Over the past two decades, online gambling has been ideally snowballing, mainly owing to the steady rise of both the internet as well as multiple technological advancements. Essentially, the internet is home to innumerable casinos boasting millions of players across the globe.
In 2020, the online gambling industry is expected to hit a massive $60 Billion in worth. And with the internet growing even more impactful, the competition among various casinos is set to grow fiercer with softwares also expected to more innovative than ever before.
Every year is rocked by various monumental technological innovations that inspire new projects and fresh ideas to the market, something expected to continue this year. So, what precisely is to be expected this year when it comes to online gambling, and how is technological progress set to impact the world of gambling this year?
Below is a list of some of the most exciting trends you can expect in 2020
1. Mobile and Social Gambling set to get even better.
Owing to the popularity of the distinct games now available on various social media websites, online casinos ideally went on to quickly include various social features within their games.
In consequence, players can now enjoy interactions with other players through participating in social slots, leader boards, challenges, among much more. Ideally, with new technology being adopted, social features will grow better, and many more casinos are set to use this concept.
Coupled with the significant social media surge, we witnessed the rise of mobile gadgets, and while mobile phones have been around for some time, mobile gambling has only gained popularity in the last few years.
Now, gamblers can effectively play on the go, and go on from where they left off while on their computers, as well as gain access to various casino games previously only accessible on their desktops.
Mobile gadgets are set to be a massive game-changer within the realms of gambling, attracting massive investments going forward. In 2020, over half of the globe’s population will own a smartphone!
Subsequently, numerous online casinos are already developing mobile apps, and we, therefore, should expect to see all other casinos going the mobile-friendly way. Moreover, game developers seem also to be aligning their productions with the same, with many of the new slots being produced being mobile-friendly.
2. More Payment Options
Currently, most of the significant online casinos allow a wide array of payment technologies and methods, and this number is continually growing every day. This is primarily because new techniques come up every year.
This year will not be any different, and we, therefore, expect to witness new payment solutions like Google Pay and Apple Pay also join the available payment options in most casinos.
Nowadays, the number of players opting for cash transactions when depositing grows lesser and lesser. Various methods like cryptocurrencies and e-wallets are increasing in popularity, and numerous online casinos are now accepting crypto-deposits. Multiple casinos are working distinctly with typical blockchain payments and don’t take any other methods.
This year, we expect to witness the growth in the number of typical crypto casinos.
3. New Gambling Rules and Regulations
Online Gambling is quite a profitable and significant industry as the $6 Billion projected figure outlines. However, as ComeOn and other major affiliate marketing brands-who promote various casino websites and brands across the world-outline, it can get even with better laws and regulations in place.
In 2020, we are set to the adoption of several new gambling regulations.
Problem gaming has in recent times, become an emerging concern, particularly in the European Space. Consequently, several countries have introduced various new regulations concerning online gambling, with more nations expected to do the same.
The Netherlands, for instance, is set to open its market to foreign operators after the adoption of new gambling laws at the start of 2020. Ideally, this means that the Netherland gambling market will effectively open in 2021.
Also, the distinct European Organization for Gaming Regulation is also set to adopt changes to its specific money-laundering laws. In essence, this will place online casinos under stringent control and may mandate casinos to get additional licenses.
With respect to players, it may lead to fewer welcome bonuses and promotions, not to mention more explicit conditions and terms that most of the players will gladly welcome.
In the USA, there are changes expected, especially with e-Sports betting and online gambling. In 2020, we should expect to see many more nations that permit online gambling within their borders.
Conclusion
Essentially, in 2020, the online gambling industry is expected to continue its remarkable growth, a year that is turning out to be quite an exciting one for the industry.
While you may notice that several of these trends, as mentioned above, have been around for a while now, they are, however, beginning to garner more attention and popularity within the industry.
Also, they are slowly evolving into entirely different concepts. With technology fast and continually changing, the online gambling industry is sure to have a thrilling year 2020!
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Canada’s Marina Stakusic fell 6-4, 6-3 to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals of the Guadalajara Open tennis tournament on Friday.
The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., won 61 per cent of her first-serve points and broke on just one of her six opportunities.
Stakusic had upset top-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (0) on Thursday night to advance.
In the opening round, Stakusic defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlová 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Frech won 62 per cent of her first-serve points and converted on three of her nine break point opportunities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Alejandro Kirk’s long single with the bases loaded provided the Toronto Blue Jays with a walk-off 4-3 win in the 11th inning of their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
With the Cardinals outfield in, Kirk drove a shot off the base of the left-field wall to give the Blue Jays (70-78) their fourth win in 11 outings and halt the Cardinals’ (74-73) two-game win streak before 30,380 at Rogers Centre.
Kirk enjoyed a two-hit, two-RBI outing.
Erik Swanson (2-2) pitched a perfect 11th inning for the win, while Cardinals reliever Ryan Fernandez (1-5) took the loss.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman enjoyed a seven-inning, 104-pitch outing. He surrendered his two runs on nine hits and two walks and fanned only two Cardinals.
