What Online Casino Players Think About Superstitions and Luck?
🍀 Belief in Luck:
Analysis shows that many players consider luck to be a central element of success. They intuitively choose the moment to play, waiting for signs or “their time.”
🗣 “Luck for me is more than chance. It’s a feeling when the cosmos is on my side,” shares one player.
🧿 Superstitions and Rituals:
Players often resort to personal talismans or rituals, from lucky socks to magical coins, to ensure success. The fear of “unlucky days” leads to avoiding gambling on certain dates.
🗣 “I always keep a photo of my first big win with me. It brings me luck,” admits another participant.
🔄 Behavioral Habits:
Regular betting patterns and ritualistic actions before placing a bet are often perceived as ways to control the game.
🗣 “Before an important bet, I close my eyes and tell myself, ‘Everything will be fine.’ And it really works!”
Analysis of Payment SDKs in Mobile Online Casino Apps
🚀 The volume and variety of payment system providers are growing worldwide. Let’s look at the key payment SDKs that game app developers use in Russia, Turkey, India, and other countries 🎲.
🔍 According to data from AppTopia, SensorTower, and data.ai, payment systems in iGaming can be divided into several main groups:
🍏 Standard Payment Ecosystems by Apple and Google:
– Play Billing Library SDK, Apple Pay SDK, Huawei In-App Purchases, Samsung In-App Purchase SDK
– The primary channel for most payments, including in-app purchases.
💳 Third-Party Payment Systems from Well-Known Brands:
– PayPal, Stripe, Alipay
– Widely used for reliability and user convenience.
🎮 Multifunctional SDKs:
– Tencent (social and payment functions), Unity IAP SDK (game engine and payments)
– Perform additional functions such as user authentication.
🌍 Niche Players from Different Countries:
– Anjlab Android In-App Billing v3 LINE SDK (Japan), Trustly SDK (Sweden), SDK (Russia) Checkout.com SDK (USA)
– Often used for login through bank and other accounts.
🔎 Future research will show which advertising networks and tracking systems are integrated into the apps, helping to understand the most popular traffic channels.
World News. Week 39
💥🃏 Stake launched its own poker room
The new Stake Poker room offers Hold’em and Omaha games, as well as Pineapple Hold’em tournaments. However, U.S. players can only participate in social games on Stake.us.
💸🇮🇹 Flutter may acquire Snaitech for €2.3 billion
The gambling group may announce the deal this week, turning Playtech into a B2B company focused on business services.
🤑 Footballers in Cyprus demand revenue sharing from bookmakers
The Cyprus Footballers’ Association is requesting a share of betting tax revenues.
☄️ Global Strategic Casino Business Report 2024
The global casino market is expected to reach $181.7 billion by 2030, with an increasing role of cryptocurrencies.
World News. Week 38
⛔️ Betsson Stops Accepting Bets from American Customers
The Swedish bookmaker Betsson, which entered the U.S. market under the Betsafe brand in Colorado in March 2022, announced it will cease accepting bets from Americans at the end of September. The company will continue to operate as a software provider for other gambling companies.
⚡️ DraftKings Acquires Simplebet for $195 Million
This move is aimed at leveraging the potential of the startup in microbetting. Microbetting involves small wagers on short events, which are becoming increasingly popular among players.
future.
🏢 SOFTSWISS Expands Horizons: Entry into Offline Markets
The successful iGaming software developer is launching a new solution for retail betting by acquiring a controlling stake in South African supplier Turfsport.
History of Casinos and Bookmakers
Before the Internet, casinos and betting required the physical presence of players in gambling houses or bookmakers. These games and events were an essential part of social life and culture in different societies.
Ancient Times
The earliest evidence of gambling was found in ancient China and Egypt. Dice dating back to around 3000 BC have been discovered in China.
The Greeks and Romans were known for their love of gambling. Games using dice and other objects were part of cultural traditions 🎲. Bets were placed on everything—from gladiatorial combats to chariot races 🐎. However, there were no odds; winnings were divided among those who correctly predicted the outcome. This type of betting is now known as the totalizator.
Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, gambling was widespread across Europe. Dice and card games were popular among various social strata. The first gambling houses appeared in many cities 🏠.
Renaissance and Modern Times
Italy played a crucial role in the history of gambling. In 1638, the first official casino, “Ridotto,” was opened in Venice. It was meant to regulate gambling during carnivals. In the 18th century, France became a center for the development of gambling, especially card games and roulette. Games such as “Faro” and “Whist” were popular in high society 🤯. The modern version of roulette, known to us today, was developed in France during this period.
19th Century
In the 19th century, many new sports disciplines emerged, leading to an increase in people wanting to place bets. Clubs were formed where visitors could place bets, and bookmakers began accepting bets 💎. Also, in the 19th century, specifically in 1863, the famous Monte Carlo Casino was opened, becoming a symbol of luxury and wealth.
