The online gambling market has been increasing at a rapid pace in the last couple of years. The global market, which was valued at $95.5 billion in 2024, according to Global Market Insight, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% to reach 257 billion by 2034. This growth is quite massive, considering that many people are now turning to indoor and more convenient forms of entertainment. Interestingly, Statista forecasts that by 2029, there will be at least 555.9 million casino game users, a good portion of them being online users.
But you might be asking yourself this question: how are online platforms garnering this large number of users? You see, online gambling platforms have come up with strategies that not only allow them to attract many potential clients who can bet, but also retain a good portion of the users who come into contact with the platforms. Well, this article will be highlighting some of these strategies that have been so effective in increasing the size of the online gambling market.
Bonuses and promotions
You can try to prove us wrong, but there are very few people on earth who would not want to take advantage of a free opportunity if they get one. Now, one thing that deter gamblers from interacting with online platforms is the fact that they will have to use their own monies in order to bet and have a good experience online.
However, casino bonuses and promos are creative ways of allowing players to bet and gamble without using their own funds. This ensures that players are enjoying their favorite games but not taking a dime off their pockets.
There are a number of bonuses offered by various platforms, including:
- Welcome bonuses: These are incentives that are given to new players whenever they are signing into a new platform. They can be packaged as match bonuses, no-deposit bonuses or free spins. Match bonuses match up the deposit you make by a certain percentage, whether 200% or even 500%, up to a particular amount. For no-deposit bonuses, you start playing games without having to make a deposit first.
- Cashback bonuses: This is an incentive that rewards players with a percentage of their losses in the form of cash or free spins. For example, if you have been having a bad week and have lost at least $100, a casino offering a 15% cashback will credit $15 into your account as a way of saying, “We’ve got your back.”
- Loyalty bonuses: These are rewards given to loyal casino users to encourage them to continue interacting with the platform. The more you bet on different games, the more your chances of being awarded such.
- High-roller bonuses: This is a special type of promotion that online gambling platforms offer to players who make large deposits and bets. These bonuses can include higher match deposit bonuses, cashback offers and other exclusive perks like VIP event invitations and personal account managers.
These incentives and promotions have worked wonders over the years. In fact, a survey by ENV Media stated that at least 94% of players in the study claimed that bonuses made the gaming experience much better. A further 92.8% said that incentives motivated them to play more.
Sponsorships
Many iGaming companies are linking up with different sports leagues for sponsorships. This is because these leagues offer access to a wide range of potential customers. Let’s take the Premier League, for example. According to a Q4 2023 survey by Ampere, at least 23% of sports fans across 14 countries worldwide have an interest in the EPL. This makes it the third most popular competition after the UCL and the FIFA World Cup.
Now, many iGaming platforms have already made deals with EPL teams for front-of-shirt or hand sponsorships. In fact, in the 2024/25 season, 11 EPL teams have their shirts featuring gambling sponsors. With all the exposure and popularity of the EPL, betting companies have a greater chance of reaching a wider market.
Other leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and others have also partnered with gambling companies for sponsorship deals. There is news all over that tells of major leagues making agreements with popular iGaming companies for a chance to have a portion of the market.
Choice of games
When players are attracted to bet on an online platform, it is not guaranteed that they will remain there for long. However, the games available might be the distinction between players staying around or leaving after a short interaction with a gambling platform. Different platforms partner with software providers to come up with games that will make the players’ stay worthwhile.
To start with, casinos incorporate a variety of themes in a bid to cater to the needs of different players. You will find themes like:
- Sports
- Fantasy
- Tv and movies
- Mythology (Ancient Greek, Egyptian or Mayan)
- Adventure
- Holiday
- Asian
All these themes are important in keeping the attention of different players at their peak. If a player does not find a theme that appeals to them, then they might, most probably, sign out of the casino.
In addition, casinos work with trusted software providers that are known for offering different gaming software. For example, Microgaming is known for slot games, while Evolution Gaming stands out as one of the best live dealer casino software providers. Once players see the logos of such companies, they are assured that the casino games are decent enough. Other major software providers include:
- NetEnt
- Yggdrasil Gaming
- Pragmatic Play
- Playtech
- Betsoft
- Play’n Go
Customer service
Poor customer service can be a bane for any company. In fact, a recent survey claims that more than half of customers switch to a competitor after just one incident of bad customer service. Interestingly, a similar report by Coveo states that at least 56% of consumers rarely complain about bad customer experiences, but they quietly change to competitors.
Following such statistics, iGaming platforms ensure that their customer service is top-notch. They ensure that the customer service agents are well knowledgeable and that they can be reached at any time during the day, all around the week. Another way of ensuring that customers are well served is by integrating chatbots into online platforms. This helps reduce the congestion in the queue for the customer support staff.
Final word
The online gambling industry has been growing at a rapid pace thanks to technological advancement and more people appreciating the convenience offered by online gambling platforms. These platforms have been incorporating different techniques to ensure that they are not only attracting players to bet on their sites but also retaining the gained players. In the coming years, we can be sure that this gaming market will be huge and with more attraction and retaining techniques.
