85% of digital gambling revenue comes from mobile play. Here’s why 

If you’re into online casino games, you know very well that you don’t need a desktop anymore to engage. The days when you’d need to sit at a desk and log into a clunky website to spin a reel or flip a card are long gone. Today, as long as your phone has a decent signal, the entire gambling universe is neatly in your pocket, just one tap away. And it turns out that most players feel exactly the same way.

According to Scaleo, mobile devices now account for roughly 85% of all online gambling revenue. That means the overwhelming majority of bets, spins and deposits are happening from smartphones and tablets. Thanks to platforms like https://fancywincasino.com/en/, players can engage in their favorite games whether in a parking lot, on a bus, or even during those quick in-between moments life throws at them.

This is actually part of why the global online casino industry is expanding at an unprecedented rate. As Grand View Research reports, the market has surpassed the $19 billion mark and is on track to reach $38 billion within the next few years. But why precisely do mobiles account for the largest share of this market?

Mobile phones are now the casino in your pocket

You will agree that convenience has always been the beating heart of online gambling. From the very moment the first digital casino launched, it was clear that the gambling world was on the verge of a significant transformation. At the very least, players would be able to access entertainment without having to travel to a physical location.

And as smartphones continued to gain popularity, the very nature of how players engaged remotely significantly changed, turning casual play into an anytime, anywhere habit that desktops could never replicate. And mark you: today’s consumers love such a heightened level of convenience. According to a recent Marketing Charts publication, “more than 80% of shoppers say convenience while shopping is more important than it used to be.” Of course, you don’t expect modern gamblers to behave differently.

And since smartphones and tablets help to cater to this growing need for convenience, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see most gamblers use them. Consequently, Research and Markets values the mobile gambling market volume at $94 billion and expects it to surge to $173.1 billion by 2030.

Mobile-first design has changed how operators operate

Faster load times and simplified navigation

During the early days of digital betting, operators treated mobile as an afterthought. And since they prioritized desktop consumption, logging into those websites on a smartphone meant cramped screens, slow loading times and a frustrated user experience. But with smartphones becoming exceedingly popular, operators were compelled to shift their focus to developing mobile-first platforms.

Did you know that, according to Exploding Topics, over 96% of the global digital population uses smartphones as their primary means of accessing the internet? Now imagine the pain of losing all these users just because of a poorly optimized website. Well, this is not a loss any operator is willing to endure, which is why most of them have adopted responsive design.

Responsive websites use flexible layouts, ensuring players can spin reels in their favorite slot game without worrying about pinching or zooming in on a platform. And beyond just ensuring seamless multi-screen access, these websites are also fast. Customer Experience Dive attributes slow websites to 75% of customers abandoning a cart. At this time, when customers are intolerant of slow-loading websites, casinos are implementing responsive websites to maintain relevance.

And with almost everyone owning a smartphone, having a responsive platform increases the likelihood of reaching a broader audience. In fact, data from Exploding Topics shows that approximately nine out of ten individuals across the world own a smartphone. Also, when players encounter seamless mobile experiences, they’re more likely to stay longer and engage with additional features, such as in-app promos.

Personalized and data-driven engagement

“77% of customers have chosen and paid more for a brand that creates personalized experiences for them,” says WiserNotify, a social proof tool. This means modern consumers want businesses to study their behaviours and provide relevant gambling experiences tailored to their habits. And that’s no exception for today’s casino fans.

A lack of personalization makes the play feel generic, which may discourage exploration. You actually may be surprised that, according to Contentful, almost eight in ten (76%) consumers get frustrated when they don’t find personalized experiences. And this need for personalization doesn’t change when they switch to their mobile devices. In a Deloitte personalization report, 57% of consumers were found to favor customized support through a mobile app.

To cater to this need, operators now tailor push notifications and game recommendations based on a player’s past interaction with an app. For instance, if you love spinning progressive jackpot slots, the app will highlight new games in that category. This deepens emotional bonds with players, as they feel valued and noticed. Looking at the statistics, Contentstack attributes a 56% increase in customer retention to personalization. And the more loyal players are to a platform, the more likely they are to spend on it.

So, it’s actually not a mystery that 85% of online gambling revenue flows through mobiles. With mobile play becoming more aligned with how people consume digital content today, it’s so easy to see why smartphones and tablets have become the primary gateway for online gambling.