In the last few years, the iGaming industry has been campaigning for multi-player solutions that inject a social element into regular gambling. The coronavirus pandemic, which saw gamblers flocking to online casinos, pushed this agenda further. It’s for the same reason slot streaming became so prominent, even leading Twitch to prohibit gambling links during broadcasts.
A ‘Bet Behind’ Streaming Model
According to Michael Pedersen, Livespins’ Chief Commercial Officer, the platform borrows from the bet behind technique used in land-based casinos. In this method, you wager on a game behind the main player, who is at the table. Livespins will let viewers bet behind the streamers. Therefore, the audience does more than just watch gambling broadcasts. If the streamer wins, so do all the other players betting behind. The idea is to create a more interactive community than what current streaming options provide. Livespins is using a proprietary platform, meaning players won’t depend on YouTube or Twitch for their streaming. Currently, the streaming service is the first of its kind in development.
The Move towards Social Gaming
Pedersen went on to explain why this move was necessary. He pointed to the increasing preference for streaming content globally. In Asia, for example, approximately a third of consumers turn to streamers for their shopping needs. The push for engagement is growing by the day, as well. Companies are meeting this demand with products that provide sharing experiences, such as Disney+ with its upcoming GroupWatch, which will allow users to stream the same movie in 20 locations.
iGaming has been considering infusing social casino aspects to the sector, and 2022 looks to be the year for it. Gamification and engagement features are not novel to the industry. However, most of them struggle to provide players with smooth gambling experiences. Livespins looks to capitalise on what the industry already offers. The company plans to build its product catalogue over time to cater to different live gaming requirements. Livespins will be a separate category, as opposed to merely another game on online casinos.
Slot games remained largely the same for the longest time, but Pedersen believes innovation opportunities are always present. Livespins is leveraging that to create a product that solves an existing problem. It’s setting an example by coming up with a sensible innovation.