20th Century
The 20th century marked the flourishing of the bookmaking industry, which began to take the form we know today and spread rapidly. Odds sheets—booklets that informed clients about the probable outcomes of matches and the chances of horses winning races—appeared 📄. This era also saw the emergence of new types of gambling, such as bingo and lotteries, and the gradual legalization of the gambling market in many countries worldwide.
Before the Internet, casinos and betting required the physical presence of players in gambling houses or bookmakers. These games and events were an essential part of social life and culture in different societies. The development of gambling was closely tied to changes in legislation and the economy, as well as cultural traditions and technological progress 🏃. With the advent of the Internet, the gambling industry entered a new era, providing players the opportunity to participate in games and bets online from anywhere in the world. We will tell more about this period in the following posts! 😉⏰
World News. Week 37
⚡️iGaming epidemic: UK residents see gambling ads about 700 times during a single football match. In the US, Canada, and Australia, bills have been introduced to partially or fully ban advertising of regulated iGaming products.
🇳🇱 Half of Dutch players at risk may turn to illegal operators. A report from the Netherlands Online Gambling Association showed a reduction in the proportion of players with problematic behavior from 42% in 2023 to 39% in 2024. However, stricter regulation might weaken player protection.
📱 For the first quarter of 2024, according to SOFTSWISS data, 90% of total betting company gaming revenue (GGR) comes from mobile devices.
🌟Brazilian fighter and influencer Jully Poca to promote crash game Aviator.
🌚Drake lost $450,000 on UFC 305. The rapper bet on Adesanya to win. Is the “rapper’s curse” still on?
Regulatory Digest
🎩 U.S. authorities have urged the CFTC to ban political betting. In their letter, senators stated that such bets on platforms like Polymarket undermine public trust in the democratic election process. The Polymarket platform has already accumulated over $500 million in bets related to U.S. elections.
🇦🇺 Australia plans to introduce a 2% tax on gambling companies’ GGR to offset the revenue that media outlets will lose if gambling advertising is banned.
🇦🇷 In Argentina, a bill will be considered that would virtually ban gambling advertising in all 23 provinces.
What happens in a player’s mind from the perspective of neurobiology
In the mind of a person placing bets with an unknown outcome, fundamental cognitive processes occur. These include decision-making under uncertainty, the desire to obtain a reward, the evaluation of potential losses, regret over incorrect decisions, and the adjustment of future strategies—a whole cauldron of floating, intermingling thoughts and emotions🍵🧠🥘. That is why the topic of gambling has not escaped the attention of scientists.
It turns out that the most interesting activity occurs in the orbitofrontal cortex, which is responsible, among other things, for analyzing social interactions🤝. It is located in the frontal lobes of the brain and is primarily occupied with repeatedly replaying recent experiences and noting what exactly was unsatisfactory about them. This is essentially the emotion of “regret.” According to numerous studies, including one published by Berkeley scientists in 2018, this area lit up every time the results of a gambling round were announced.
Regret was the main emotion for subjects both after a loss and after a win: in the first case, they obviously lamented the lost bet, and in the second, they regretted not betting more📈🃏. At the same time, the subjects’ minds were solely occupied with the results of the previous round of the game, not referring to earlier experiences. The pattern did not change after the subject placed another bet: instead of joyfully anticipating a win—or even regretting the recent risky decision to place a bet—their brain continued to analyze the results of the past round.
How to use this information in attracting and retaining players is up to you😉
How men’s and women’s approaches to gambling differ
🔍 New insights from in-depth interviews!
👤 Men:
- Tend to play systematically.
- Engage in casino gambling as a form of thrilling entertainment.
- Are inclined to use betting strategies, aiming to optimize the gaming process.
👩 Women:
- Play less frequently and prefer shorter sessions, making the gaming process more random and diverse.
- Look for opportunities for social interaction in casinos.
- Prefer more intuitive and accessible games, making the gaming experience quick and enjoyable.
🎯 Conclusion: Understanding these differences will help affiliates create more targeted marketing campaigns.
Betting Markets on U.S. Elections
Everyone remembers the scandal before the last British elections, where a group of parliamentarians placed bets on the outcome. But what about political betting on the largest market in the world—the United States?
📈 In the early 20th century, the most active American trading floors weren’t those for stocks or bonds. The real action was in betting on the next president. People would gather in the financial district, and brokers would shout out bets just like in securities trading. Usually, people guessed the outcomes correctly: from 1884 to 1940, the favorite won 11 out of 15 times, with only one major upset. Even sociologists were wrong more often.
👑 Political betting markets in America almost disappeared after World War II due to crackdowns on gambling and the rise of political polling. Today, they are mostly illegal, with a few exceptions like a cryptocurrency exchange on Ethereum and non-profit exchanges created for data collection, such as the Polymarket platform. Let’s look at the numbers.
📈 $20,800,000 — that’s how much Polymarket clients have wagered on U.S. President Joe Biden withdrawing from the presidential race, with the bookmaker estimating the probability at 83%. On the same platform, $44 million has been bet on Trump’s victory, $25 million on Harris, and $22 million on Michelle Obama, who isn’t even running. As of the end of June, a total of $341,915,903 had been bet on the election, and this amount is expected to grow.