He gave way to reliever Genesis Cabrera, who gave up a one-out homer to Thomas Saggese, his first in 2024, that tied the game in the eighth.
The Cardinals started swiftly with four straight singles to open the game. But they exited the first inning with only two runs on an RBI single to centre from Nolan Arendao and a fielder’s choice from Saggese.
Gausman required 28 pitches to escape the first inning but settled down to allow his teammates to snatch the lead in the fourth.
He also deftly pitched out of threats from the visitors in the fifth, sixth and seventh thanks to some solid defence, including Will Wagner’s diving stop, which led to a double play to end the fifth inning.
George Springer led off with a walk and stole second base. He advanced to third on Nathan Lukes’s single and scored when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. knocked in his 95th run with a double off the left-field wall.
Lukes scored on a sacrifice fly to left field from Spencer Horwitz. Guerrero touched home on Kirk’s two-out single to right.
In the ninth, Guerrero made a critical diving catch on an Arenado grounder to throw out the Cardinals’ infielder, with reliever Tommy Nance covering first. The defensive gem ended the inning with a runner on second base.
St. Louis starter Erick Fedde faced the minimum night batters in the first three innings thanks to a pair of double plays. He lasted five innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
ON DECK
Toronto ace Jose Berrios (15-9) will start the second of the three-game series on Saturday. He has a six-game win streak.
The Cardinals will counter with righty Kyle Gibson (8-6).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
CALGARY – Mired in their first four-game losing skid in 20 years, the Calgary Stampeders are going back to Jake Maier at quarterback on Saturday after he was benched for a game.
It won’t be an easy assignment.
Visiting McMahon Stadium are the Eastern Conference-leading Montreal Alouettes (10-2) who own the CFL’s best record. The Stampeders (4-8) have fallen to last in the Western Conference.
“Six games is plenty of time, but also it is just six games,” said Maier. “We’ve got to be able to get on the right track.”
Calgary is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
“I do still believe in this team,” said Stampeders’ head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson. “I want to see improvement, though. I want to see guys on a weekly basis elevating their game, and we haven’t been doing that.”
Maier is one of the guys under the microscope. Two weeks ago, the second-year starter threw four interceptions in a 35-20 home loss to the Edmonton Elks.
After his replacement, rookie Logan Bonner, threw five picks in last week’s 37-16 loss to the Elks in Edmonton, the football is back in Maier’s hands.
“Any time you fail or something doesn’t go your way in life, does it stink in the moment? Yeah. But then the days go on and you learn things about yourself and you learn how to prepare a little bit better,” said Maier. “It makes you mentally tougher.”
Dickenson wants to see his quarterback making better decisions with the football.
“Things are going to happen, interceptions will happen, but try to take calculated risks, rather than just putting the ball up there and hoping that we catch it,” said Dickenson.
A former quarterback himself, he knows the importance of that vital position.
“You cannot win without good quarterback play,” Dickenson said. “You’ve got to be able to make some plays — off-schedule plays, move-around plays, plays that break down, plays that aren’t designed perfectly, but somehow you found the right guy, and then those big throws where you’re taking that hit.”
But it’s going to take a team effort, and that includes the club’s receiving corp.
“We always have to band together because we need everything to go right for our receivers to get the ball,” said Nik Lewis, the Stampeders’ receivers coach. “The running back has to pick up the blitz, the o-line has to block, the quarterback has to make the right reads, and then give us a catchable ball.”
Lewis brings a unique perspective to this season’s frustrations as he was a 22-year-old rookie in Calgary in 2004 when the Stamps went 4-14 under coach Matt Dunigan. They turned it around the next season and haven’t missed the playoffs since.”
“Thinking back and just looking at it, there’s just got to be an ultimate belief that you can get it done. Look at Montreal, they were 6-7 last year and they’ve gone 18-2 since then,” said Lewis.
Montreal is also looking to rebound from a 37-23 loss to the B.C. Lions last week. But for head coach Jason Maas, he says his team’s mindset doesn’t change, regardless of what happened the previous week.
“Last year when we went through a four-game losing streak, you couldn’t tell if we were on a four-game winning streak or a four-game losing streak by the way the guys were in the building, the way we prepared, the type of work ethic we have,” said Maas. “All our standards are set, so that’s all we focus on.”
While they may have already clinched a playoff spot, Alouettes’ quarterback Cody Fajardo says this closing stretch remains critical because they want to finish the season strong, just like last year when they won their final five regular-season games before ultimately winning the Grey Cup.
“It doesn’t matter about what you do at the beginning of the year,” said Fajardo. “All that matters is how you end the year and how well you’re playing going into the playoffs so that’s what these games are about.”
The Alouettes’ are kicking off a three-game road stretch, one Fajardo looks forward to.
“You understand what kind of team you have when you play on the road because it’s us versus the world mentality and you can feel everybody against you,” said Fajardo. “Plus, I always tend to find more joy in silencing thousands of people than bringing thousands of people to their feet.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
