During this panel at the ASEAN Gaming Summit, top experts presented a “converging” theme of online and land-based gaming industries. The panel was moderated by Casino Plus CEO Evan Spytma and featured Bally’s Colombo CEO Tony Macmillan, TecNet Asia CEO Suat Sirin, and Zitro Sales Director EMEA Nadège Teyssedre.
Throughout the discussion, the panelists highlighted their strategies for integrating online gaming with physical casinos, particularly through the use of live tables and machines that allow online players to interact with the land-based setups. The conversation touched upon regulatory challenges and the technological improvements necessary for a seamless transition to online platforms.
Participants also discussed strategies to attract younger players, address taxation issues, and deal with demographic shifts in the gaming industry. The dialogue underscored the future of gaming, emphasizing the balance between technology, user experience, and compliance with local regulations.
Highlights
- Convergence of Online and Land-Based Gaming: The pandemic accelerated the blending of these two sectors, creating a new market landscape.
- Technological Innovations: The panel discussed various technologies that facilitate the integration of online elements with physical casino operations.
- Market Dynamics and Legislative Changes: The conversation included insights on legislation that has transformed the gaming landscape and opened opportunities for online gameplay.
- Financial Strategies: Strategies were shared regarding taxation complexities and the management of funds between online and land-based environments.
- Customized User Experiences: Insights into how operators can attract younger players by promoting more engaging and familiar game options.
- Equipment Transition and Management: Strategies for quickly transitioning existing land-based machines to online platforms discussed as feasible under the right conditions.
- Player Engagement: Effective methods for engaging players from online to land-based casinos through promotions and familiar gaming experiences.
Key Insights
- Reinvention of Gaming Experience: As the gaming landscape evolves with online dynamics, creating a holistic experience for players that merges online convenience with land-based excitement is essential. This integration is increasingly important, encouraging players from online platforms to visit physical locations by maintaining their experiences in a cohesive environment.
- Challenges of Compliance with Regulations: Each region has differing regulations that affect how online and land-based gaming can converge. Understanding and navigating these regulations is crucial for operators looking to implement a hybrid model effectively.
- Demographic Shift Towards Younger Players: The casinos are facing a shift in demographic trends where attracting younger players is vital. By creating games and experiences that resonate with younger audiences and utilizing social media and popular platforms, casinos can bridge the age gap.
- Technical Infrastructure as a Game-Changer: Enhancing technical infrastructure, such as improving bandwidth and connectivity, is crucial for ensuring smooth online gaming transitions. This facilitates real-time gaming experiences that can keep players engaged and satisfied.
- Marketing Innovations: Leveraging promotional strategies that resonate with online players can ease their transition to land-based venues. Promotions that reward loyalty and offer bonuses for visiting physical casinos can effectively attract this demographic back to traditional gaming settings.
- Unique Content Appeal: Providing unique gaming experiences catered to local cultures can establish a competitive advantage. Local games, familiar to players due to their connection to cultural practices, can significantly increase engagement among target demographics.
- Unified Taxation Systems Needed: The disparity in taxation for online and land-based gaming operations is a significant hurdle. Establishing a unified approach could streamline operations and reduce complexities for operators, fostering growth in both sectors.
Overall, the talk highlighted the importance of convergence in the gaming market while discussing the technological advancements, marketing strategies, and regulatory challenges facing the industry today. Through collaborative efforts among operators, manufacturers, and regulators, a more integrated and appealing gaming experience can be developed for players in the evolving landscape.
