Crash games took the online gambling world by storm in 2023. Don’t believe it?
According to eGaming Monitor, Spribe’s Aviator game has ranked among the top 10 casino games for nearly a year now, and its popularity only seems to be rising.
Considering that the total sum of casino games available nearly reached the 28,000 mark at the end of May 2023 and that there are just approximately. 80 crash games available; it’s even more impressive that one of those games held its position amongst the top 10 games for the majority of 2023.
This article is the second in a series on crash gambling legality, and this time, we’re looking into the future!
Global Expansion of Crash Gambling in 2023
Locating crash games within off-shore licensed and unlicensed casinos is an easy task. Their prevalence is apparent across various platforms, and it’s clear that the surge in popularity of these games has sparked from the less regulated markets.
With new crash games being released on a regular basis, one thing is certain: the demand is more present than ever, and this trend is putting pressure on both regulators and game providers to find solutions for the integration of crash games in regulated markets that are yet to accept this new genre of casino games.
A lot of data referenced below is taken from an article on worldwide crash gambling legality.
Portugal
Perhaps the most well-known regulatory decision was made by Portugal in 2022 when their regulatory body presented a draft regulation that allowed crash games to be played in the country. This draft was approved in March of 2023, and it demanded that online casinos operating in the Portuguese market request an additional license from the regulator for integrating crash games.
The Portuguese regulatory body also imposed technical limitations on crash games, making sure they are differentiated from slot and other casino games. These limitations include:
- The maximum bet cannot exceed 100 times the minimum bet amount
- The cash-out multiplayer must always start at 1.0X and must not exceed 100X.
- The game animation must always be applied over a chart graphic with the x and y axis clearly visible.
While this approval of crash games has presented Portuguese-regulated casinos with an incredible opportunity, it was also up to game providers to ensure that their games were up to the demands of the regulatory body before they could offer them to Portuguese casinos.
Despite the challenging demands from the Portuguese regulator, news has sprung up during 2023 of the first game providers already satisfying and passing the demands of the regulator, and we’re looking to see the first crash games hit Portuguese online casinos in 2024.
Brazil
According to a 2023 study from KTO, crash games represent over 50% of KTO’s top 10 games and contribute to almost 40% of the platform’s total turnover. Additionally, two-thirds of active players have placed bets on crash-style games, and Aviator stands as the key game in KTO’s online casino, with others following suit.
Many agree with Svilen Madjov that by now, it is more than clear that crash games are here to stay, and they could become the new powerhouse in the online gambling sector. However, the figures from the study above all stem from an era of Brazil’s poorly regulated market, which officially ended on 21st December 2023, as the country approved Bill 3,626/2023, which not only regulates sports betting but iGaming as well.
The first requirement of this bill demands that all operators be based in Brazil, meaning that off-shore operators that have dominated the market until now will be prevented from offering regulated gambling.
This presents a new challenge for all the off-shore licensed casinos, which dominated the highly valuable market until now. We will follow the developments throughout this year closely.
Canada, Ontario
Canada’s Ontario province stands as a very high-value market, which is not exactly crash gambling “friendly” due to their restrictions on crypto gambling. While crash gambling is legal and available outside of Ontario, the offering of crash games in about 60 online casinos operating in Ontario’s iGaming market is poor, to say the least, as most crash games are crypto-based.
Despite the strict regulations, more and more crash games have made their way onto this valuable market, with Ontario-licensed online casinos offering up to 12 crash games in their game library.
Other Jurisdictions
Aiming to enter as many valuable markets as possible was a clear goal of any game provider in 2023, as one would figure. However, it is also important to point out the importance of strategic partnerships we’ve seen develop throughout 2023.
One of the key examples is Onlyplay’s recent partnership with game distributor QTech, which allows Onlyplay to penetrate several new markets across Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
With partnerships like this, talented game development companies like Onlyplay spread their library of slot, instant win, and crash games to what Christina Muratkina, CEO of Onlyplay, perceives as previously overlooked territories.
Crash Gambling in 2024: A Balancing Act
2023 has shown that the demand for crash games is only rising, and despite key markets such as Brazil aiming towards stricter market regulation, it is clear that crash gambling is set to expand.
While stricter regulation does bring about more challenges for the expansion of crash gambling, it’s also important to realize that it’s in the best interest of both regulators and game providers to find ways in which crash games can be enjoyed by the wider public responsibly.
Regulatory bodies are aware that keeping certain games and features at bay leads to the rise of illegal gambling, which is something we’ve seen happen in Germany in 2023. Strict betting limits like the maximum €1 wager in the German market are in place for a reason. However, it also led to more and more gamblers from this region turning to unregulated online casinos for more freedom.
The thing we see as crucial for 2024 is finding a compromise between what feels limiting to the gambler and what regulatory bodies are able to agree upon to prevent unregulated platforms from thriving without concern for gamblers’ well-being and safety.
Game providers will need to continuously develop and adapt to find their way into more and more regulated markets, and we believe it’s not a one-way street.
Regulators will have to play their part, too, if they wish to be able to provide players with safe online gambling experiences that fulfill their needs. That is why we believe 2024 is set to be another year when we will see crash games expand their reach through a healthy measure of compromise and patience.
In the world of online gambling, crash gambling has gained popularity in recent years. This fast-paced and exciting game has captured the attention of many players, but it has also raised concerns among legislators and regulators. As we look ahead to 2024, it is important to stay informed about the latest legislative trends and updates in crash gambling.
One of the key trends in crash gambling legislation is the increasing focus on player protection. Lawmakers are becoming more aware of the potential risks associated with this type of gambling, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as minors and problem gamblers. As a result, we are seeing a push for stricter age verification measures and responsible gambling tools to be implemented by crash gambling operators.
Another important trend is the push for greater transparency and fairness in crash gambling. There have been concerns raised about the potential for manipulation and cheating in these games, leading to calls for more stringent regulations and oversight. Legislators are looking to ensure that crash gambling platforms are operating fairly and that players can trust the outcomes of the games they are participating in.
In addition, there is a growing focus on the taxation of crash gambling revenues. As this form of gambling continues to grow in popularity, lawmakers are looking at ways to ensure that operators are paying their fair share of taxes. This may involve implementing new tax structures or increasing the tax rates on crash gambling profits.
Overall, the legislative landscape for crash gambling is evolving rapidly. It is important for players, operators, and regulators to stay informed about the latest trends and updates in order to ensure a safe and enjoyable gaming experience. By staying informed and engaged with the legislative process, we can help shape the future of crash gambling in a positive way.
