Online gambling is expected to surge internationally in the next five years, jumping from 0 billion this year to nearly 0 billion by 2021, according to a report from gaming researcher Juniper.
That could mean online gambling will approach the same level as total spending on all digital goods and services, expected to hit $1 trillion in 2021.
More gambling is migrating to online outlets, spurred on by mobile users. Eventually, virtual reality will also draw in more online gamblers, the researcher said.
Juniper said there’s been a trend toward creating new regulation around online gambling, but in some cases, like in the Philippines, governments have moved towards outright bans.
The research also said that within an increasingly consolidated and maturing online gambling industry, providers had intensified their focus on securing customer loyalty.
According to research author Lauren Foye, “User engagement goes a long way towards drawing in return business. Providing features such as news and media on favorite teams, as well as personalized offerings based on past betting activity, enables greater engagement and is likely to reduce churn.”
