KELVIN CHIU, SALES DIRECTOR AT ASIA GAMING, SPEAKS TO EGAMING REVIEW ABOUT HARNESSING THE POTENTIAL OF THE ASIAN EGAMING MARKET
eGaming Review (EGR): What have been the key developments in Asia’s egaming market?
Kelvin Chiu (KC): The egaming market in Asia is growing much faster than anyone could have expected. Thanks to the latest technology and the price of devices, subscriptions and broadband dropping significantly in recent years, more and more Asians can go online at a very low cost. In terms of key developments, especially in Asia, no one can ignore the growth and importance of live casino. Live casino offers everything and anything to all levels of player, new or experienced, and is accessible on whichever device or channel that the player prefers to engage with. Players are able to enjoy all the most popular casino games and the thrills of the gaming experience from the comfort of their own home.
KELVIN CHIU, SALES DIRECTOR AT ASIA GAMING, SPEAKS TO EGAMING REVIEW ABOUT HARNESSING THE POTENTIAL OF THE ASIAN EGAMING MARKET
eGaming Review (EGR): What have been the key developments in Asia’s egaming market?
Kelvin Chiu (KC): The egaming market in Asia is growing much faster than anyone could have expected. Thanks to the latest technology and the price of devices, subscriptions and broadband dropping significantly in recent years, more and more Asians can go online at a very low cost. In terms of key developments, especially in Asia, no one can ignore the growth and importance of live casino. Live casino offers everything and anything to all levels of player, new or experienced, and is accessible on whichever device or channel that the player prefers to engage with. Players are able to enjoy all the most popular casino games and the thrills of the gaming experience from the comfort of their own home.
EGR: How have these impacted the egaming landscape?
KC: The significant increase in mobile usage has led to game developers and publishers expanding their market reach throughout Asia. The continent has 1.2 billion mobile gamers and controls 55% of the $24.9bn global mobile game market. The ‘Big Three’ of China, Japan and South Korea currently control 90% of the region’s mobile earnings. Without doubt the number of on-the-go players is increasing and mobile gaming is definitely a key focus within our strategy. I believe more and more developers will offer mobile apps that include all the most popular casino games via iOS and Android smartphone devices. The number of players in this field is expected to grow continuously.
EGR: Which emerging markets are gathering the most traction in the region? How can they continue to advance?
KC: Asia Pacific will be the fastest-growing region for egaming spending over the coming few years. At this moment, the Philippines offers the only legal market, while there are also some state-level markets in India. However, Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia and Thailand are emerging markets that are expected to see a significant annual growth rate. The anticipated growth in these markets has resulted in an expansion of game localisation within the region. The localisation of gaming content through cultural, thematic and player experience is very important in attracting and retaining players.
EGR: What key market trends will be of the most significance to the industry in Asia over the next 12 months?
KC: Combining online gaming and social networking will be an important driver of activity and growth in the online gaming market we see in the next 12 months. The role of social networking in driving online gaming services could be especially significant because of its high levels of mobile usage. Players play and interact with each other and the dealers within the game. Live casino offerings are a more social experience. As an online operator you want to hold that community within your game environment, not let them float to other companies’ games. You have to add social networking to your platform.