The globe currently boasts a plethora of advanced and well-regulated iGaming markets, with the United Kingdom and Ireland serving as two particularly notable examples.
Whether it’s via a desktop computer or a smartphone, there’s no denying that visiting an online casino is growing more popular in Ireland (we’ll go into this a bit more later in the article).
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus, we’ll take a look at some of the most important data and trends that characterise the Irish iGaming sector, as well as the overall size and breadth of the business.
The Shift onto Online Gambling in Ireland
The most recent figures from both the United Kingdom and Ireland demonstrate a clear and exponential movement in favour of online gaming.
There is little question that the coronavirus epidemic, as well as the closure of brick-and-mortar casinos throughout the country, have helped to accelerate this trend, but there is also no doubt that online gaming has developed to grab a bigger proportion of the total industry for a number of years.
More precisely, almost half of all wagering activity will be undertaken online until 2020, representing a considerable increase from the previous year’s figure of just over a third (36 per cent). Compared to the rest of Europe (where 26 per cent of all gambling occurs online), Ireland’s remote betting revenues totalled £40.6 million, more than double the previous year’s total. The country also doubled its online yield from the previous year.
Sports betting continues to be the most popular online gambling sector in Ireland, accounting for around 41 per cent of the industry and raking in an anticipated £10 billion in revenue in 2019.
As a result, even as the world returns to normal and coronavirus limitations are lifted through 2021, the iGaming verticals will continue to gain ground in Ireland and the United Kingdom, becoming more dominant. Frankly, it does not show signs of stopping, making it one of the most progressive industries ever.
(Source: https://www.safebettingsites.com/ie/ )
Irish Gamblers are Big Spenders and Amongst the Biggest Losers
The continued expansion of iGaming in Ireland is being driven by high consumer demand as well as the traditional Irish passion for gambling, as seen by data on individual losses reported on a yearly basis.
More precisely, Irish gamblers lost a total of £1.36 billion in total in 2020, amounting to an average loss of £300 for every single adult in the country
According to the most recent industry statistics, this places the Irish in fourth place among European Union gamblers, according to the latest available data.
While it comes to the average biggest losses when gambling online, Ireland is in 14th place, marginally ahead of the United Kingdom and behind Finland (£342 per adult), Malta (£334 per adult), and Sweden (£325 per adult).
Naturally, such losses may be a source of worry for some, but they serve to emphasise the allure of gambling and sports betting in Ireland, while also serving to underscore how easily accessible the activity is on the island of the green and white.
When it comes to online gambling, it’s also worth noting that the Irish spend far more than their counterparts in the United Kingdom, with the typical Brit spending just £2.60 each week and a little more than £135.20 over the course of a year.
Irish Gamblers are Prominent and Increasingly Active While on the Move
Irish gamblers account for one of the largest proportions of the population in Europe, according to a study done by Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom.
More precisely, around 59 per cent of Ireland’s 4.90 million people participate in online gambling on a regular basis, making it the ninth most popular gambling destination on the European continent.
The rate in the United Kingdom is 69 per cent, which is interesting since the country’s 66.65 million people have a higher rate of gambling than the Netherlands’ 17.28 million people, which have a higher rate of gambling than the United Kingdom’s 17.28 million people.
Additionally, the growth in the number of gamblers in Ireland has corresponded with an increase in the use of mobile gaming, with even low-cost and inexpensive handsets now giving Internet connectivity as well as the ability to download applications.
As a result, mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are now used to place more than 44 per cent of all online bets in Ireland, compared to desktop computers in the past.
By the year 2025, mobile devices are predicted to account for almost six out of ten of all online bets made in Ireland, a trend that has already begun on the island of Ireland. Online and mobile gaming will eventually overtake brick-and-mortar venues in the next four years, even as the globe begins to recover from the devastating effects of Covid-19.
What Is The Future?
First and foremost, it is anticipated that the number of new users would increase. Particularly prevalent in the mobile market. Gambling operators are aware of this and are doing all they can to make their goods as comfortable as possible to use on mobile devices. They engage consumers and work on the design, flexibility, and speed of games across all platforms, among other things.
It is critical that gamers do not have any difficulties when utilizing services at any point throughout their participation. As a result, operators are working hard to improve customer loyalty programs and deter fraudsters.
Feature photo by Dimitry Anikin on Unsplash
