September 10, 2019
Mobile gaming first rose in popularity after the Finnish mobile phone company Nokia introduced the “Snake” game in 1997. As technology grew, so did the variations of mobile games, and the attractiveness of the ease of use and availability of such games on mobile devices.
It is on this background that the development of online casinos and gambling was able to grow. As online gambling grew in popularity, and users enjoyed the ease of being able to access their favourite casino games from the comfort of their home, game developers saw a gap in the market to introduce mobile casino gaming.
The development of smartphones, applications and app stores, meant users could download, play and pay for gaming, all in the palm of their hand. Users can read reviews and research games to determine whether it is the type of game which interests them. This creates confidence in a player.
Developments in technology have undoubtedly contributed to the rise in popularity of mobile casino gaming, but that is coupled with the cost-effective access users now have to device, data and the internet. Worldwide, there has been a surge in cheaper access to online resources, bringing mobile gaming to all corners of the earth.
Everywhere you look, individuals are on their phones. 4G, wireless and fibre access means we are always online. Sophisticated smartphone technology results in games which are more interactive and appealing. For mobile casino gaming, this is big business; a user’s access and positive experience is unlimited by location, date or time.
Market research indicates that in 2015, mobile casino gaming produced a revenue of $550 million, and is further expected to increase to $1 trillion by 2021. This has been helped by the legalization of online gaming in many countries. This industry can only go in one direction, and that is up.
The games which have grown in popularity on mobiles include simulated slot games of popular casino machines, traditional card games, lotteries, and recently, live games have seen massive growth in success worldwide. These games allow players from around the world to bet on the same game while watching the live results.
As more of the world’s citizens gain access to smartphones, and unrestricted affordable internet, the mobile casino gaming industry can only continue to grow. For example, on the African continent, there are currently 800 million mobile phones, and in India, estimates are that mobile phone usage will triple by 2020.
How mobile gaming has grown and developed in the world of online casinos and gambling, and where can we expect it to grow in the future.
With roots in the vibrant city of Lagos, Amara Nwosu is MobileCasinoRank's premier researcher. Melding rigorous analysis with an intuitive grasp of the mobile gaming sphere, Amara unravels the intricacies of the casino landscape for readers worldwide.