Online gambling is prevalent in Wales, with 11% of Welsh residents participating in online betting or games for money in 2022- 2023. The influx of online gambling does beg the question, what is it that’s influencing people’s decision to gamble online?
In this article, we’ll take a look at a variety of potential reasons people in Wales are opting to gamble online instead of in-person.
Potential factors influencing online gambling
Accessibility and convenience
With 94% of people in the UK owning a smartphone, gambling online has become more accessible than ever before. Pundits can gamble wherever and whenever they want, whether that’s from the comfort of their own home, while waiting for a train, or on their lunchbreak.
Lucrative bonuses
Online casinos usually offer more in terms of bonuses than your typical brick-and-mortar casino. Larger welcome incentives, more frequent bonuses, and loyalty programmes are more commonly used and they are effectively attracting and retaining players.
Increased privacy and protection
Regulated online casinos offer advanced security such as complex encryption technology that makes it difficult for people to access your personal and financial information. Alongside these elaborate protection measures, online gambling also provides a level of anonymity that you don’t get with in-person casinos.
Game variety
Both offline and online casinos offer a wide variety of games but in-person casinos are typically limited to more traditional games such as blackjack and poker, whereas online games can cater to a wider range of player preferences.
Advertising and social sharing
Whilst gambling advertising does have more stringent regulations, it’s still seen almost everywhere and it can have a significant influence on people’s choices. Advertising and promotional content allows people to find more info about online gambling and entice people with exciting gameplay examples and incentives.
The prevalence of social media could also be contributing to the number of people online gambling in Wales. It’s now easier than ever to update friends and family with positive experiences of online gambling on social media and this could encourage others to try their hand at it.
Will online gambling remain popular in Wales?
It’s fair to say that online gambling will continue to appeal to Welsh residents. Whilst online betting and gaming isn’t the most favoured form of gambling in Wales, it’s clear it’s still popular. The ease of use, bigger bonuses, increased privacy, and game variety will continue to attract more and more consumers each year.
