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Although gambling entertainment is present across the globe, casino industry trends vary depending on the region. The cultural differences, along with the gambling regulatory framework, affect which games people prefer or get to play. What do we mean by this? Well, stick around to find out.
Online Gambling Trends in Europe
Certain European regions made online casinos legal fairly recently. So it’s still too soon to talk about lasting trends for a country like Germany, for example, since they legalized them in 2021. Luckily, it’s already easy to find internet casinos that are fully localized. All you need to do to uncover the top-performing and trusted brands is Gamblizard Germany, which evaluates or reviews casinos across the US and Europe. Brands that rank well on this list typically take into account regional player preferences. In this case, it would be operators that have a massive slot selection.
A great deal of casino software studios are based in European countries, and almost all of these studios primarily make slots. Even some big sportsbook brands have pivoted or expanded into casino territory and added slots to their websites. On top of that, the majority of casino bonuses are either aimed at slot players or designed to encourage bettors to give slots a try.
It is also worth pointing out that Europeans invented popular table games like Baccarat, Blackjack, and French Roulette. All of these have online versions and have an active player base across European countries.
We have to mention the UK as well. They were among the first in Europe to open their doors to iGaming brands. In a way, they showed the rest of the world it is possible to regulate online casinos and make them safe. This set the standard for regulatory frameworks and licensing requirements across the world. As for Brits, they really enjoy live dealer games, especially live blackjack.
Casino Trends in the US
Gambling houses have existed in Europe since the 17th century, but the modern casinos we know today originate in the US. It’s also a country that invented slot machines, which are the most profitable games in both online and retail casinos. That said, the most culturally dominant game in the US is poker.
Poker was likely inspired by other card games from China and Persia, but the modern versions like Texas Hold’em and Omaha come from the US. According to some estimates, there are around 100 million online poker players in the world, and 60 million of them are in the US. Canadians have a lot of love for poker too, but their iGaming preference is definitely slots.
Poker is also very popular in Australia and in Russia. After the fall of the USSR, many Russians became interested in Western culture, and poker quickly became a widespread hobby. But due to strict online gambling regulations, there aren’t many online poker players from Russia.
Australians Love Pokies/Slots
Even with a vibrant poker culture, online casino trends in Australia indicate that pokies or slots are the most played games. First off, online poker is heavily regulated and prohibited in Australia. Pokies, on the other hand, started out as video poker machines and were designed to improve that experience. Throughout Oz, video pokie terminals became common in pubs and other retail establishments, so it’s clear why online pokies became a hit.
Card Games and Eastern Cultures
Gambling entertainment was present even in ancient civilizations, and many historians agree that a lot of luck-based games came from China. Playing cards that we love so much date back to before AD1000, and they were likely imported by traders. As a result, it’s not surprising that the most played casino game in Chinese casinos is Baccarat. It also has its own Eastern culture version in Dragon and Tiger.
In addition to Baccarat, a dice game like Sic Bo is also popular among Chinese players. Game studios are fully aware of these preferences, and the live dealer section makes this evident. There are multiple virtual rooms that host Baccarat, Dragon and Tiger, and Sic Bo, and the dealer is a young asian woman.
When it comes to Japan, its gambling culture is strongly influenced by Pachinko games. In online casino games that resemble Pachinko are slots and Plinko so it’s easy to see why they resonate well with Japanese players.
Online Casino Growth in Africa
In recent years, we’ve witnessed a rapid growth of iGaming on the African continent. Some market experts prognosticate that by 2028, the active player base should reach 7 million. The highest concentration of players is in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, and almost 70% of them play on mobile. When it comes to game preference, it’s pretty much the same as in Europe. Slots occupy the top position, and there is a decent interest in blackjack and roulette