( Click to Enlarge )
The UK online casino market seems to have enjoyed a significant boost thanks to Brits staying at home during the coronavirus lockdown. According to Bloomberg, the financial news platform, several of the major online casino players in the country have enjoyed increased traffic since the lockdown came into effect.
Increased Customer Activity
It was reported that 888 Holdings Plc has tracked “increased customer activity” on its casino and poker offerings, while Playtech Plc has also noted more players online while the population is house-bound.
There is the feeling that online casino operators are able to cover the shortfall in their sports book businesses through games such as internet poker, blackjack and roulette.
With so many sports events being cancelled in the wake of the virus outbreak, online casino could prove to be the saving grace.
In recording a record stock upsurge of 38 per cent, 888 has demonstrated it is ready to ride the wave of uncertainty which sports cancellations have presented.
It appears that online operators with more established casino offerings are in a better position to mitigate the lost revenue from their sports books.
Similar Findings In The US
Stateside, bricks and mortar casinos with online offerings are also better prepared to make up for the lost revenue from physical customers during the lockdown.
FOX Bet’s CEO Robin Chhabra revealed to the Associated Press:
“When the NBA shut down, we really saw a sharp increase since that date. We’re seeing a very strong shift to poker and online casino.”
Rush Street Interactive and Resorts Casino, two organisations which run several online casino sites, are other organisations to report a significant upsurge in internet customers since the lockdown.
The Future
With no foreseeable end to the ‘stay at home’ regulations which require citizens to remain indoors unless for essential activities, the online casino world must be rubbing its hands together.
For those with sports book offerings, there is at least the chance to recoup some inevitable losses.
We could even see a new generation of online casino customers which grows to enjoy the thrills and spills of internet play during the lockdown.