Industry predictions for 2021: phygital trends and managing game content real estate

Christine Lewis, CCO and MD Malta, Pariplay

Christine Lewis, Pariplay

Regulatory controls to continue their impact in 2021

In the face of the recent Germany Toleration Regime and the BGC in the UK, it is natural to expect this to continue in 2021, especially with the Netherlands and Greece being next in line for regulation in 2021. Although difficult to precisely predict which markets will adopt the German and UK approaches to in-game limitations, more markets will undoubtedly take greater interest in regulation, as it gains momentum across European regulated markets in 2021.

Engagement

Related to the greater involvement of the regulators in 2021 is the continued need for engagement rather than incentivisation for the players. Covid-19, among other things, saw a greater amount of players going online than has previously been experienced. Both the industry as a whole and the regulators have increased player protection measures. As a result, more creative tools to encourage loyalty and enhanced enjoyment for the player when playing will take on greater importance in 2021. Gamification tools, which work across all content an operator provides rather than individual game-based incentivisation, will take on greater prominence in 2021 which means the focus will be on aggregators to provide, operators to develop or external specialists to provide ‘off-the-shelf’ packages.

Content clutter and the need for in-game innovation

Operators are inundated with great content and there are more content companies being launched every year. This was present in 2020, but will increase in 2021, as operators have less ‘real estate’ to present an increased amount of games. While Megaways and the innovative maths model it represents will undoubtedly continue to feature in 2021 (so many content providers have taken out a licence) this will lead to more unique approaches being adopted – so which company will win the race to provide the next Megaways? Will it be Infinity Reels from ReelPlay or will it come from innovative approaches in gameplay itself, the likes of which we see in Green Jade and also Skilzzz Gaming?

Marc Wood, sales and marketing director, 1accounts

Marc Wood, 1accounts

Covid

Over the next six months, we are predicting the continuing positive impact on casino and esports over traditional land-based and physical sports (for obvious reasons).

Phygital

A converging of physical and digital. The lines have become blurred. 2021 could well be the year when offline and online identity and affordability checks come together, for both ID verification as well as problem gambling considerations. Think equivalent checks in store and online, using omni-channel technology.

Regulatory and problem gaming

Continued tightening of the screws in light of isolation and social distancing, with no immediate signs of the industry’s wider reputation getting any better (unless we take drastic action).

Online betting limits

Implementation of online limits for casino, in line with physical betting stores (in relation to increased pressure from lobby groups).