Cryptocurrency
Things That Could Affect the iGaming Industry in 2022
META: Take a look at our list of things that could affect the iGaming industry in the coming years.
Like a lot of other industries, the iGaming industry is often at the whim of advances in the wider world. World events, advancements in technology and consumer trends all have some sort of effect on online casinos and other betting platforms. And, in turn, the iGaming industry will have to learn to adapt.
But it’s a lot easier to handle things when you know what’s coming. It’ll make adapting your betting stores a lot more efficient to get ahead of developing trends, instead of playing catch up with the changing waves in the industry.
So, with that in mind, take a look at our list of things that could affect the iGaming industry in the coming years, and see how your business can adapt.
Virtual Reality is being pushed
Virtual reality is a big idea that is turning a lot of heads in Silicon Valley. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions a world where people hold meetings in their virtual worlds and give granny a call with an avatar.
We’re a few years away from that, and in the meantime, virtual reality developers should focus on the demographic that is most likely to love it: gamers.
There are attempts to break into virtual reality gaming, and they’re slowly gaining traction. As more games hit the market, more VR rooms showcase their potential, more VR headgear will arrive and the virtual playground will open up.
And, if history is to repeat itself, some of the first games to hit the platform and be accepted will be casino games. Online casinos are already trying to up the immersion on their games, with live dealers and chat rooms. Why shouldn’t we upgrade that to appearing as though you’re actually sitting at the casino table? It’s sure to bring down the price of flights to Vegas.
Cryptocurrency is becoming mainstream
Slowly, cryptocurrency is finding its footing. People are learning the jargon, learning to avoid the scams, and are looking for ways they can use their newfound currency.
So far, short of buying a Tesla, there aren’t many options for the practical use of cryptocurrency except converting it into the national currency – except one place: online casinos.
More and more online casinos are accepting the likes of Bitcoin, Dogecoin, BEP20 token and more to make their deposits to online casinos. The main perk can be seen right away: it’s instant. Without the red tape of the bank to go around, players only need to wait minutes to gain their betting fodder, and don’t have to wait the standard 3-5 working days to then see the results of their winnings in their account.
As crypto becomes more popular and accepted, more industries will see the use of crypto and iGaming will no longer be one of two main uses of crypto, so it makes sense to adapt your site to accepting it now.
Regulations are slackening
World government attitudes to iGaming are changing. Famously stubborn anti-gambling countries like the Netherlands are changing their minds on the idea, and their regulations to match. In 2021 the Netherlands launched their own regulated gambling market, changing the law from an outright ban of all gambling in some places, to an allowance for online gambling. Meanwhile, South Africa and other African countries are telling their citizens that no gambling businesses will open in the country, but they can gamble online.
Even in the US, more and more states are accepting online gambling. So, what gives?
Well, taking New Jersey as an example, the launch of online gambling just before the worldwide lockdowns shut all of Atlantic City’s casinos, allowed the state to gain over $300 million in tax revenue. Since then, a lot of other states have followed suit, turning to online gambling as a means of recovering the country’s economy.
eSports are taking off
eSports are incredibly popular right now – and it makes sense. Everyone was surprised when the first YouTubers started playing games, asking “Who would watch that?” Fast forward and the top YouTuber and Twitch streamer are gamers, and some of the richest YouTubers are gamers. It only stands to reason that fans who love watching games for the fun of it, are likely to come out in droves to watch gaming competitively.
We might be a while away from entering the Olympics, but when you have investors transporting teams of players all around the world to win millions of dollars, you don’t need a medal.
And this means betting opportunities. The point is competitiveness, which means betting on the outcome. The great thing about this is that there is a lot to bet on. Customers don’t need to just stick to “winner” or “loser” but most kills, fastest run and all the millions of other concepts the gaming community has come up with over the years.
A lot of sports betting platforms have already started to adapt to this, offering eSports as a category alongside football, basketball and other traditional sports in a beautiful merging of nerd and jock.
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Bitcoin has shattered records, soaring past €100,000 per coin, marking a pivotal moment in cryptocurrency history. SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of expertise and a trailblazer in crypto integration for iGaming, unveils the transformative trends set to redefine the digital currency landscape.
According to Statista, the global cryptocurrency market’s revenue is estimated to reach almost €44 billion in 2025, with an expected 861 million users. SOFTSWISS experts spotlight the major forces shaping the crypto future.
How Will Regulation Evolve?
As cryptocurrency adoption grows, experts anticipate global regulations to tighten to address security, transparency, and misuse. Key areas of focus include AML (Anti-Money Laundering), KYC (Know Your Customer), and investor protection, requiring businesses to implement robust compliance measures.
Companies must adapt to diverse regional regulations, such as Europe’s MiCA framework or US oversight by the SEC and CFTC. While compliance increases operational costs, it enhances credibility, fosters trust, and creates opportunities to attract institutional investors and expand into regulated markets, positioning businesses for sustainable growth.
Financial Security with Crypto Investments
Bitcoin’s growing acceptance and institutional interest demonstrate its evolving role as a significant financial asset. With nations like the US exploring its use as a reserve asset, Bitcoin is increasingly seen as a store of value and a hedge against traditional market fluctuations. These trends reinforce its potential as a strategic component in a forward-looking investment portfolio.
Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, comments: “While crypto remains a risky asset, its long-term growth potential and increasing institutional adoption suggest it could be a valuable addition to a diversified retirement portfolio. The key is understanding the asset, investing consistently, and viewing it as a long-term strategy rather than a short-term speculation.”
Consider this strategy based on the past decade: saving €100 per month over ten years would result in €12,000 with little to no return if kept in a bank or at home. However, investing that same €100 monthly in Bitcoin could have transformed those €12,000 into over €120,000. This remarkable growth illustrates Bitcoin’s potential to significantly enhance long-term savings or provide substantial financial security for retirement.