Imagine if someone had bet on Harris back in April—they’d be raking in the money now!
History of casinos and bookmakers
History of casinos and bookmakers
Ancient timesThe earliest evidence of gambling is found in ancient China and Egypt. Dice have been found in China dating back to around 3000 BC.We know the Greeks and Romans as people who loved gambling. Games using dice and other objects were part of cultural traditions🎲. They placed bets on everything – gladiator fights, chariot races🐎. However, at that time there were no odds; the winnings were divided among everyone who managed to correctly determine the outcome of the event. Nowadays this type of betting is called totalizator.Middle AgesIn the Middle Ages, gambling was common throughout Europe. Games of dice and cards were popular in various social strata. The first gambling houses appeared in many cities🏠.Renaissance and Modern TimesItaly has played an important role in the history of gambling. In 1638, the first official casino, the Ridotto, opened in Venice. It was intended to regulate gambling during carnivals. In the 18th century, France became a center for the development of gambling, especially cards and roulette. Games such as Faro and Whist were popular in the upper circles of society. 🤯 The modern version of roulette, known to us today, was developed in France in those days.19th centuryIn the 19th century, a huge number of new disciplines emerged in the world of sports and, accordingly, more people wanted to place bets. Interest clubs emerged, where any visitor could bet on one outcome or another, and bookmakers who accepted bets. 💎 And, of course, in the 19th century, namely in 1863, the well-known Monte Carlo casino opened, which became a symbol of luxury and wealth.20th centuryThe 20th century marked the heyday of bookmaking, which began to take on the form we are familiar with and spread like mushrooms after rain. So-called odds sheets appeared – booklets that informed the client about the approximate outcomes of matches and the chances of winning for horses participating in the races📄. It was also the time of the emergence of new types of gambling, such as bingo and lotteries, and the gradual legalization of the gambling market in many countries around the world.___________Before the advent of the Internet, casinos and betting required the physical presence of players in gambling houses or bookmakers. These games and activities were an important part of the social life and culture of different societies. The development of gambling went hand in hand with changes in legislation and economics, as well as with cultural traditions and technological progress 🏃. With the advent of the Internet, the gambling industry has entered a new era, giving players the opportunity to participate in games and bets online from anywhere in the world. We will talk about this period in the following posts! 😉⏰
Euro 2024 betting analysis
Euro 2024 betting analysis
Major sporting events, such as the 2024 European Football Championship, allow bookmakers to attract new players and activate inactive ones. Optimove’s data on rate trends during these peak events can inform improvements to operators’ marketing strategy for Euro 2024.🖼️ The big pictureThe 2022 World Cup has seen a surge in betting activity, with more players participating but a decline in the average bet amount, indicating a shift towards more casual betting behaviour. The tournament also attracted more new depositors, presenting both an opportunity and a challenge for operators to retain these newcomers after the event ends. Players who made their first deposit during the tournament showed lower retention rates compared to those who started betting at other times of the year.1. More bettors on peak events, lower average bet amountOptimove data from the 2022 World Cup shows that significantly more bettors engaged in betting during the tournament than during normal months.The influx of new depositors, or new players, peaked in November 2022 with a 50% jump at the height of the tournament, as shown in the graph below. The rise in overall sports betting led to a 38% increase in December, as shown above. While remaining well above baseline, it highlights the important connection between the completion of a major event and the anticipation of the next major one—in this case, the resumption of the American football regular season. Using this knowledge as a retention strategy can greatly benefit operators.Pro tip: For Euro 2024, operators can actively promote the Paris Olympic Games, starting just twelve days after Euro 2024 ends.2. Increase in the total amount of depositsTotal deposits rose sharply during the 2022 World Cup, increasing by 22% and 24% in November and December 2022 respectively compared to the average off-season month. However, the average deposit amount has decreased (see chart). This decline can be attributed to the influx of new casual players who, as a demographic, typically place lower bets than regular football bettors, as shown in the graph above ☝️.3. Newbies come and goThe percentage of new depositors more than doubled compared to the average off-season month, increasing by 113% in November 2022.💡 Turn these trends into a retention strategy using these tips:Attract more football fans: European football is a major betting destination, with almost every bettor placing at least one bet every year. For iGaming operators, optimizing effective marketing communications requires offering the right incentives through preferred channels at the right moments to initiate their engagement.Keep their interest: Newcomers brought in during peak events tend to leave quickly. Retain them by emphasizing the excitement of upcoming major sporting events.Increase Rookie Participation: Tournament year rookies often exhibit lower betting tendencies compared to their off-season counterparts. Keep them active with personalized offers and betting recommendations. Plus educate them about betting options to prevent premature disinterest.Diversify offerings: While soccer takes precedence, tournament players often explore other sports. As other smaller tournaments and sporting events approach, marketing efforts must provide clues about the different interests of players and convey accurate messages to attract them.
