Casino and gaming trends we can expect to see in 2024

The year of 2023 was huge for iGaming; in fact, it was easily its biggest yet. But what will the year ahead bring?

Every year can be defined by the trends that capture the minds and hearts of players. Sometimes they can be predicted, such as the steady rise of crypto, but no-one could have anticipated the landslide that crash games would bring to the industry last year.

It seems that since the success of Spribe’s Aviator game, every studio is suddenly looking into the crash game style. This, in turn, boosted the entire arcade and casual gaming genre along with it, as many customers discovered this vertical for the first time.

Arcade-style games

So, is it any surprise that we’re likely to see a lot more of these arcade games being released this year? By the time many studios noticed Aviator, the development cycle for any news games inspired by it would line up nicely with the 2024 summer.

It’s not just crash-style games that we reckon will see a massive spike this year, though. There are plenty of them that the studios themselves think will do well in 2024, including Fish games, Plinko and Mines.

If you’re already a fan of these games, then this is great news. However, if you’re new to the genre, then this makes it a very exciting time for you. The online casinos will likely run exclusive offers in order to introduce you to the games, along with maybe, some missions…

Gamification

What do we mean by ‘missions’? Well, it’s simple. One of the biggest topics in the industry at the moment is gamification, which is the process of adding lots of mini-games to your experience at an online casino. Some great examples of this are log-in rewards, completing tasks to win points, ranked leaderboards and even interacting with social media posts.

Not only does this make it a more fun experience for the customer (who doesn’t love winning prizes?) but it also increases both player retention and time played each session. Naturally, you’re going to keep playing a particular game if you keep hitting milestones on it and winning more free spins.

These kinds of methods have been seen for a long time in non-gambling circles, especially mobile games or social casinos. However, it seems like the developers and operators have only just caught on to how useful they can be, so expect to see a lot more of them in the future.

Player interactions and social games

Something that links in well with the two above points, is the rise of player interactions and social games. This is something that has been discussed for a while, but online casinos like Stake have shown that they really do work. When players can access a live chat feature, they can ask others how to play the game and which wagers they would recommend – while more experienced players can impart their wisdom on those who ask. And, sometimes, even those who don’t!

But even just a simple chat feature can turn the often isolating experience of a mobile casino into a much more social experience. Rather than being stuck at home, or on your commute, you can suddenly talk about the latest topics, sports or whatever else you fancy with like-minded people.

Several companies have announced recently that they’re focusing on the social side of iGaming, whether it’s introducing visuals on what other people are betting on, the ability to copy wagering slips from friends, and even possibly multiplayer gambling experiences!

Customised experiences

Everyone likes to feel like they’re having a unique experience, even when they’re not. However, thanks to some developments in the gambling world, this is becoming more and more possible.

One of the most notable examples of this is the NFL-themed slot that debuted in October 2023. This machine allows players to select a specific team, then the entire slot will change to facilitate this – from color schemes, to symbols and even sounds.

So, why stop there? Especially when you account for the rise of AI, the possibility for personalised experiences in casinos is better than ever. This can mean many different things, too, such as customized offers, incentives and recommendations.

Cryptocurrencies

Crypto has definitely had its ups and downs over the past few years. It started out as something relatively niche, but just as it started to gain traction, it went through some growing pains with scandals, hacks and robberies.

However, it seems like the crypto industry is starting to settle down and earn some respect in the business world. Not only can cryptocurrencies be used internationally, but they have their own infrastructure with wallets, providers, investors etc.

Even if the bigger and more traditional casinos don’t immediately adopt crypto payments, it’s undeniable that many players are asking for this option.