

It’s a fact that casinos are a significant cultural phenomenon and play a big role in the lives of many people. They are a great source of fun, are present a way for people to socialize, enjoy a good time with their friends and make new ones, and on top of it all, earn some money. But very often, winning cash is not the main reason people engage in online gambling. Instead, it’s the socialization, the thrill of the game, and rush of adrenaline why people decide to enjoy this digital form of entertainment.

As one of the fastest-moving industries, iGaming has been through many changes and challenges over time. Players are always seeking new exciting experiences, regulations change, and as new markets open, the pressure seems to increase in the more established gaming markets. Keeping ahead of trends and following the changing dynamics necessary for staying relevant in the industry is becoming harder as the speed of events increases. But to better understand the future of gaming, we first must understand the factors that influence and shape it.  Here, we will explore the key trends that are expected to impact the online gaming space and drive innovation in the upcoming 12 months.

Commoditization of Content

When it comes to iGaming, there is no discussion that content is king. The whole gaming market is built on a wide variety of content aimed at providing a plethora of player experiences. But lately, standing out from the crowd has become a challenge. On top of the 30,000 games that already exist, we see over 50 new games launched almost every month.

The question is, how many of these games offer a new and different experience? Perhaps creating a unique gaming experience is not so easy, but the games that perform the best share some common characteristics such as enchanting theme and unique reel arrays. Some online operators even go a step further and try to bring content from land-based casinos to digital, in a new gamified form. But in order to attract player, operators must find simple, enticing ways to promote games.

Challenging Times in Europe as Markets Mature

Regulation has always been a hot topic in gaming. But now it’s more prevalent than ever. Markets in Europe are reaching a certain level of maturity where players expect a high level of service and quality from game manufacturers and operators alike. At the same time, as the markets grow, regulators keep evaluating their policies and implementing new ones in an attempt to keep the industry accountable.

Greater political scrutiny and new regulation are creating additional operational challenges. The existing advertising bans, crackdowns on bonusing and stricter AML/KYC checks make it even harder for operators to keep their heads above water. And only those who can be creative and fast can succeed in the upcoming year. One way that operators can stay ahead of the regulatory curve is to lead a change by embracing the new technology, including the blockchain. Another way operators try to lighten up the burden of the regulator is by scaling, so we expect to see many mergers and acquisitions in the coming months.

The emergence of Mobile Gaming

Mobile gaming is slowly but surely taking over. In fact, nearly 70 percent of iGaming turnover is generated via a mobile device. This number will only rise as the migration from desktop to mobile continues. Going mobile is one of the main challenges the industry faces since there are many debates over many aspects of mobile gaming.

But mobile UX is still in its infancy, which means operators that already started curating exciting and engaging mobile experiences for their player, via responsive websites or mobile apps, are leading the way. Mobile devices offer the ability to create a truly immersive and personalized experience, but developers and operators need to first truly understand mobile. Only then, they can create experiences that will drive the future growth of (mobile) gaming forward.

Player Acquisition and Retention

One key thing to remember in 2019 is that players should always come first. Only platforms that deliver personalized, bespoke experiences will survive in the long run. This is especially important now because many operators are facing the challenge to attain new and retain existing players. The associated costs, and restrictions in advertising are making it even more difficult to get in front of your potential players.

While the gaming industry is just begging to catch up in respect of targeting and personalization, using data science and technology to understand target markets and players’ behavior can greatly help in creating a stronger backbone for smarter, more effective player acquisition and retention strategies. Responsible gaming has to be part of the equation though. As it is very important for rewarding and encouraging the right play, and identifying when players display the wrong types of behavior along with suggesting or implementing ways to stop that behavior.

Looking Forwards to the Next Chapter

The begging of the year has been very exciting and successful. But also full of lessons and challenges. And we can safely say that the iGaming industry is changing so much, so fast, that the only way to keep up is to accept the trends that are changing gaming forever. With AR, VR, blockchain, cryptocurrency and other technological advancement entering the industry, reimaging the way games are played and offering the player new, even more personalized and immersive gaming experiences is the only logical next step.

The Scandinavian region has a long-standing history with online gaming.  The region has given rise to incredibly successful titles such as Minecraft, Clash of Clans, Battlefield, Angry Birds. And through the years, the Scandinavian countries have proven over and over that they create a trend-setting game design, and have a big community of talented developers embracing new technologies. So it’s no wonder they are the ones that move things forward in MMO games, VR and AR gaming and technology.

