The video game market is booming. No change there. It feels like every year, there are articles surrounding the ‘unprecedented’ success of the video game industry, despite the fact that, at this stage, the success is very much ‘precedented’.
Over the last ten years, the industry has generated almost $100 billion in revenue, with a year-on-year increase of 7.5% in 2025 alone. It goes without saying that billions of us around the world enjoy playing video games, but the interesting thing is not why gaming is so popular, but what other similar industries are doing about it.
The Quest for iGaming Organizations
Let’s look at the iGaming industry as an example. On the surface, online casinos offer very different things from video games. Traditional video games are built around progression, skill development, and long-term mastery, often rewarding video game beginners for learning basic mechanics and experienced gamers for strategic mastery.
With that in mind, success is typically predictable and earned through learning systems, but online casinos, by contrast, are fundamentally chance-driven. Outcomes are determined by random number generators rather than player skill, and sessions are often designed to be short, immediate, and outcome-focused. Instead of structured narratives or progression arcs, they revolve around isolated betting rounds, where wins and losses are resolved quickly and independently of previous play.
To put it bluntly, they differ. But that’s not to say they have to differ in every aspect. Something that many online casinos will have been keeping an eye on is the mobile video game market – the increase of players choosing their mobile phones as gaming devices over consoles or PCs.
According to a recent report, over 3.2 billion people play mobile games globally, making it the largest gaming segment there is. Despite the smaller screen size and the simplified controls, players don’t mind playing on their phones and actually prefer the accessibility and convenience over more complex, time-intensive gaming setups. This, in many ways, is the ‘in’ for online casinos looking to take advantage of the market.
Gamers Increasingly Drawn to Video Game-Like Features
Across multiple online casinos, a distinct effort is being made to ‘video-gamify’ their offerings, borrowing familiar mechanics from the video game world to create experiences that feel more engaging and interactive.
One of the most noticeable changes is the introduction of leveling systems. Much like in traditional games, players now accumulate experience points through regular play, unlocking new levels that come with real rewards like bonus credits or free spins. This works to create a clear sense of progression that extends beyond individual wins or losses, effectively giving players goals to work toward over time, just as they would if they were playing a typical console game.
Achievements and milestone rewards are another increasingly common feature. Rather than simply wagering and hoping for favorable outcomes, players are encouraged to complete specific tasks – such as trying new games or reaching wagering thresholds. These achievements then unlock badges, bonus funds, or limited-time rewards, tapping into the same sense of accomplishment that drives engagement in the video game market.
One last familiarity to mention is the introduction of interactive bonuses. Instead of static offers, many casinos now present bonuses as part of mini-games or loot-style chests, turning bonuses into experiences rather than simple incentives. For players accustomed to mobile and console gaming, this works to mimic the reward loops and feedback systems that they’re already familiar with, which subsequently lowers the barrier between traditional gaming habits and casino play – and, in doing so, draws those traditional gamers in.
Success Aided By Comparison Sites
It’s been successful. According to another report, global iGaming revenue is valued at $105.5 billion in 2025, with a projection to reach $286.4 billion by 2035 – which represents a CAGR of 10.5%. Of course, this isn’t solely down to the mimicking of familiar video game elements, but there’s no doubt that this has been a contributing factor that has accelerated growth across the industry.
This is especially true when partnered with the relative ease newcomers experience when choosing a video game-esque casino. Just as LyncConf.com helps players discover new video games based on their preferences, new online casino comparison sites have been guiding users to innovative casino games that match their interests and playstyle, making it easier to explore fresh, engaging titles that might replicate their favorite video games.
According to Alexander Korsager, chief gaming officer at Casino.org, each review revolves around the type of casino. In other words, if he has to figure out what the best bonus casino is, he needs to care about the bonuses and their actual value; if he has to review the best blackjack casinos, it’s blackjack. And so on.
This is important when considering how these platforms organize the latest online casinos – players now have a way not just to find the best general online casinos, but online casinos that appeal to them, whether that’s in their bonuses, their gameplay, or as explained above, their video game-like features.
