As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to show signs of easing, the damage that the lockdown has caused to the global economy is only now becoming apparent. Whilst some industries have been terribly affected by the pandemic, some appear to have flourished.
The gambling industry appears to sit somewhere in the middle of this, with brick and mortar casinos and sports betting shops suffering greatly and online casino sites benefitting. Indeed, a spokesperson from the mobile slots casino fruityking.co.uk said: âWe have never experienced such a rapid phase of growth as we have during the last three months.â
In this article, we will create an in-depth analysis of online gambling industry during COVID-19 pandemic. We will look at the growing popularity of online casino sites as well as the current debate around casino sites during lockdown.
So, without further ado, letâs take a look at the first item in our analysis of online gambling industry during COVID-19 pandemic.
Online Casinos Booming
Certainly, online casinos have experienced unprecedented growth in the last few months as a result of the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
It seems that many of the newcomers to online gambling are migrating from casinos and betting shops, which are only now reopening after being forced to close their doors.
Letâs now take a closer look at the growth of online gambling during COVID-19 pandemic across the globe and how different countries have fared during the crisis.
The Global Outlook
So, with traditional forms of gambling taking a huge hit during COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown, many who previously headed to the track, tables or bookies are heading online.
In Australia, spending from online gambling has increased by 110% from normal rates. Indeed, gambling spending was up by more than 62% in May 2020 compared to May 2019, a significant increase indeed. Whatâs more, data shows that searches for âonline casino Australia real moneyâ increased by a whopping 540% while âAustralia online casino reviewsâ boomed to ten times their usual rate.
In the UK, the situation looks similarly encouraging for online gambling companies. Online slots saw a 25% active player increase in March 2020 in comparison with March 2019.
Similarly, online casino game engagement, in general, has increased by over 15% since March. Whatâs more, UK virtual wagers have jumped by 44% and poker enjoyed a 53% increase.
It was also reported that, in the UK, gamblers who played more than one casino game was up by over 25% from this time last year.
Clearly, all indicators suggest an increase in activity for the online gambling industry in both of these countries, with similar figures in the rest of the world.
The future of the online gambling industry after COVID-19 pandemic
For many in the industry, the question of whether the online gambling industry can hold onto this glut of new players once the lockdown has subsided is an important one.
Early figures from Germany, where the football season resumed a few weeks ago, suggest that although sports betting is enjoying a resurgence, this does not appear to be at any cost to online casinos. In fact, many experts suggest that online gambling will be able to hold onto much of its newfound fanbase once the pandemic dies down.
Overall, the online gambling industry appears to have benefitted from the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. Whether the industry can hold onto its new players remains to be seen yet early signs are certainly positive.
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