In 2022, the global online gambling market was valued at $63.53 billion – and that is set to grow to something like $153.57 billion by 2030.
There are several reasons why online casinos and other forms of iGaming have become so popular. The internet penetration globally and the expanding use of smartphones have made online casinos and betting opportunities more easily accessible, not to mention the huge range of different ways to bet and play that are available.
You can play poker online wherever you are – at home playing on your PC and laptop, or while you are waiting for the bus with your smartphone. So, how are people playing online?
Online casino
The online casino is the place where so many different types of games can be played. These games are virtual versions of the popular activities that you would have seen in brick-and-mortar casinos.
Some games you might want to try your hand at include:
- Slots;
- Craps;
- Blackjack;
- Baccarat;
- Video Poker;
Online casinos are one-stop placs for all sorts of different games. You can get into playing fun slots that are bright, colourful, and exciting – without any previous knowledge or experience because they are straightforward and based on chance.
If you want to put your skills to the test, you can take part in games like blackjack and live poker. You’ll be able to get some help in how to play from the live chat options and can get used to the ways of winning as you play.
Sports betting
Sports betting is the fastest-growing segment in the online gaming industry. In 2022, it held 50% of the market share globally. This growth can be attributed to the legalization of sports betting on a federal level in the US back in 2018.
Sports betting can cover placing wagers on the results of any event; mostly players are interested in sporting events like soccer and football matches, cricket competitions, hockey, and basketball. Other sports betting opportunities come from things like boxing and UFC.
Players can bet on the results of matches, but they can also wager on things like who will score the first goal, what the overall score will be, and, in the case of soccer, how many corners or yellow cards there will be.
Racing
Racing should really come under the same banner as sports betting, as players are wagering on the results of a sporting event – but the specific rules and bet types that are part of both horse and dog racing.
Online access to betting companies means that players don’t have to attend a racecourse to have a flutter. Instead, you can spend a few minutes checking out the different races across all courses, and choose your favourites to win from your own home.
Poker
While poker can be thought of as a part of online casinos, it is the poker tournaments that are the focus here.
Players with a proficient level of skill can join in tournaments and get playing themselves, but there are also opportunities to bet on the outcomes of them as well.
There are online and in-person tournaments that happen locally, nationally, and even globally – so there are a lot of different games that you can get involved in.
Lotteries
Lotteries are one of those gaming types that really are all about chance, and it is a game that people don’t even really consider gambling.
Lotteries usually involve choosing (or being given) a selection of numbers – and then hoping that they match the winning numbers for a jackpot win.
Lotteries can also include scratch-offs or scratch cards, games like keno, and even bingo – all games of pure chance and luck that require no specific skills.
The lottery-style games are perfect for those who want a chance to win without any real effort, but the chances of winning are tiny. In fact, in the National Lottery in the UK, the chance of hitting the jackpot is something like 1 in 45 000 000 but it could be you.
Choose your fun
The online space is a place where you can play all of the games you want – from simple and exciting slots to placing bets on the results of the World Cup. With technology and innovation growing, including things like virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, things can only get better for online gamers.
