It is not hard to realize why many have noticed the online gambling industry when it comes to investments. With growth over 224% in the US, it is hard to miss such a boom. But, many people question if investing in online gambling is still viable or has the train passed for the biggest winners.

The answer mainly depends on if the investor is planning to get rich quick or to establish him or herself in the industry. For the former, regretfully the peak has already passed if doctors and governments are to be trusted.

But, if you want to make a high-quality business that will bring regular growth and pay regular dividends, the so-called iGaming industry is the place to be right now. Even if the growth of the market slows down, it will not stop.

This is because the three main comparative advantages of online gambling will still be present even after people are allowed to visit brick and mortar establishments:

1. Low regular overhead
2. Access to global markets
3. Ensured advantage

And the last point might be the most important if you are a concentrated investor. The superior stability of online gambling compared to regular casinos makes it much easier to plan your business, as well as borrow against the company.

Don’t Expect 2020 to Repeat

Investing now and expecting to triple your investment by this time next year would be very unwise. While substantial growth is possible, some normalization of the curve is to be expected.

By all accounts, a vaccine against the current pandemic is expected to arrive in early 2021, with the effects taking in by the spring of next year. This will mean that fewer people will spend time indoors, thus less time gaming on phones, tablets, and computers.

Still, most of the current user base is expected to remain and new users will join in as the word of mouth spreads globally. This makes a perfect chance for someone, especially if offering niche-specific services, to swoop in and fill that market.

Enough Players for Everybody

There is no territorial competition when it comes to online gambling. With the number of players entering and the demand for online gambling rising, the competition is very fair and very open between casino operators. This makes a very relaxed atmosphere if you are a new investor in the industry. Of course in some markets like Australia the players spend more on average than in markets like Romania so competition there is a bit more saturated.

But, keeping players on your platform as well as standing out will be difficult. Finding modes to increase your offering and improve your services will be crucial if you want to remain relevant and growing.

High-Entry / Low-Maintenance

With some new legislation that will be affecting both Malta and Curacao, the industry will probably become even cleaner. But, the licenses will become more expensive, which may dissuade smaller investors from chipping in.

Namely, the old Curacao license, usually taken out by new operators, will now cost roughly $120.000, which is a steep increase from the $35.000 which was the price so far and will be until January 1st, 2021.

But, for those who have the funds, this is where major expenses end and where income begins. As the costs for operations, security, services, and technical support all scale with the level of business, you will rarely find yourself bleeding funds in any way.

Generally, if you can make an arrangement with game developers for pay-to-play terms, you can have a very secure income with minimal expenses and only a basic payroll staff.

New Curacao License

While still being valued as a license that ensures trust and safety from the operator, Curacao has been seen as the ‘second-best’ for a very long time. This is because the rules for obtaining, as well as oversight, was much more relaxed than for the Malta GC license.

But, with the new deal made between Curacao and the Dutch authorities back in Europe, the value and price of this license will rise quite a bit.

For those who had the papers this year, the ~$85.000 increase won’t be an issue, but it might be for new operators looking to open an online gambling business in 2021.

Malta is the Gold Standard

A license provided by the Malta Gaming Commission is still the golden standard when it comes to online gambling. The rules now planned by Curacao have been enforced in Malta since 2009, and even new players are familiar with the significance of having such a document.

But, for many operators, this type of clearance is not necessary. If you don’t want to market towards EU players and don’t plan on predatory tactics in the first place, you may use the Curacao license and save some money initially.

Later, when you have your business established and your investment relatively secure, you can always take the Malta license as well and try to reel in some bigger whales that are hiding all over the world.