What does the future hold? This is perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions on online gambling that we hear today. There’s so much excitement around the subject that Milan Rabszski and the top online gambling experts in various countries gathered in a conference room in Centre Mont-Royal, located in Mansfield Street in Montreal to discuss it. There was obviously some shared interest in gambling entertainment in various countries.
To quench this curiosity, Mr. Rabszski shared various facts, opinions, and observations about the gambling entertainment industry in Poland. He also shared information on the entertainment options and behavior of Poles.
What Keeps Poles Entertained?
Despite the number of entertainment options available in Poland, gambling still remains one of the favorites! World gambling statistics show that 26% of the world’s population are gamblers. The fact that 37% of Poles gamble indicates how popular it is today. It even tops many popular hobbies, including cycling and looking after pets. Due to its popularity, developers worked to ensure improved accessibility. Polish players may use laptops, computers, tablets, and mobile phones.
“Honestly, this really is a competition between laptops and mobile phones.” Milan Rabszski said. Like the rest of the world, people are looking for compactness and convenience nowadays. And just like how a majority of web searches are happening on mobile, the same holds true for online gambling. He added that this indicates two things. First, the technology has caught up enough to get the full experience no matter what the device. Second, Poles prioritize convenience and accessibility.
Technologies and Gambling
The technologies used are also changing all the time. That’s why downloadable online gambling apps are now commonplace compared to a few years ago. Instant play software that allows you to play straight from the browser and downloadable PC software is still very popular. But no matter how things change, online casino Polska will still rely on random number generators as the most basic technology for their continued operation.
Virtual reality and augmented reality are seen to be the next big thing, further enhancing the gaming experience for players. Meanwhile, enhancements in AI can see improved engagement while playing and increase the customer base for online casinos in general. Payments have also been made easier due to banking apps, e-wallets, and other payment methods that developed independently of online gaming. This opened up more options for Poles to deposit money to fund their gaming.
The Possibilities of Gambling Addiction
Unfortunately, improved convenience and accessibility have led to a small number of Poles becoming addicted. The majority of Poles believe that online gambling is harmless entertainment. But as with anything that can be enjoyable, there’s a chance of addiction. Milan Rabszski observed that gambling addicts show increased alcohol consumption, miss important events, have money problems, and neglect their responsibilities. He also identified four stages:
Winning phase
They’re excited about getting money from gambling, even believing they have a special talent for it.
Losing phase
They go on a losing streak and gamble more to make up for their losses.
Desperation phase
They totally lose control over the situation, even losing their jobs and relationships over it. There are feelings of shame and guilt, but they can’t stop gambling.
Hopeless phase
This is considered rock bottom. At this point, they don’t care about anything anymore, including their life. Some may even contemplate suicide.
But even in the worst situation, there’s always hope. There are many organizations that help gambling addicts to regain control over their life. One of these is Anonimowi Hazardziści (pomoc@anonimowihazardzisci.org).
Online Casinos as a Business
The gambling laws in Poland are some of the most restrictive in the world. But this move has allowed Poland to benefit from revenue growth in this area. The state imposed a monopoly so that there’s only one company that can legally conduct a gambling business in Poland: Totalizator Sportowy. Meanwhile, private entities can only apply for online gambling licenses for betting and promotional lotteries. This means that it’s virtually impossible to enter the market.
But if a business wants to get a license, they will need to present the terms and conditions of the game, the rules for age verification, website information, as well as expert opinion and evidence on player protection against interference. Sadly, there are no guidelines on what the contents of these documents should be. If it’s any consolation, any license is considered active unless revoked.
Question and Answer Section for the Rest of the Experts
After the short discussion on the current online gambling situation in Poland, Milan opened the floor to the other experts to share their insights. The questions below came from Milan himself and the rest of the attendees.
Do you think online casinos will replace their brick-and-mortar counterparts?
Samuil Kiselev, Russia: There could never be a replacement for the “real” thing. But this doesn’t mean that online gambling doesn’t have an effect at all. Even today, we can see how traditional casinos are trying to adapt to the online world.
Willi Arnold, Germany: I agree with Samuil. I dabbled a little into geography when I was younger, so forgive me for being a little academic. Online casinos can never develop that sense of place that a physical casino features.
What will be the biggest challenges for online casinos in the next few years?
Wallace Lawrence, UK: Definitely working with their governments to ensure continued operation. As of now, online casinos are more of a gray area. But as always, laws will catch up with the times.
Will Arnold, Germany: For me, it’s the competition. New business entities enter lucrative markets all the time, and this is not any different. Online casinos have to keep players coming back.
Samuil Kiselev, Russia: I concur. There’s no such thing as “too big to fail.”
In the internet age, how will the government handle the online gambling industry?
Samuil Kiselev, Russia: The same way they always have: with new laws.
Wallace Lawrence, UK: I agree. But I also think there’s no foolproof way to regulate the industry. With technological advancements like VPN commercially available, it’s pretty easy to skirt around the laws.
Will Arnold, Germany: Yes, but this still depends on the capacity of the government to monitor and implement. Getting the law enacted is the easy part.
Security is always a big concern with anything that happens online. How will this be handled?
Wallace Lawrence, UK: Constant upgrades. Hackers will always look for weaknesses, so if an online casino is devoted to protecting its players, they’ll invest in security.
Will Arnold, Germany: I think consumer education also plays a role here. Security is just as strong as the weakest link. Online casinos should constantly remind their players how to ensure the security of their information.
What’s the secret to winning big?
Samuil Kiselev, Russia: Luck! Online casinos aren’t meant to lose.
Wallace Lawrence, UK: Haha! That’s definitely true. But skill matters too, you know. Skill-based games are where the big money is. At the end of the day, it depends on the game you play.
What are the most awaited developments in the field?
Willi Arnold, Germany: I’m very excited about how far they can take virtual reality! I hope the accessories needed to make it happen will become cheaper soon.
Wallace Lawrence, UK: For me, it’s AI. Granted, we’re already using it now. But I feel like AI will continue to surprise the world.
With this, Milan Rabszski concluded the presentation. Every expert who came shared and gained insights on how various factors will mold online gambling in the future.
Note: Strict government regulations are in place for gambling in Poland. For this reason, we want to clarify that everything here is meant to simply disseminate information and nothing more.
