5 must-have Qualities of an iGaming Payment Service Provider
Quality No.1. Reliability
Along with the total number of payments, the number of scam ones is also growing. On some GEO sites, for example, in India and Africa, you need to stay attentive and focused to catch every detail. It is not surprising that online bookmaker and casinos pay attention to risks first of all.
In order for the payment to be considered reliable, information about their failures and, moreover, that they are scammers should not go around the market. The minimum plan has been completed. What’s next? Adhere to the policy of openness (within reasonable limits, of course). The more the payment system is ready to tell about itself, the more willing they will be to cooperate with it. Another indirect sign that the payment system can be considered more reliable is the labor and time that they have invested in their structure — the presence of a legal entity, a large staff, physical offices, financial licenses, PCI DSS. It is also important to be ready to meet halfway — to work with a deposit, to call up, to meet in person, to agree to reasonable limits.
Of course, none of this gives a 100% guarantee that a potential partner can be trusted, but it makes it much easier to determine the riskiness of cooperation.
Quality No.2. The speed of operation
The number one process where the payment system needs to show itself as professionals who know how to work quickly is beating off chargebacks and disputes.
Quality No.3. Partnerships
This is a two-way traffic story. Of course, you can work under a contract (which in many cases costs nothing), but in our field it is especially important to lend a helping hand — it is much more comfortable and, moreover, more profitable to cooperate.
Quality No.4. A variety of payment methods on different GEO
It is extremely unlikely that an online betting shop or casino will give one payment card more than 50% of the volume per GEO, but the presence of different payment solutions in different geographies will definitely allow it to eventually occupy a larger volume.
Quality No.5. An adequate price tag and willingness to negotiate
Any payment system needs to be able to look at the market without rose-colored glasses and take a step towards a compromise. Although we all understand how difficult it can be sometimes.
The Economic Impact Of The US Gaming Industry
A recent Oxford Economics study for the American Gaming Association revealed the huge contribution of the gaming industry to the U.S. economy.
In 2022, gambling supported the economy by $329 billion, creating 1.8 million jobs with a salary of $104 billion and providing taxes for $53 billion.
Really impressive numbers!
What does this mean for arbitrageurs and operators?
🟢 Growing market = new opportunities for arbitrageurs. On average, the market is growing by 10% per year.
🟢 The USA continues to be the leading market in the gambling industry (about 10%), which promises profit growth.
🟢 The state supports the gambling industry. This will cause an increase in interest among the population.
How did you get such data?
The Gaming Industry Association (AGA) conducted a comprehensive study including:
🟠 Survey of game operators;
🟠 Analysis of secondary data on employment, income and expenses in the sector;
🟠 Collecting data on Native American casinos and gaming equipment manufacturers;
🟠 Calculation of direct, indirect and induced economic impacts.
The gambling industry contribution modeling uses an input-output model with the IMPLAN system for analysis.
Contribution to the Economy
In addition to creating jobs, gambling contributes to the development of related sectors such as hospitality, restaurant business and logistics. Support from the gambling business has exceeded $20 billion.
Conclusion
The US gaming industry is one of the key sectors of the economy, contributing to economic development and providing new opportunities for arbitrageurs. This is great news, because gambling is profitable for the USA!
How does Gen Z shape trends in the industry?
Zoomers are the youngest audience in the iGaming industry, requiring a special approach.
Unlike millennials, representatives of generation Z grew up with gadgets in their hands. It will be difficult to surprise such a sophisticated audience with a gaming experience. Zoomers easily check offers for quality and honesty and take their privacy very seriously, preferring crypto to fiat wallets.
Gen Z for responsible play
Zoomers prefer to be financially secure and more concerned about their future than previous generations.
Most Gen Z representatives are not ready for big risks and do not consider gambling as a way of earning money.
Thus, 41% of gamblers consider gambling and betting an unacceptable way of earning money, and 32% of respondents admitted that they feel guilty because of their passion for betting.
