Investing.com South Africa recently released a report claiming that the gross gambling revenue for the 2023-24 financial season hit a record ZAR59.3 billion. As if that’s not enough, the institution anticipates that the industry will go by a CAGR of 4.71% between 2025 and 2029 to reach $518.2 million. These statistics are a testament to the changing dynamics in this industry, and to understand why they are so, stay around.
It’s actually true that after online platforms emerged, a lot would change in this industry. For instance, with a simple Betway app download, you can now immerse yourself in the entertainment without worrying about accessing a physical destination. To further understand how this and many other factors are driving South Africa’s gambling industry growth, continue reading.
The age of the smartphone
By the way, do you actually know that, according to most approximations, smartphone penetration in this country has already exceeded 90%? With these devices, people can do almost everything—from shopping and entertainment to paying bills. Businesses, including operators targeting this market, have realised this shift and are developing websites and apps like the Betway app download that can work well even on these smaller devices.
You definitely do not want your experience to be frustrating just because you switched to a smaller device. In fact, looking at the statistics, more than seven in ten web designers agree that non-responsiveness is the main reason visitors leave. Responsiveness has become a major priority, especially in the gambling industry, as it allows players to have seamless experiences on mobiles as they would on desktops.
And now that mobile-friendly sites have up to 40% higher conversions than non-friendly ones, seeing this industry grow actually makes sense. After all, you don’t just want to run a business – your products should also align with changing customer behaviour.
And operators in this industry seem to know this quite well. Consider the Betway app download, for instance. Regardless of the device, this app ensures you can spin the reel seamlessly without needing to pinch or zoom the browser.
Optimising your website for multiple devices can also be a marketing tool. The number of people using smartphones is already high, and adopting this approach increases the possibility of appealing to most of them.
The role of payment methods
Well, it may sound simple, but payment methods can really help an industry advance. Studies show that with effective payments, you can drive retention rates by anywhere between 15% and 20%.
Plus, can you imagine that businesses lose up to $20.3 billion annually because of payment failures? Every failed transaction means a missed opportunity for income, further emphasising the need to ensure payment systems are effective.
Diversity in payments is also contributing to this industry’s growth. Not all players would want to use traditional banks or credit cards; others may prefer digital wallets like PayPal. By implementing all these methods on your platform, you can appeal to as many tastes as possible.
Surprisingly, up to 85% of shoppers may leave if they don’t find their preferred payment method. That’s why, if you perform a Betway app download, you’ll see multiple payments on the platform – a perfect example of how companies are taking advantage of this statistic to stay ahead.
But it’s not just about diversity—the payment process should also be seamless. You may be surprised to discover that, according to Testlio, eight in ten customers value smooth payment processes more than any other e-commerce feature.
As such, you want to ensure your methods are user-friendly to avoid losing such customers. And now that South African operators are focusing on this, we can expect the industry to continue growing, just like other research institutions.
The power of game diversity
It has now become possible to find a casino game associated with almost everything, especially in the slot genre. Whether it is a movie, an ancient civilisation or even leisure activities, there are more than enough themed slot games to cater to numerous tastes. And as we already highlighted, all this is at your fingertips – with just a Betway app download, for example, you will be good to go.
Different casino players prefer different themes. And since casinos seem to know this quite well, most have been diversifying their portfolios to reach as many people as possible. Plus, thematic offerings can be a lucrative way of making casino games more relatable. Let’s assume you’re a history buff and are new to slots, for instance. Imagine being able to spin the reel as you explore ancient Egyptian pyramids and pharaohs.
To further improve their appeal to multiple tastes, operators are integrating other features like sports betting. So, if you’re a casino fan who loves to bet, you won’t need to switch to another platform to do so. A good example would be the Betway platform; by performing a Betway app download, you’ll be able to access both casino and sports betting experiences, all under one roof.
What is our final word?
As you can see, the South African gambling industry has really been advancing. And clearly, one of the reasons contributing to this growth is the rise of customer-focused online platforms.
For example, imagine that with just a simple Betway app download, you can seamlessly access gambling experiences from any device because of its responsiveness. Operators have also been implementing diverse payments and games to increase their appeal to as many people as possible.
