Have you noticed the shift in online entertainment today? People are now moving away from passive experiences and leaning towards live action. Actually, in the third quarter of 2023, people collectively spent about 7.6 billion hours watching live content across different platforms. Everyone wants an interactive adventure, whether through live shopping events or live videos and games. Speaking of live games, they are leading the way in this change of making you a part of the action.
Unlike pre-recorded or automated games, live ones bring you into a real-time and authentic gaming environment. The excitement is on another level because it has all that adrenaline that comes with the real-time connection. More people are continually embracing live games because they excitingly blend connection and accessibility. In fact, the live-streaming market for games is projected to attract more than 1.7 billion users by 2028. But how is the live feature changing things in online entertainment? Let us find out.
Real-time interaction
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What makes live games, like live poker or blackjack, so exciting is that they recreate the real-world experience of being in a casino but from the comfort of your home. Instead of watching a computer algorithm decide the outcome, you see the dealer shuffle the cards or spin the roulette wheel right in front of you. The live action creates a very realistic casino-type vibe in which everything feels alive. Imagine you can even read the dealer’s body language and experience the suspense in the air with every moment.
Additionally, live games include chat features that allow you to communicate with the dealer and other players. At least that makes it feel more like a real social experience. You can chat with different players from all over the world, exchanging strategies as you enjoy the collective excitement. This live chat feature is so popular that 79% of businesses say that using it has improved their customer loyalty and revenue.
Increased revenue opportunities
Live games have introduced new ways for the entertainment industry to make money, contributing significantly to the online gambling industry. In fact, in 2023, the global online gambling market generated $92.9 billion in revenue and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 6% within the next five years. The real-time nature of the games helps with the growth, as it keeps you hooked, making you play more often and bet more.
For content creators and streamers, live games offer opportunities to generate income through ads, tips and subscriptions. Online gambling platforms also offer VIP perks like private tables and premium-quality streams at a fee. These subscription models give you access to better and more personalized experiences while still bringing in steady income for the platforms.
Different companies also use these games as their marketing strategy to enhance their revenues. They sponsor live game events and run ads during the live stream to reach the millions of viewers who tune in. This is mostly common during Esports tournaments, which attract millions of viewers. As a matter of fact, the League of Legends World Championship 2024 broke the viewership record by hitting a peak viewership of 6.94 million, not including Chinese viewers.
Community-based entertainment
Online entertainment today goes beyond simply enjoying fun stuff on the internet. It includes interacting with others and building communities; live games have made that possible. Watching and playing live creates a sense of excitement and belonging that keeps you coming back, not just for the game but for the connections you make. The opportunity to meet a diverse collection of people as you game is truly awesome and attempts to satisfy your need for a sense of belonging.
Some platforms even include features like leaderboards or shoutouts to encourage friendly competition and collaboration. Well, there is just something about watching others win or lose alongside you that makes the game feel more personal. This interactive atmosphere keeps the games fun and social.
Boosting transparency
You probably need an online entertainment platform to be as transparent as possible for you to trust and engage with it, especially for online gaming. Though that has been a challenge with automated games, live ones allow you to witness every action as it happens in real time. This transparency eliminates uncertainty and reassures you that the game is fair.
For example, in live roulette, you can see the ball drop and bounce around the wheel with no cuts and interruptions. At least that settles your heart that the game outcomes are unmanipulated. The human touch also makes a big difference. Watching the dealer shuffle cards, spin the roulette wheel or roll the dice gives you some level of confidence that you can trust what you see.
Live games are changing how we experience online entertainment, particularly online gaming. Their real-time action allows you to be part of the game in a unique way. Such features like live chat and transparent gameplay make the games create a more exciting and social experience. Plus, the connection and trust beyond the excitement make them worth your while. So next time you are looking for an exciting way to spend your leisure time that will also be socially satisfying, you can consider live games, whether as a player or a watcher.