Anyone who’s been keen on the iGaming industry will agree that a lot has changed ever since it became possible to access entertainment from any place through online platforms like the Betway app. It’s actually one of the reasons why this sector continues to enjoy multicultural penetration. According to Statista, the global online gambling and betting industry has already surpassed the $85.62 billion mark and is expected to grow to $133.59 billion in the next few years.
So, do you think that the growing popularity of mobile applications like the Betway app has a role to play in this growth? Will these apps be the future of this industry? Well, if you have such questions, you need not worry. This article will go to the depths of that discussion, highlighting amazing facts that will get you ahead.
Where have we come from?
In the past, gaming was more communal and physical as we had to get to physical spaces to immerse ourselves. And it follows that the sense of shared experience was a key attraction. Even though online gaming through platforms like the Betway app did not exist then, those times played a great part in the spread of this industry.
Moving on into the late 20th century, the rise of gadgets like home consoles and personal computers would later make iGaming even more popular. And if you remember quite well, it was during that era that companies like Atari introduced consoles for home use. Personal computers contributed significantly to the widespread adoption of computer games. Many gamers transitioned from public gaming spaces to their homes, serving as a great revolution in the iGaming sector.
After Antigua and Barbuda’s Free Trade and Processing Act of 1994, the first desktop-based online casino platform launched, where players could now access entertainment from any place. More jurisdictions continued to welcome the practice, contributing to the further spread of the industry.
And in 2007, something remarkable happened – Apple launched its first iPhone, which was followed by the first Android phone a year later. This innovation would now allow players to carry the gaming experience to any place – whether in the office, on the go, or at home. Early providers like the Betway app really benefited from this trend. Plus, as technological advancements made mobile gaming more convenient, more players joined the industry. And you may actually be surprised to learn that, according to Influencer Marketing Hub, there are about three billion mobile gamers.
The mobile-first era
Just as we noted, when many people started accessing entertaining experiences through their PCs, developers tailored their designs to first accommodate these preferences. As time has gone by, most players are now more likely to access such experiences via their mobile phones than other platforms. In fact, according to Uswitch, more than a third of gamers use mobiles as their main gaming device. Generally, 79% of all gamers, in one way or another, use their phones to play.
Realizing this, developers have now shifted their design focus from a desktop-first approach to a mobile-first method. After all, who will want to ignore customer tastes and preferences, especially now that the industry has become exceedingly competitive? Go Globe approximates mobile games to account for about 57% of the global gaming market revenue, and you want to always ensure you are taking advantage of such trends to stay ahead.
Design in the mobile-first era
The power of ensuring responsiveness
Have you ever interacted with a game on your laptop but could not replicate the same experience on your phone because maybe the game wasn’t performing well? What was your likely response? In such cases, most gamers would leave the game and maybe never return. Given that we have become multiscreen consumers, you don’t want to have an unusual experience just because you accessed a game using a different platform.
Responsive design comes to help with that as it allows the game to automatically adjust to different screens, allowing for seamless experiences. Business Dasher records that 62% of businesses that adopted such designs witnessed an increase in sales. The organization further noted that these designs could drive conversion rates by up to 11% than non-responsive ones.
It is no wonder platforms like the Betway app have adopted this approach to improve their competitiveness. And knows? Maybe more such companies could turn to this approach in the future.
Best practices for mobile-first designs
Remember, mobile screens have quite a limited space, so go for a clutter-free content viewing experience. Do not overwhelm the user – present the most important information clearly first. You can take advantage of visual hierarchy to help you with emphasizing the most important content to users.
Minimizing popups can also be a great way to get started. Some users often consider popups as forcing them to do something or distracting their initial intentions, which may affect their experience. Plus, Google does not seem to love popups on mobile, so avoiding them can benefit your ranking on search engine results.
A few more hacks you may want to consider include:
- Reducing overly use of animations
- Avoiding cluttering the layout
- Continual optimization to always align with gamers’ needs
In summary, we may see more iGaming companies take advantage of the widespread use of mobiles to create apps that allow players to engage on the go. Platforms like the Betway app are already at the centre of this transition and may take advantage of emerging technologies to stand out even more.
