Some people might think that the only factor that matters in online casino design is the look and feel of the games themselves. While this is certainly one of two or three key factors in online success, there is much more to the story than meets the eye. In fact, the colors, shapes, movements and sounds that are in the background of an online casino might be as important as the appearance of the roulette wheel or the design of the virtual table.
Taking the lead in this rather new industry is a company with the appropriate name – Online Casino Design. At their Web site, www.onlinecasinodesign.com, the company states, “OCD Inc is a Canadian new media company interacting with a partnership network all over the World and Development Centers in Europe established in 1999.”
What does this company offer its clients? In addition to original design for the online casino, OCD also offers to manage the content of casino sites and helps with applications that make the online-casino experience more enjoyable and more realistic. According to marketing information from the company, clients such as Empire Poker, Pacific Poker and Monaco Gold have found their services more than satisfactory.
Another player in this expanding industry is 21Promotion, a company that specializes in design and marketing of the online experience. It’s quite interesting to note that this company clearly states its intention to work with “both land-based, offshore and online casinos, the challenge is always there and our customers all have different wishes.”
In contrast to these two companies, a number of industry businesses offer templates for people interested in developing their own online casino. Companies that will sell you a do-it-yourself template or work with you to achieve a custom design number in the dozens. Most of this casino-design activity has occurred in the last 5 to 7 years. Of course, some online sites have been in operation for a decade or slightly longer, but the business of creating a high-quality online experience may be having its best days.
A quick look at the Web site of Christiansen Capital Advisors shows that Internet gambling revenue for all companies around the world totaled about $3 billion in 2001, $12 billion in 2005 and $20 billion in 2008. The consulting company estimates that total gambling revenue will reach $25 billion next year.
Current industry activity and news is available with Insight, “CCA’s monthly gambling industry newsletter that covers the economics and taxation of all forms of gambling in North America.” However, the $400 subscription rate might be a bit out of reach for the everyday gaming enthusiast.
Where is the online-casino industry headed? It’s hard to say in definite terms but many experienced observers believe that there is another decade of successful business in this industry.
By Jim Hale
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