As the industry evolves, iGaming has become increasingly competitive as companies fight over players who are looking for increasingly personalised offerings. In this article, we’ll investigate player preferences and the factors behind them in 2025. Working to understand these preferences will help casinos improve their offering and drive their business.
The Growing Dominance of Online Casino Games
Data from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) highlights the growing dominance of online casinos in the UK. These numbers show clearly the growth of the industry and that slot games and casinos continue to draw huge numbers. While player preferences are changing, casinos are still able to meet these needs with varied game catalogues and easy-to-understand games.
Looking at the industry, the financial year ending in 2025 should show that the remote gaming sector generated a Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) of over £7 billion. While within this, online casino games accounted for £5 billion and slots for over £4 billion. These figures highlight just how much slots are powering the industry, generating the majority of yield for operators. Looking further than the financial figures, we can also see that there are over 4 million active slot users, further emphasising its popularity.
Convenience, Variety and Flexibility in Whichever Format
This dominance gives us a clear indicator of what players value. They like the immediacy of play on the online format, removing the need to travel or even wait for a seat at a poker table. Players can log in and play as they want, showing they value convenience. Online casinos provide an endless variety of games and features to players too. Allowing users to switch between formats and themes as they wish depending on their mood, the time they have to play or how much they want to bet. This variety and flexibility within one casino means that users no longer have to open multiple accounts across platforms. Gamers like that they can switch from something like tournament poker play to slot games in just a few clicks.
What Does the Future Hold?
Casino operators know that they need to continue to diversify their content to keep up with trends. Platforms that can bring flexibility and cross-vertical experiences will be those that attract new customers and retain current users. However, as choice increases, it will likely lead to higher expectations regarding user experience and platform design.
The main beneficiaries will be the gamers, as they can expect better platforms but also more bonus offers as competition grows within the industry. For instance, casinos like Hippodrome offer a casino bonus to users as well as other seasonal bonuses and special offers. These are sometimes tied to slot-game releases or different events and offer a clear example of how curated incentives are used to try to increase engagement. These factors will set casinos apart, as gamers look for a smooth experience and a unified experience across all options.
The most recent figures from the UKGC paint a clear picture that online gaming remains the backbone of the UK gambling market, accounting for billions of pounds and millions of users. As we move into 2026, it will likely mean more streamlined offerings for users and greater freedom in choice.