Until recently, only Denmark allowed private operators to enter the market. But due to the EU requirements, Scandinavian countries are slowly giving a green light to the gambling industry, which is using the opportunity to gain momentum. At the moment, the region is under pressure to create and adopt a legislative framework. However, not all countries are on the same page when it comes to online casino operators.

Online Gaming Legislation in Scandinavia

The Scandinavian market has tried hard to keep a regime of monopoly in gambling. And that’s the reason why legislation has been so strict in these countries. As a result, Scandinavian providers have very limited opportunities. The first exception was Denmark when the country approved serious amendments to their gaming and gambling laws in 2012.

Due to the pressure coming from the EU, Sweden has also made changes to their laws and  opened the market in January of this year. Finland is slowly beginning to interact with online casino operators, and Norway is the only country that does not intend to end the state monopoly. But considering that Norway is not an EU member, they do not have to comply with the legislation of the Alliance.

The Overall Condition of the Scandinavian Gambling Market

There is a huge interest among industry leaders to enter the Scandinavian market. This is because quality of living is very high in these countries. Which for gaming operators translates as having a lot of people that play at high stakes. According to statistics from H2 Gambling Capital for 2016, the average spending on gambling per month of players from this region:

• $390 per year in Norway;
• $320 in Sweden;
• $300 in Denmark;
• $485 in Finland.

Scandinavians are avid online players. They prefer horse race betting, especially in Norway, in Denmark they mostly play poker, while in Finland and Sweden online gambling is rising in popularity with poker and sports betting. This is very important for operators because online games are now legal in Sweden, and are expected to become legal in Finland too.

The Gambling Industry in Denmark

Back in 2010, the Danish government had to regulate gambling and cooperate with the online casino providers and operators. The state monopoly was ended, and the new law came in force on 1 January 2012. But the gambling market has been divided in two parts. One regulated, one still monopolized. The latest updates were introduced in late 2015 though, with the amendments that legalized betting on fantasy sports, along with some changes to the licensing procedure which is now managed by the national gambling regulator Spillemyndigheden.

The Gambling Industry in Finland

Even though Finland is not in the EU, it belongs to the Scandinavian region, and is of great interest to the gambling community. The Finish market is still state-owned and controlled, and consists of three sectors:

Casinos and slot machines are operated by RAY company.
Veikkaus Oy operates State lotteries with cash prizes, scratch cards, sports betting, as well as pool games.
Horserace betting – by Fintoto Oy.

But with the reform in 2017 were united under one name: Veikkaus. In Finland there are also games run by charitable organizations – non-cash lotteries, bingo, and keno. Interestingly enough, surveys show that two thirds of Finish citizens support the government policy regarding the state monopolization of gambling. And over half respondents do not want foreign gambling companies to be allowed to enter the country. Finland considers introducing new identification requirements for the operation of slot machines, but these changes should come into force in 2023.

The Gambling Industry in Sweden

Until recently, Sweden had a state-owned monopoly using the local operator Svanska Spel. Starting from 1st January 2019, the Swedish online gambling market become open for licensing international operators.  The process of de-monopolization of the national gambling market begun years ago, and foreign operators and land-based casinos had an opportunity to work in the country.

Yet, the share of Svanska Spel is still much bigger than the share of international gaming companies. Online casinos that operate outside of Sweden were never prohibited though. According to EU legislation, Swedish citizens are free to play these sites. As a result, many European operators have used the chance to focus their efforts on attracting players from Sweden.

The Gambling Industry in Norway

The Norwegian gambling market is still partially owned by two major state-owned gaming companies:

Norsk Tipping AS offers lotto, keno, lotteries Eurojackpot and Viking Lotto, scratch cards, number games, sports betting, betting terminals (IVT) and online gambling.
Norsk Rikstoto offers horserace betting.

Additionally, there are games organized by private operators sponsored by non-profit organizations. This part of the market consists of bingo, casino on vessels, card games, poker, as well as small local and regional lotteries. These private operators account for less than 20% of the market.

But the Norwegian market is not about to open up to international operators any time soon. In 2016, the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Culture supervising the gambling market introduced a new law. This new law favors the strengthening the state monopoly and banning access of foreign operators of online gambling. The government justification for the rejection to open the market is that implementing another regulatory framework may lead to the development of gambling addiction.

