In Canada, like with many other countries, gambling has surged in popularity, and it has become a fabric of modern-day society. The casino industry is fiercely competitive, and it has become a booming enterprise as it encompasses both land-based and online casinos.
Previously, online gambling was frowned upon in Canada, now it became mainstream, thanks in part to poker. Billions of dollars have been ploughed into casinos and sports betting, and it has generated fascinating opportunities. With a diversity of table and online games available, online gambling has become revolutionary.
Revenues are continuing to grow, and below, we look at some of the key characteristics that have defined gambling in Canada and assess likely trends going forward.
While brick-and-mortar casinos have played their part over the years, more and more online casinos are popping up. The Canadian online gaming industry pockets around $31 billion, taking into account the online casino sector. In some provinces, such as Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, land-based casino projects have been rejected, and online casinos have taken more prominence.
Canadians are now free to access off-shore online casinos, poker rooms and bookmakers. The online gaming industry has had to adapt, and with technological advances paving the way for more possibilities, there has been a noticeable shift away from land-based operations. Indeed, technological changes have given gaming providers more impetus to improve the quality of their games.
Gambling online over the past few years has shot up, although there has been little direction on the Canadian government’s part as to how best to legislate the online sphere. For many, it is still a grey area. Nevertheless, the appetite for gambling online appears to be showing no signs of diminishing.
For many bettors, mobile technology has made gambling much more cost-effective and convenient. The shift to online gaming in Canada is part of a much broader global trend. The popularity of online casinos and gaming operators in Canada has been fuelled by the mass adoption of mobile gaming technology, particularly iOS and Android.
A significant feature has been the efforts that bookmakers and online casinos have made to ensure they provide the best user experience for bettors. By providing an excellent interface, this has made it easier for Canadians to locate the best odds as well as place bets more quickly.
Security has taken on even more prevalence, and many top operators will have installed the latest SSL encryption software to prevent unauthorized parties from stealing the details of casino players. The best casinos and online operators will provide an extensive privacy policy for transparency that also abides by gambling licenses. In the digital protection age, reputable sites in Canada will be licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Reviews are constantly carried out, so bettors can do their homework before committing to an online bookmaker.
Payment methods have also changed in being able to deposit and withdraw cash to fund playing accounts faster than ever before. The more traditional payment methods, such as MasterCard and VISA, have now been replaced and overtaken by other e-wallets such as EcoPayz, Jeton and cryptocurrency. With most gaming platforms supporting cryptocurrency as a payment method, this has created a more user-friendly experience.
Banks have been trying to crack down on online gambling-related transactions, but cryptocurrencies are widely regarded as being a safe form of payment. Some casinos and online bookmakers will enable players to fund their accounts through mobile payment operators, and they can make deposits using Canadian dollars.
Most top bookmakers will have a verification process for when new players sign up. As part of the KYC (Know Your Customer) guidelines, bookmakers and online casinos have made it safer for players to withdraw their winnings. Some payment methods are quicker than others, but the variety has made online gambling more appealing.
Also, bettors have now placed a premium on excellent customer service if they encounter trouble online. The best sites will offer 24/7 service and can resolve issues quickly.
As online gambling levels have risen in Canada, there has inevitably been significant progress made in the development of gaming formats. Unsurprisingly, there is no shortage of live dealer games that bettors can tap into, including live dealer blackjack games, roulette, craps and slots.
In the future, there will be a higher degree of authenticity added to live dealer gaming. As streaming services continue to upgrade, there will be more focus on the live element to make casino gaming as realistic as possible.
Similarly, online sports bookmakers will focus more on live in-play betting. For sports, such as hockey and soccer, bettors will be able to access the latest tips and change in odds at their fingertips to inform them of their betting decisions.
In an increasingly competitive world, players want to be able to get the best promotions available. With more sites becoming increasingly mobile-first in their approach, players will continue to receive exclusive bonuses and online operators will have to do more to keep bettors interested.
Yes, gambling in Canada has made a splash, and it is an industry that continues to grow at an exponential rate. As previously mentioned, cryptocurrency will continue to play an increasingly important role as online sports operators want to provide more flexibility and convenience for gamblers.
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated element of gambling will be the implementation of VR. The advent of mobile technology has paved the way for innovation, but VR is relatively unnoticed in the online gambling scene. There is vast scope to develop VR, and it remains to be seen whether casinos embrace this technology.
With continual advances in science, face-scanning technology could also be a key component of online gambling in the future. If it does, it could take off as it would create a more immersive and exciting online experience for bettors.
