One thing is clear: Canadians love to play for money, whether betting on a sporting event or gaming at an online casino. According to statistics on the website of consumer and market data company Statista, by 2029 the number of users of the sports betting market will amount to 25.5 million. By the same year, users in the online casino market are expected to amount to 15.7 million.
The sports betting industry and online casinos are competing with each other, and it seems that the sports betting one could be getting the upper hand. Can online casinos compete? Industry insiders would give a firm yes to that question. Below is a look at ways online casinos can attract new players, at legislation in Canada, how citizens of the New Brunswick province can play casino games online, and at the future of both industries in Canada.
Attracting new players
Just like on the stock markets, the competition between both industries is intensely fierce, but there are several different ways online casinos can draw new players to their facilities.
Powerful marketing
Marketing is a strong tool online casinos can use to drive new players to their websites. Content marketing, which can consist of blogs, videos, and more, posted on their website and social media is a way to engage potential new players and provide additional value so they can get more out of their gaming. The casinos can use search engine optimization (SEO) to help ensure the content they post on their website is more visible in search engines, meaning more people will see it and visit their website.
Promotions and bonuses
Promotions and bonuses are an effective way to encourage players to create an account with the casino. Players may receive a bonus to spend or free spins to use when they set up their account with the casino. This enables new players to try the casino’s games without spending any of their money.
Online casino gaming in Canada
As mentioned, online casinos in Canada are leveraging social media to capture the interest of new players in their services, and SEO to get more eyeballs on their websites. They’re also making the most of welcome bonuses and no deposit bonuses for players who create a new account.
Personalized experience
When players do decide to create the account, as well as receiving a bonus, they get a personalized experience as the casino tailors its communication and recommendations to the player. If a player enjoys blackjack, they’ll receive offers on blackjack and messages about blackjack promotions, for instance.
Loyalty programs
Online casinos are grateful that, out of all the internet casinos operating, the player has chosen them. They express this gratitude in the form of a loyalty program that rewards players based on their activity at the casino. Players may receive free spins, exclusive bonuses, and other rewards.
Canadian online gaming laws
Despite not enjoying as much freedom as some other countries, Canadians can take part in online gambling, depending on their province. This is because the federal government has placed regulation of both offline and online gaming laws in the hands of provincial governments. Several allow online casino gaming at provincially licensed websites. This is the case in New Brunswick. According to www.casino.ca New Brunswick, there are a huge range of online casinos aimed at residents of the area with a wide variety of games.
Copyright: antonioguillem / 123RF Stock Photo
A look at the future of online casinos and sports betting
The figures on the Statista website show that both sports betting and online casino gaming have a promising future ahead of them. The sports betting market is expected to hit a projected $5.5 billion in revenue by 2030. In 2024, it’s projected to reach around $2.61 billion.
Within the industries themselves, banking technology will make it even easier to place bets online. Mobile apps will get even better as technology improves. Wearable technology will also become a more common part of the gaming experience.
The push to ban sports advertising
For all the advances, a push to ban sports betting advertising could set the industry back. Sports leagues such as the NHL and the NFL have expressed their fears about the damage a ban could do to them. Some teams and broadcasting networks derive significant revenue from their partnerships with sports betting companies. A ban would also make it difficult for online casinos to access new markets.
It’s not just about protecting leagues and teams, however. A ban on sports advertising could also drive fans away from legitimate platforms and towards unregulated ones. This would contradict the aim of the ban and achieve even worse outcomes than the one they’ve tried to prevent.
Canadians love gaming for money, whether betting on sports or playing at an online casino. Although not completely unrestricted, Canadians do have the freedom to game as long as they’re doing so at a provincially licensed online casino. A ban on sports advertising could have a powerful and damaging impact on the industry, should one come into force.