Thus, responsible gambling is a key trend that gambling companies must implement in order to gain the trust of Gen Z.
How to effectively promote iGaming products among Generation Z:
🟠 Demonstrate responsibility — companies must show their conscious attitude to customers not only with words, but also with deeds;
🟠 Use honest advertising — only truthful advertising and proven influencers will earn trust;
🟠 Take care of the functionality of your product — zoomers love convenient mobile applications with an intuitive interface and good functionality;
🟠 Introduce new game formats — classic slots are outdated for Gen Z.
Thanks to the demanding zoomers that have set the bar high for product quality, we are on the threshold of the upcoming iGaming revolution.
Esports and iGaming: The rise of a new trend
Esports is rapidly gaining ground in the iGaming world, becoming an important part of this industry. Let’s look at why this happens and what factors contribute to growth.
Key indicators
🎈 $9.9 billion — market volume in 2022;
🎈 $11.3 billion — market volume in 2023;
🎈 $23.76 billion — projected market volume in 2028;
🎈 $33 billion — forecast for 2032;
🎈14.30% — average annual growth rate from 2023 to 2032;
🎈 381 million is the expected audience of esports by 2025.
Development factors
Esports betting is becoming more popular due to:
🔮 AI and data analytics: Modern betting is based on player statistics and team results, which allows AI to make accurate predictions;
💸 Blockchain and cryptocurrency: provide security and trust;
🥽 VR and AR technologies: the opportunity to watch matches in virtual reality;
☎️ Mobile platforms: the availability of bets at any time and place.
Target audience and popular games
The main audience is people aged 26-30. Twitch remains the main streaming platform. The most popular betting games:
🎮 38% — League of Legends;
🎮 29% — CS:GO;
🎮 18% — Dota 2;
🎮 7% — Starcraft 2.
Geographical trends
The United States leads the way with projected esports revenues of $1.07 billion in 2024. North America ranks first in betting due to legitimacy. In Europe, Germany has the largest share, and the UK is showing rapid growth. Asia, especially China and India, also shows significant potential.
Market Leaders
The largest companies in the field of esports:
🏢 Betcris;
🏢 Luckbox;
🏢 Bet365;
🏢 Betfred;
🏢 Draft Kings;
🏢 Esports Entertainment;
🏢 Betsson;
🏢 Entain.
Future and forecasts
Expected:
☄️ Legalization of bets in different regions;
☄️ Increasing the audience thanks to video games as a hobby;
☄️ Personalization of bets using AI;
☄️ New features for betting on in-game events and virtual items;
Integration with social networks.
Esports continues to develop, opening up new horizons for iGaming. Given the growing audience and innovative technologies, the future of this field looks promising.
VIP Player Profile in India
🇮🇳 The main group of players are men aged 25−34.
✈️ Aviator is the most popular game among respondents.
💻 Instagram Facebook, YouTube, and YouTube ads are the most frequently noticed by respondents.
🌶 More than 80% of the respondents pay attention to the amount of bonuses and express a desire to receive more personalized offers.
🚗 Players prefer to participate in sweepstakes for expensive prizes, such as iPhones, famous brand appliances, luxury cars.
💰 On average, players top up their deposit 3 times a month.
🤳🏼 Players prefer to receive information about personal bonuses and new games via WhatsApp, Telegram.
💬 Preferred content includes promo codes, sweepstakes, and announcements of new games.
🏏 Top interests of respondents: watching movies, cricket (favorite player is Virat Kohli).
🍎 Favorite brands include Audi, Zara, Nike, BMW, Mercedes, Apple.
🎥 Favorite type of content is funny videos and movies.
💸 VIP players spend from 80,000 to 200,000 rupees ($ 960 — $ 2,400) per month on gambling. Most often, these are business owners or people holding prestigious positions.
In summary, it can be said that men aged 25−34 are actively involved in online casinos, preferring well-known brands and personalized offers. Their interests are diverse, but the main focus is on bonuses and sweepstakes.
