According to some market experts, who took part at a discussion at the 23rd annual East Coast Gaming Congress and NextGen Forum hosted at Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center, esports and video gaming remain a segment that could bring the desired expansion to progressive-thinking casino operators.
According to one of them, Ari Fox from Gamacon & Casino Esports Conference, the gambling world and esports are at a crossroad and changes are already happening. He indisputably got this right, as the gambling market is getting more and more dynamic by the day. Furthermore, Mr. Fox claims that the industries of esports and casino gambling need to collide because the casino operators are starting to lose the generation which mostly plays traditional table games.
On the other hand, competitive video game tournaments are getting more popular among people worldwide, especially among the ones between 15 and 35 years of age. According to research carried out by NewZoo and Goldman Sachs, esports registered more than 167 million viewerships on a global scale last year. That number is expected to increase to 300 million by 2022.
Betting with real money on skill-based video games has already been made legal in 38 US states, including New Jersey. Despite that, analysts say that the casino industry is missing out on the almost $13 billion in bets which are placed on esports with overseas bookmakers every year. This is due to the American gambling operator’s lack of channeled efforts to attract more customers.
Casino Operators Should Try to Engage Younger Audiences with Attractive Gaming Offering
According to reports, some Nevada casinos have already been trying to attract the 15-35 age group by constructing large esports arenas and forging partnerships with popular sponsors to offer cash prizes.
Some experts believe that esports are generally associated with a more engaging experience which turns out to be particularly appealing to the new generation of gamers. According to them, esports could be a game-changer for casino operators in case they do it right. Analysts say that average players could be provided with a great experience making them feel like professionals while playing with real money and being able to place bets on themselves in esports competitions.
Unfortunately, very few casino operators seem to be properly understanding esports. Others are not willing to engage with a younger audience. Still, video gamers over the age of 25 have been found to become increasingly interested in so-called in-game betting. Such players have been found to be feeling particularly engaged with online gaming.
It is beyond any doubt that casino operators would have to become more flexible and start offering something different if they want to attract new players and generate larger revenue in the years to come. This is exactly why analysts believe that casino companies must focus on younger audiences, such as millennials and offer them something more entertaining than what has already been on the Internet.
