By Mohak Arora, Parimatch Brand expert
The mobile game revenue in the world is booming, and one primary reason is the penetration of smartphones. This phenomenon is valid for all countries across the globe. The increasing affordability of smartphones and the easy access to 5G networks has fuelled the growth of the iGaming industry.
According to Statista, the number of users in the mobile games market is expected to reach 1.9 billion by 2027. Meanwhile, user penetration is anticipated to be 22.1% in 2024, with a projected increase to 23.3% by 2027. The scenario in India is no different, with the Internet reaching Tier II and Tier III cities along with the increase in smartphone affordability.
Parimatch experts analyzed, that smartphones have revolutionized the iGaming industry in more ways than one. People today are no longer glued to their PC to play their games. Technological enhancements have made the iGaming experience seamless and immersive making it all the more popular. The convenience and possibility of playing games at all times have made mobile games dearer to all. Today, game developers have made tremendous enhancements for gamers. This has made playing games across devices at any time and place possible. It is gradual, but the shift from PC to smartphone is definite and permanent. Gamers find the convenience and accessibility that mobile phones give them irresistible. Also, today, with technology such as AI, ML, Meta, VR, and more, games have become more accessible to play on smartphones.
The experience is seamless and irrespective of device, games today are personalized and almost tailor-made to each player’s preference and past choice. Smartphones give the gamer the sense of playing games on his terms and convenience, and this has been the most significant transformation in the iGaming industry.
In today’s world, iGaming has transcended being just a game. It has become a means to earn money, and many have taken it as a career option. Online casinos and esports are gaining immense popularity. Blockchain technology is the most significant game changer, making iGaming more secure. This technology can detect any fraudulent activities at its onset, thus keeping the gaming space safe from any fraud. It can detect any untoward attempt being made by anyone and from anywhere. Since gaming today also has to do a lot with actual money transactions across the globe, Blockchain helps keep all users’ financial data secure and safe.
This confidence has led to gamers playing their games anywhere and from any device, including actively playing games on their smartphones while on the go. No longer do gamers wait to reach the comfort of their homes and PCs to get back to their game. With the safety feature in place, iGaming has become much more mobile, with smartphones that can help gamers log in anytime and anywhere.
With both gamers and game developers riding high on the current robust iGaming ecosystem, penetration and growth are only going to increase in the days to come. Smartphones today are also more powerful and can easily support all kinds of online games. This, supported by a great Internet network, is transforming the iGaming industry beyond recognition. This is also the beginning of an era of smartphone gaming, where device-based gaming already seems a phenomenon of the past.