Is Crypto a New Payment Standard?
The era of cryptocurrency as a purely speculative asset has passed. Businesses and consumers now demand real utility, with crypto payments rapidly becoming an industry standard. The adoption curve is evolving – what was once considered an alternative is now a necessity. Seamless, low-cost, and fast transactions are no longer merely advantages; they have become fundamental expectations.
Max Krupyshev, CEO at CoinsPaid, comments: “The shift from holding to spending will be one of the biggest transformations of 2025. At CoinsPaid, we see real businesses using crypto payments every day. It’s not just about holding anymore – it’s about spending. Expect more companies to accept and settle in crypto, making it as easy as using a credit card. And yes, customised tokens are part of this too – they’re fun, they’re liquid, and they work.”
Proprietary Tokens for Player Engagement
An influential trend in iGaming established brands like Rollbit and Shuffle leveraging proprietary tokens to enhance player engagement. These gaming-specific tokens offer benefits like seamless platform integration, reduced volatility, and exclusive perks, driving innovation in payment methods and business growth.
Proprietary tokens allow casinos to create internal ecosystems with unique bonuses and advantages, potentially extending to external partnerships, such as voucher rewards with major brands. This strategy boosts marketing efforts and strengthens player loyalty. However, developing and maintaining a proprietary currency requires significant resources, including a substantial marketing budget to build trust and encourage adoption. These challenges can divert focus from the core mission of delivering quality entertainment and gaming experiences.
The experts summarise: “The crypto industry has always been about pushing boundaries, and 2025 will be the year we stop talking about potential and start seeing real-world utility at scale. This year crypto stops being just an asset class and starts being the backbone of global finance. The focus is shifting to utility, efficiency, and real-world integration, and the companies that adapt will lead the next wave of innovation. The future of payments isn’t coming – it’s already here.”
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 27,800 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post What Are the Game-Changing Crypto Trends in 2025? Highlights from SOFTSWISS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
NBA superstar Tristan Thompson is the latest big name to partner with Sportsbet.io, the world’s favorite crypto-first sports betting site, as its newest global ambassador.
Thompson, a Cleveland Cavaliers center and 2016 NBA Championship winner, will bring his star power and passion for cryptocurrency to the Sportsbet.io community for the next two years.
The Canadian basketball legend will be sharing his views on the latest action for Sportsbet.io, where fans will have the opportunity to take part in some exclusive promotions.
Tristan Thompson, Sportsbet.io ambassador, said: “Sportsbet.io brings together my two biggest passions: sports and cryptocurrency. I’ve been following the crypto sector for some time now and have seen how transformative it can be. There’s no better place to combine that with my love of sports than Sportsbet.io.”
Shane Anderson, Director Partnership, Content and Brand, Yolo Entertainment, the operator of Sportsbet.io, added: “We’d like to give a huge Sportsbet.io welcome to Tristan, an elite athlete whose passion for both basketball and cryptocurrency makes him a perfect match for us. We’re thrilled to have him on the team, and we already have some exciting plans in the works. Watch this space.”
Thompson’s crypto credentials are already well established; he’s been a vocal supporter of Bitcoin, and recently celebrated as it reached a new all-time high in price.
He will be providing weekly betting tips on a range of sports, including NFL, MLB, European soccer, tennis, golf, UFC and boxing.
The partnership with Thompson marks another exciting new chapter for Sportsbet.io, which has earned a reputation for both its innovative approach to gaming, and its star-studded line-up of ambassadors, including cricket legend Brett Lee, Kenyan rapper King Kaka and many more.
Sportsbet.io is also an official partner of LALIGA and Newcastle United.
The post NBA star Tristan Thompson signs for Sportsbet.io appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Rivalry Corp. (the “Company” or “Rivalry”) (TSXV: RVLY)
(OTCQX: RVLCF) (FSE: 9VK), the leading sportsbook and iGaming operator for digital-first players, today announced it has added U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s official Solana cryptocurrency ‘$TRUMP’ as an accepted payment method.
Ahead of the U.S. Presidential Inauguration on January 20th, Rivalry users are now able to deposit and wager using $TRUMP, a cryptocurrency on the Solana blockchain which currently has a fully diluted value of over USD $30 billion. The addition of $TRUMP as a payment method on Rivalry comes less than 24 hours after the President-elect released the cryptocurrency on Friday evening.
”Meme coins are attention monetized, and the release of $TRUMP just days before an Inauguration is a quintessential internet and crypto culture-driven moment which enabled it to eclipse $30 billion in fully diluted value shortly after its debut” said Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry. “Rapidly deploying $TRUMP as a deposit method in less than 24 hours is a testament to our ability to identify and lean into these universal cultural moments, layer it into our core crypto gambling experience, and deliver first-of-its-kind experiences to our users.”
Additionally, Rivalry customers wagering on-site with $TRUMP will receive exclusive rewards through February 1, 2025 in recognition of the upcoming Presidential Inauguration, including multiplying the amount of NUTZ–the Company’s native token–players earn on every bet by 20x, a reflection of the inauguration on Monday, January 20, 2025.
With the acceptance of $TRUMP, along with a number of other major cryptocurrencies as part of Rivalry’s crypto-first approach, the Company has ongoing treasury holdings of various major cryptocurrencies and meme coins that it accepts as a deposit option. The Company will continue to add additional cryptocurrencies as needed to support its player base and continual expansion into the crypto gambling segment.
$TRUMP as a payment method will be available to Rivalry users in jurisdictions which apply to the Company’s Isle of Man license only.
The post Rivalry Adds $TRUMP Meme Coin as Crypto Payment Method appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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