In February 2020, iGB released its first Futures survey, examining the potential impacts of disruptive technologies such as AI, blockchain, AR/VR, the Internet of Things (IoT), and edge computing on the future of the industry. Respondents overwhelmingly expressed enthusiasm for AI, particularly regarding its role in personalization. An impressive 62.26% of participants identified AI/ML for personalization as the most immediately transformative technology for the igaming sector, with one respondent describing it as 'low-hanging fruit' readily adopted by operators.
Interest in blockchain and AR/VR was also notable, though respondents viewed their immediate application as limited. Only 28.3% regarded AR/VR as an immediately transformative technology, citing accessibility issues with necessary devices as a significant hurdle. Half of those surveyed, at 50.94%, felt the industry lacked a solid understanding of blockchain technology and its potential applications in igaming. Proponents maintain that cryptocurrencies will become mainstream in the future, but responses from 2020 showed mixed opinions on this technology.
Meanwhile, IoT and edge computing garnered less attention, primarily due to their negligible immediate impact. A central focus of the survey was on who is driving innovation within the industry; results revealed a close competition between tech giants, with 37.4% favoring them, and start-ups, which received 30.19% of the votes.
Since the inaugural survey, the industry's landscape has shifted drastically, raising questions about how these changes affect technology priorities and use cases. A recent study by RELX highlighted a 33 percentage point increase in AI implementation across various sectors since 2018, with over two-thirds of respondents (68%) reporting increased investment in AI during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although gambling wasn’t the focus of this survey, the rapid advancements in AI could lead to broader applications in the industry, particularly concerning personalization, retention, and fraud detection.
Conversely, AR/VR faced difficulties in 2020. Supply chain disruptions and a corporate focus on cash preservation dimmed the outlook for these technologies, as observed in research from IDC. However, public perception of AR/VR has evolved during global lockdowns, leading to innovative use cases growing across numerous industries.
Factors such as remote working, layoffs, and market shifts have left industry observers eager to understand how disruptive technology is being utilized and its significance in recovery. This year, the survey expanded its scope to cover technology provision and mergers and acquisitions, aiming to address the changes more comprehensively.
The digital shift in priorities raises questions about the importance of previously overlooked technologies such as AR/VR, IoT, and edge computing. The upcoming survey and report will be pivotal for the launch of ICE Futures week, taking place in February to coincide with ICE, the industry's major event. Organized by Clarion Gaming and iGB, this multimedia experience aims to explore the industry's future through discussions on technology, market predictions, and the start-up ecosystem, prompting participants to consider whether a global pandemic or new technologies are more disruptive.
