34 Sponsored by Casino City’s iGaming Pocket Directory games games INDUSTRY OVERVIEW More than 2.5 billion gamers across the world will spend $152.1 billion on games in 2019, representing an increase of 9.6% year-on-year. An industry report projects that consumer spending on games will grow to $196.0 billion by 2022, as population increases, technological advances and swifter internet speeds help build the industry up. Within that market, the overall social gaming market generated $5.2 billion of revenue, with a 10.9% year-on-year growth in Q4 of 2018, according to Eilers & Krecjik Gaming. The broadening reach of social media has bolstered the gaming market, with cooperative aspects, chat rooms and more aiding its growth. Over 70% of 100 casinos surveyed reported that they plan to integrate skill-based games in the future, according to a survey by Synergy Blue. They also found that 67% of respondents cited appealing to a younger generation of gambler as their aim with skill games, which tend to be more immersive. But slot-style games remain popular, with items such as Moon Active’s Coin Master posting revenue estimates eclipsing $75 million for 2018. Games have been present in our society for as long as we can account for. Games such as backgammon, checkers, chess and Go have been played for millennia. Board games, such as Monopoly, Reversi and Scrabble, have been staples for decades. Prior to the internet linking our computers, being able to play on one’s machine offered a new gaming experience.
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