5 Tricks to Get Your Creatives Hooked by VIP Players
⏳ Fewer words, more facts: VIP players are hooked by real numbers. For example, if the withdrawal of funds takes only 5-15 minutes, do not hesitate to emphasize this!
👀 Honest bonuses: Experienced players see through — generous offers are often hidden by high wagers. It is better to offer clear conditions, for example, a 15x wager instead of the usual 40x.
📄 Easy access: VIP players appreciate speed and the absence of unnecessary checks. Forget about identity verification and photo documents — the simpler the better!
✔️ Proven reputation: Players trust casinos that recommend reputable sites such as AskGamblers and Casino Guru. The logos of these resources in your creatives will help build trust.
💰 Convenient transactions: The speed and ease of depositing and withdrawing funds is the key point. Indicate that you have many ways to replenish your account, and this will be your trump card.
Understanding the needs of VIP players is the key to successful strategies. Adapting content to their interests will ensure loyalty and retention.
Gambling agents: why are they needed if there are affiliates?
And why do many of them use the RRS% (Risk Revenue Share) model, which the affiliates do not know about?
Thailand. Local media reports on the detention of new gambling agents, which is becoming a common phenomenon in the world of iGaming in Southeast Asia.
Gambling agents are a risky profession, typical for regions where gambling is strictly prohibited. While affiliates can safely work from afar, it is more difficult for gambling agents without direct communication with players.
😏Why do agents prefer to work directly with players instead of just directing traffic using the affiliate model?
The RRS% model implies that the agent shares with the operator not only profits, but also losses, paying part of the player’s winnings from their funds.
In Asia, gambling agents usually work according to the Wager Share + RRS% scheme (risk level from 0% to 40%).
The agent chooses the risk level himself. At RRS% = 0%, he receives only a small percentage of the turnover. If he sets the RRS% at 30%, then if the player wins by $ 100, the operator will pay $ 70, and the agent will have to cover $ 30.
💋Why such a complicated scheme?
The answer can be found in Asian crime news. Sometimes the media mentions the websites of detained agents.
These sites often look primitive: minimal SEO optimization, single-page design and lack of attractiveness. They are usually promoted through social media.
This could be attributed to a lack of technology, if not for the photos of the agents’ own lives: bundles of money, jewelry and expensive cars.
🦞Why are gambling agents not seeking to become affiliates?
Despite all the risks, there is one reason — the average income of a gambling agent is significantly higher than that of an affiliate.
The main advantage of an agent is control over the players.
Large offshore iGaming operators in Asia work with agents on a simple principle: the operator does not know who his player is. It only provides an opportunity for the agent to open an account for the player.
In practice, the scheme is a little more complicated: agents have their own hierarchy — master agents and subagents.
But the basic principle remains: the operator has no contact with the player and does not know his data. All interactions and payments go through an agent who controls his player base.
Therefore, the operator cannot “quietly” disable such players or change the terms of cooperation without consequences. If an affiliate brought 1,000 players and then stopped working, the operator can easily ignore it, and the players will continue to make a profit.
However, if the gambling agent loses 1000 players, they will stop making deposits, and the agent will leave for competitors.
Many affiliates earn millions of dollars, but there are no dollar billionaires among them. But there are such people among gambling agents.
Twitter Potential
Global channel for all gambling: 13th place in traffic (0.35%)
Sports betting: 12th place (0.3%)
Casino: 29th place (0.12% of traffic – all SimilarWeb)
📢 Twitter advertising (X) for online casinos:
- TR: Allowed with notification X and only to state-registered organizations
- MA: It is allowed to approve X or promote the state
- IN: Allowed with restrictions and according to ASCI’s Guidelines
- PL: Allowed for sports betting with authorization in X
- CZ: Allowed with notification X or authorization from the Ministry of Finance
- DE: Allowed with authorization in Gambling Authority or notification X
- NO: Contact X for permission
- MX: Allowed with the state SEGOB license and the X app
❗️ In other geographies , it is prohibited by Twitter policy
Twitter is a popular channel corresponding to an audience of 35+ men. Allows for marketing integrations for gambling with country restrictions and in accordance with Twitter policy.
