By David Natroshvili, founder and CEO of SPRIBE, the company behind Aviator.
I believe 2024 will go down as the year that changed the game for the iGaming industry.
Over the past 12 months, a revolution has swept across the market in a way we've not seen before. From the games players play to the ways they pay, things are changing — and fast.
The entertainment found in online game lobbies has changed, and where once players wanted to deposit with debit cards, their preferred choice is now crypto such as Bitcoin and Ether.
The businesses providing the most popular games have changed, too, with some now considered among the most innovative technology and entertainment companies on the planet.
This includes SPRIBE, which I founded. We're a software company with our headquarters in Warsaw, where more than 250 top talents, 90% of whom are software engineers, produce industry-leading entertainment.
So, what have been the biggest changes we've seen in 2024, and what impact have they had on the sector? Let's get into it.
Game lobbies have changed forever
For many years, top-tier providers dominated online game lobbies and topped the player charts with their popular, if formulaic, products.
But that's not the case anymore.
Increasingly, players are being drawn to non-traditional content in the form of Mines, Hi-Lo, Goal, Plinko and of course, Crash.
SPRIBE developed the original Crash game, Aviator, which now has more than 42 million monthly players around the world and 350,000 bets per minute.
For those that give it a full marketing push at launch, it can account for more than 10% of total operator GGR — which is undeniably a remarkable figure.
What it means in real terms is that having Aviator among your portfolio, and placing it in a prominent position, is a must if you're serious about making your online platform a success.
It's clear that the iGaming industry must now offer non-traditional games if it is to meet the changing needs and preferences of players, both existing ones and those it wants to attract.
Crash games in particular have broad appeal because of the fast-paced big risk/big reward gameplay. It's why they are so popular with all player types and why titles such as Aviator can have a direct and significant impact on GGR.
A key part of the success of Aviator is that it's multiplayer and packed with social interaction.
Players can track their performance and that of others through the detailed statistics available, and then chat about the game as the action unfolds, all of which adds to the sense of community that has sprung up around Aviator.
The game gets much of its DNA from the fascinating world of crypto gaming businesses which continue to push boundaries when it comes to engaging with players.
Regulators remain cautious when it comes to crypto, but you only need to look at the runaway success of the biggest gaming businesses to see consumer demand is incredibly strong.
Traditional iGaming platforms need to take note and step up, or risk losing more players to these brands.
Major marketing partnerships
One of the biggest changes has been how studios are now directly marketing their games to players — again, this is something we have pioneered with Aviator.
This includes our first-of-its-kind partnership with the UFC, which sees the Aviator logo appear inside the Octagon at Fight Night and PPV events.
The UFC has a particularly strong following in the US and is also popular with audiences around the world, so this groundbreaking deal will help further establish Aviator as the leading crash game in regions like Europe, Africa, and Asia.
It also created a brand ambassador fund which allows us to run marketing campaigns with superstar athletes such as current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira, and current UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili.
Other studios – I won't say who – have entered similar deals but not quite to the same degree. We are also close to unveiling another major deal in the coming weeks.
We have also very recently signed an agreement with AC Milan, 19 times champions of Serie A and Italy's most successful club in European competitions. The whole SPRIBE team is thrilled to be working with a true giant of Italian and world football.
These marketing deals drive huge awareness for Aviator and ultimately mean operators must add it to their lobbies to meet player demand.
So, there you have it — this is how the game has changed for iGaming in 2024, and I expect the pace of evolution to be just as fast in the coming 12 months.
You can be sure that whatever does happen, SPRIBE will be ready for it.
This article was created by Spribe with Insider Studios.
