Industry predictions: Shared gameplay takes off and cybersecurity threats on the rise
Livespins CCO Michael Pedersen and David Black of Continent 8 Technologies predict the big themes in online gaming this year
Michael Pedersen, CCO, Livespins
Shared gameplay takes off
2022 is going to be the year where shared gameplay experiences will reach significant mass. This is something already happening outside of the gambling industry – on Disney+ you can now Group Watch a streamed movie together while being in separate homes and Apple wants you to use SharePlay to watch and listen to content together while using FaceTime.
Perhaps accelerated by the pandemic, consumers are increasingly looking for products that allow for this hybrid mode of consumption i.e. being social with others on your own terms.
Instead of just watching, players can now join the ride and bet behind streamers while allowing each player to decide the bet amounts and settings they are comfortable with. Through the chat, the group can communicate with the streamer and each other as the spin unfolds and the excitement builds.
Products like this align with the wider push on responsible gambling and safe gaming as the focus is firmly on fun and entertainment, rather than unsustainable bet amounts and only seeking out big wins. Regulators and investors in markets around the world are encouraging operators to shift to more casual gameplay and I expect this focus to intensify during the year, especially in the UK where the Gambling Act 2005 is currently under review.
David Black, managing director EMEA, Continent 8 Technologies
Cybersecurity threats on the rise
My first prediction for 2022 is that industry events scheduled throughout the year will go ahead at some point, despite the emergence of the Omicron strain of coronavirus around the world.
This year will see continued M&A activity, but 2022 may well see new actors on that stage as mainstream entertainment and betting/gaming continue to assimilate. While the US will be fertile ground for these deals, I think we will see plenty of headline M&A activity in the rest of the world, too.
Finally, the intensity and complexity of cybersecurity threats will continue to rise, and the industry will have to ensure the continuation and enhancement of endpoint security to mitigate the risk of falling victim to an attack. Sadly, the scale and sophistication of these attacks, and in particular DDoS, will only increase throughout 2022.