Future of Scandinavian Gambling

While having a state monopoly on the gambling market is the usual practice in Scandinavian countries, online gambling sites are becoming increasingly popular. Since no one country can monopolize the Internet, and the European Union law requires equal rights for all gambling operators, governments are forced to put an end to their prohibitions and make the Scandinavian market open to online gambling.

The change of legislation in Sweden is a huge step forward for this market though. It creates tremendous prospects for online gambling operators in Sweden, and many believe that if the Swedish market develops enough to generate a steady income, the strength and influence of state monopolies in other countries in Scandinavia and European Union may be reduced as well.

Gaming isn’t what it used to be. As it becomes increasingly popular, players need to keep one thing in mind: security. Even though most people think about the fun and excitement related to gaming, for those who spend a lot of time gaming using their computers and mobile devices, the security of their information is critical.

From Desktop to Mobile

The online gaming industry is one of the fastest growing in the world. While PC games dominated the industry in the past, now we see an immense growth of mobile gaming. The portability of gaming allows users to engage pretty much everywhere. To make this possible, game developers integrate the latest tech features to reach new audiences and monetize activity. But underneath all of these interactions, there is a sinister threat – the risk of cyber attacks.

The Vulnerability of Online Gaming

There’s no denial that gaming, and games themselves, grow more sophisticated with ongoing and encouraged social elements. The main value of the games lies in their ability to transport users into a virtual world of entertainment. When immersed in the gaming experience, no one wants to think about security. Instead, players prefer to focus on the gameplay.

The social and networking aspect of gaming presents a threat in itself since it allows malicious cyber attacks to quickly take root and spread. Furthermore, in interactive games that include team play and chat, team members that play together for a longer time, share strong bonds. This can make members feel comfortable, so they begin sharing their real identities, locations and personal data. But this behavior can put them at risk of malicious use of their private information.

The software behind all of the best and most popular iGaming platforms is designed and developed by top professionals and additionally verified as safe by third-party enforcers to ensure the platform provides the fairest gaming experience. While Internet security today is the best it has been, there are still people that will try to exploit any flaws they may find.

How to Keep Information Safe?

There are many choices in today’s online gaming environment. Players and online gaming platforms alike need to make security a priority. A secure platform will protect players’ identities and personal information, bankroll and the players’ ability to play fair games. There are many ways to safeguard data and ensure state-of-the-art Internet security that every gaming platform and online casino should add.

Encryption Software

Usually, online platforms and casinos use data encryption technology to ensure data exchanged between them and players cannot be read or accessed by other people. The most common types are 128 or 256-bit encryption, or SSL (Secure Sockets Layer).  This type of encryption turns whatever personal and financial data players’  sent to the platform into unbreakable strings of code. The machine or the account of the intended recipient can only decipher the unbreakable code.

Random Number Generators (RNGs)

Reputable online casinos and gaming platforms use Random Number Generators to ensure every part of the game is as random as possible. The goal is to make everything,  from blackjack deals to roulette wheels to random gifts truly as random as mathematically possible. RNGs are part of the software code that generates a random sequence of numbers and/or symbols. It is a common practice for many platforms to have independent companies to regularly test and verify their RNG to ensure wins are distributed in a safe, fair and unbiased manner.

Privacy Policies and Gaming Licenses

Privacy policies are important because they tell players how platforms intend to use their information. Some platforms can collect and sell players’ data. And by signing up you, as a player, agree to this. Sticking to platforms and casinos that state they will not sell or rent data means your personal information will be secure. Additionally, gaming licenses are another important document that should be present on the platform’s website. Most online casinos and platforms post who issued their license, so players can go the authority’s website and check if the license is valid.

Information Security is Team Work

With the constant changes of regulations and advancements in technology, information security is becoming more important than ever. In truth, most cybersecurity measures prevent the vast majority of threats from causing harm, but players still need to be careful and not rely solely on the platforms’ security.

Players should also make sure they keep their devices and software up to date with the latest security measures and features. And more importantly, drop the notion that security impedes gameplay. In the last few years, security vendors have upgraded their software with game-boosting features to ensure players enjoy an uninterrupted gaming experience while the security is on.

For additional layers of security, they can also create a special email address for signing up to online games, and screenshot everything suspicious or bad, and report those instances. Use antivirus and anti-spyware programs, and use a firewall. Additionally, never download software and games from unknown websites, and avoid clicking links, images, pop-ups as they may contain viruses.