急成長中！iGaming業界の未来を展望する

Over the past few years, digital technology has been growing at an astonishing pace. It’s affecting various aspects of our lives, and particularly noticeable in the entertainment world – it seems to be becoming more real.

In fact, in an environment where you can connect to the internet, you can enjoy various things such as watching videos, playing online games, participating in hobbies, or interacting within related communities using just a mobile device. Given this context, the growth of the iGaming industry, represented by online casinos that are increasingly popular worldwide, is attracting attention.

ここでは、オンラインカジノの場合、日本にも含めて、人々が無料スピンを利用して遊び、世界中に影響を及ぼしているiGaming業界について、経済的影響と未来を討論することになります。

Translation: Here, we will discuss the impact of iGaming industry, including online casinos, on global economy and its future, as it has influenced even Japan where people play free spins.

そもそもiGamingとは

iGaming, in simple terms, refers to games that can be played online, including gambling activities such as live casino games with real money, online slot games, sports betting, horse racing betting, and more. Recently, this category has been increasingly referred to collectively as ‘online casinos’.

1994年はiGamingの誕生年と言われています。その年、Microgamingという会社は、最初であるオンラインiGaming webサイトを開発しました。今でも多くのプレイヤーが愛用するゲーム、ジャックポットスロットの「CashSplash」などはその時に誕生しました。また、1998年にPlanetPokerでは初めてオンラインポーカールームが設立されました。

驚異的な市場成長率

こうした徐々に人気を集めていったiGamingは、やがて、2000年にはその利用者数が世界で約800万人にまで増加、売上高は20億ドルを突破するほどの成長を遂げたのです。

Following that, the iGaming market has been expanding significantly and by 2010, it had reached a size of $100 billion. By 2020, this market is projected to grow even more rapidly, reaching a staggering $596 billion in size. It is expected that this trend will continue for some time into the future.

This trend is also observable in Japan. It’s estimated that about 3.36 million people in the country have experience with online casinos, and the total annual gambling expenditure is projected to be around 1.24 trillion yen. Furthermore, it has been predicted that the iGaming market in Japan will see revenue growth from $7 billion in 2023 to $126 billion by 2032. Additionally, it’s forecasted that the average annual growth rate (CAGR) for the period from 2024 to 2032 will be approximately 5.5%.

各国による規制の差

このように、世界中で爆発的なまでに人気を集めていると言っても過言でないiGamingですが、ギャンブルという性質をもっているため、問題点も指摘されています。その１つが、国による規制の違いです。

アメリカでは

For instance, America. When many people hear the term ‘casino’, their initial image might be Las Vegas, but it’s also possible that America as a whole is perceived as a tolerant country towards gambling. However, this perception can greatly vary from state to state. In other words, the same America can be both a place where gambling is legal and a place where it is not, depending on the state. For example, states like Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia recognize and legalize gambling, including land-based casinos as well as online ones. Interestingly, in most other states, online casinos are considered illegal, but sports betting remains legal.

合法の国が多いヨーロッパ

In Europe, there are many countries that have legalized online gaming platforms such as casinos. For instance, the UK, where it’s reported that around 17% of the population enjoy gambling, has a wide reach and is not particularly strict about gambling activities compared to Japan, making it more accepted worldwide.

Moreover, major gaming providers and large casinos have their headquarters in Sweden, a country in Northern Europe, where a bill to legalize gambling was passed in 2018. This move requires each casino operator to pay 18% tax, thereby increasing revenue while also systematizing the process to prevent illegal activities.

While many countries are legally enjoying iGaming, it’s important to note that some of these same countries also restrict access to services operated legally within their territories. Furthermore, regulations surrounding gambling can change depending on the country’s circumstances and societal trends, so a service that is legal today in one country could potentially become illegal tomorrow, or vice versa. This underscores the need for ongoing awareness of the ever-evolving regulatory landscape when it comes to iGaming.

eGamingとの違い

最近、iGamingという言葉とともによく見かけるようになってきているのがeGamingという言葉です。この２つはしばしば同義語として使われることもあるのですが、実際には異なる意味を持っています。

This type of eGaming, which has rapidly gained recognition as a sport, is often referred to as “eSports”. Notably, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced plans to hold the first-ever “Olympic Esports Games (OESG)” in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2024. However, it was later revealed that this event would be postponed to 2027.

People born around the turn of the 2000s might remember playing games like Super Mario or Street Fighter on consoles or PCs. However, with the advent of internet and Wi-Fi compatible game machines, it is now possible to connect and play multiplayer online games from anywhere, with anyone. This has led to the birth of eSports, an industry that has been rapidly evolving and is now known as eGaming.

Additionally, eGaming is currently one of the most profitable industries globally, with an estimated value of around $3.5 trillion in 2023 and predictions suggesting it could reach $4 trillion by then. Moreover, it’s anticipated that the industry’s value will surge to a staggering $1 quadrillion by 2030.

It’s not uncommon for people to realize that eGaming and iGaming share many common points, but the clear distinction between these two lies in whether they incorporate gambling elements or not. However, it’s also worth noting that the iGaming industry has grown by incorporating elements from eGaming, thanks to the continuous adoption of new technology and techniques. Ultimately, both markets revolve around entertainment, and some argue that the boundary between iGaming and eGaming is becoming increasingly blurred.

2025-05-19 22:01