A selection of product development trends
✔️ Hyperpersonalization — every user wants to feel that the product was created specifically for them. Thanks to data and analytics, it is possible to adjust the product to individual needs.
✔️ Seamless UX — the time when users are ready to wait is gone. The easier and faster the interaction with the product, the higher the chance that the customer will come back again.
✔️ Embedded solutions based on AI and ML — artificial intelligence helps products adapt to changes and gives companies the opportunity to anticipate customer desires.
✔️ The trend towards “screenless” products — voice assistants, wearable devices and IoT solutions are gradually freeing us from screens, making interaction more intuitive.
✔️ Digital health and mental well—being is a trend towards taking care of the health and mental state of users. Products that help to monitor physical and psychological well-being
✔️ Gamification of everyday tasks — the introduction of game elements helps not only to increase engagement, but also motivates users to achieve goals, whether it is improving physical fitness, training or achieving professional goals.
Why do people keep playing at casinos? Maybe it’s not about our talent
All our thoughtful CJM, original game mechanics, mailing lists and social media posts, promotions and free spins are only 20% successful. The rest is due to the peculiarities of the players’ psyche and attitudes, which force them to spend more and more.
Here are the most common ones:
🕹 If I keep playing, sooner or later I’ll get lucky and I’ll get my lost money back.
🕹 I “almost” won — winning is just around the corner
🕹 If I choose different games and play them at the same time, I will earn more.
🕹 I have my own working strategy of the game — I keep track of the numbers, signs, images that help to win.
🕹 I have a feeling that today is my lucky day. I’m definitely going to win today.
🕹 As long as I play within the specified budget, my health and well-being are safe.
As long as we “put pressure” on these installations, we earn more.
While we were working, a van with money overturned on someone’s street
Recently, BetMGM recorded the largest progressive jackpot in the history of the United States — $6.4 million or about 640 million.
The winnings went to a player from New Jersey who placed a $200 bet in the Fruit Blaster game.
How did such a big win become possible? It’s all thanks to the progressive jackpot system — the reward increases every time the jackpot is won. At BetMGM, this system applies to several online casinos at once, including Borgata, Wheel of Fortune Casino and Party Casino. Throughout the summer, the players of these platforms contributed to the formation of the reward, which eventually went to the lucky anonymous.
🏃♂️🎰 After winning, the jackpot has been reset, which means that a new record is still far away.
Criticism of the Lancet report on the dangers of gambling: an inside look at the industry
Last week, the Lancet Public Health Commission published a report in which an international group of health experts expressed concern about the current regulatory environment of gambling. They claim that it does not protect society from the negative consequences associated with gambling. However, not everyone agrees with the conclusions of the report.
💬 Dan Wu, a partner at Regulus consulting firm, criticized the motivation of the report, saying it may be more politically motivated than evidence-based. Wu noted that while the report raises “legitimate observations” about gambling risks, it presents these issues as universal across all gambling contexts, raising questions about the accuracy of the data presented.
📊 The report claims that about 450 million people worldwide experience gambling-related behavioral symptoms. However, Uo believes that such figures may be exaggerated and do not have sufficient scientific basis.
⚖️ Moreover, he pointed out that the positive aspects of gambling, such as entertainment and leisure, were downplayed or completely ignored in the report. This creates the impression that the industry is viewed solely through the prism of negative consequences.
🧐 Wu also criticized selective approaches to research, saying that the report highlights certain studies while ignoring others, making the conclusions less scientifically sound and more ideologically oriented.
💡 It is important to remember that the discussion of gambling should include all aspects: both the risks and the benefits. What do you think is the role of regulators in this context?