How Romania Became a Hub for Modern Online Casino Innovation
The triumph of the modern iGaming market goes beyond its ability to entertain. Online casinos have had a profound impact on the financial and tourist sector of various countries. Canada’s recent legalization of online gambling has resulted in a huge economic boon in provinces like Ontario. The same could be said for various American states that have legalized internet gambling. We can see similar examples in Europe. The United Kingdom and Finland were among the first to legalized online casinos; which has led to them having the most developed industry. But Romania has recently joined the party with great success. Residents of the nation can access their favorite games through a vast network of gambling sites. But how has that resulted in the country becoming a hub?
Growing European Market
It may seem like a stretch to call Romania the hottest market in European gambling. But considering the incredible strides that the online gambling market is making in the country; perhaps it isn’t that much of a stretch. The country’s population boasts 88% internet penetration. Coupling that with the growing interest in new technology and rising disposable income, it shouldn’t come as a shock that many are looking to Romania as the most promising iGaming market in Eastern Europe.
The country has recently achieved a record-breaking expansion in the field of online gambling. Experts predict that Romania’s iGaming industry is going to cross the $2 billion threshold by the end of the year. It certainly wouldn’t be surprising considering the success of platforms like NetBet Romania; that have dedicated their time to bringing top quality games to the nation’s population. The rise of the iGaming industry in Romania is pretty apparent. But what benefits does the general public reap from such a drastic surge in online casinos?
An Economic Growth
Nobody is going to deny that Romania’s gambling industry has been influenced significantly by the European gaming sector. But in order to discuss the merits of a legal and regulated market we may need to turn to Canada. The province of Ontario legalized iGaming only a few years ago. Already the region has seen a boost in economic growth and the creation of thousands of jobs. The same could apply to Romania; depending on how the country handles the gambling sector that is now thriving in the region.
The authorities have handled it incredibly well thus far. We said before that some expect the Romanian gambling market to cross $2 billion by the end of the year. That would imply a 2.42% growth in the next half decade. Because of the Romanian population’s growing interest in new technology and rising internet penetration percentage; we may just see an even greater growth in iGaming fascination.
The market’s success depends entirely on how interested the local population remains. The gambling industry in the country is fueled by both land-based and online casinos. But in past years more than half of the overall revenue has come from the internet. We can obviously deduce that online gambling is a pretty big hit in the country. It certainly would not be shocking if the market continued to grow in the years to come. The latest research reveals that over 2 million Romanians gamble annually; and over half of them do so on the web. It is not a question that the industry has a future in Romania.
Casino Tourism in Romania
Casino tourism is not a new concept. Las Vegas has always been a hotspot in America; even being one of the most visited US destinations. Cyprus has carved a niche for themselves as a European gambling hub as well. The country is home to various casinos that have helped pull them out of an economic crisis. It is fair to wonder if Romania can compete in an industry that is so developed in the rest of the world. But the success of the country’s gambling sector seems to be proving a point all on its own.
Gambling is a big part of the country’s tourism. The land-based platforms attract visitors from neighboring countries where the industry is either restricted or outright banned. But it isn’t just the land-based establishments that contribute to the greater tourist industry. Online casinos attract tourists who are interested in exploring the country and playing a few games while traveling between tourist hotspots.
Many have asked why casino tourism in Romania is growing at such an exponential rate. The answer likely has to do with the gaming diversity in Romanian casinos. Due to the country’s unique geographical location; Romanian casinos take inspiration from both European and Asian gambling games. It is why the country is perfect for any gambler who wants to broaden their horizons in terms of gaming. That unique approach to gambling has solidified Romania’s status as a bona fide tourist hotspot in Europe.
Gamification of Romanian Casinos
The success of the Romanian gambling industry is apparent. But what can we expect from Romanian casinos moving forward? We can assume that gamification is going to play a big role in Romania if the greater iGaming market is anything to go by. Gamification describes a phenomenon where unrelated markets adopt traits and tropes associated with video games. We can clearly see some of these traits reflected in Romanian casinos.
The biggest influence can be seen in things like leaderboards and slot tournaments. It is not uncommon to see online casinos feature leaderboards ranking the players in terms of success. Of course the players are ranked by username; so that they can maintain their anonymity. Slot tournaments are also pretty common in modern iGaming. Though they may not be available at all Romanian online casinos. What many will definitely find on most websites is the surge in bonus offers and welcome promos.
Bonuses are little boosters that can help new players find their footing on a given website. They usually manifest as free spins; and the amount you get varies from casino to casino. Romanian gambling platforms have fully adopted this hot trend that might be reminiscent of power ups in classic video games.