Covid-19 Turning Online Casinos into Popular Destination in Kenya
The Covid-19 pandemic has left many looking for things to do. With shelter in orders standard in most countries, people are locked in and looking for something to occupy their time. Even if they are able to go out, most restaurants, movie theatres, stadiums, and other public venues are closed. There is little that one can find for entertainment.
This is the reality that many in Kenya have faced. The vast majority of the country has faced a government-imposed lockdown in an effort to limit the impact of the virus. This has had a dramatic impact on the livelihoods of most citizens and has been brutal on businesses within the country. It has led many analysts to believe that once the shutdown is over that there are several businesses that may never open again.
While the news has for many companies been bleak, this has not been true of the online gambling industry. Even with sports shutdown, the best online casinos in Kenya shown on this list have thrived as citizens have looked for something to do. These casinos have offered them a great escape and are prospering as a result.
African Betting Already on the Rise
Even before the pandemic struck, Africa was emerging as a very popular sports betting market. From Morocco all the way down to the tip of South Africa, sportsbooks were opening operations within many of the countries on the continent, helping it to rapidly grow.
The casino industry was not left behind by this prosperity. Already, casinos had been doing quite well, but were seeing an increase in customer traffic, especially as tourism has risen over the last decade.
Online casinos have also seen a significant increase in traffic. However, where physical casinos have been thriving because of tourism, online casinos were having success because native residents were signing up and playing.
These websites made it so that people inside the country could play poker, roulette, slot machines, or any other type of casino game they enjoyed no matter where they lived within the country. Physical location did not matter as long as they had access to the Internet, something that is becoming available at a rapidly growing rate.
Drawing Major Vendors
The legalization of gambling across many of the countries in Africa has led to internationally recognized betting sites coming to the continent to offer their services. Sites such as 888casino.com, 1xBet.com, and others quickly applied for licenses and received them so that they could offer their services.
In those nations where a local casino was required to gain licensure, these sites quickly formed partnerships to offer their services. It became a win-win for both the local operator and the website. This helped to rapidly grow the casino industry within these countries, especially in places like Nigeria and South Africa.
And Then the Pandemic Hit
When the pandemic hit, a large number of businesses were forced to close down. This included the casino industry, as governments were concerned about the virus quickly spreading in any location where there were large public gatherings.
Casinos attract thousands of customers per day, and this did not even include those facilities which were directly attached or affiliated with resorts and hotels. There was an obvious concern that leaving these businesses open during a worldwide pandemic would be catastrophic to countries in Africa.
The concern seemed justified. In nations where there was a sophisticated medical system, the pandemic still spread like wildfire. Nations like Italy, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom saw significant numbers of people infected by the virus despite the fact that the medical services and treatment facilities available were some of the most advanced in the world.
For many countries in Africa, medical advancements are not available on the same level, so concerns regarding the virus were justified. There are not nearly as many medical clinics and hospitals in many of the African nations as one would find in Europe or North America, and government leaders found that they had to protect their citizens by shutting down businesses such as casinos. The risk was obviously too great.
Rolling the Dice with Online Options
People were unable to play at their favorite casino, however, that did not mean that they no longer wanted to play casino style games. This created a golden opportunity for online casinos, and they have been thriving in Africa since the pandemic hit.
Because of the level of sophistication in games on many of these websites, the experience of playing was only marginally diminished at worst. Many of the same slot machine games that customers would play in a casino were available online, and customers were able to enjoy playing them in the comfort of their own living room. They not only do not have to worry about the risks of contracting the virus but are able to play any game of their choice at any time they desire. No waiting for a seat at a blackjack table or for a slot machine to open. Everything was available to them while they were sitting in their living room or laying in their bed.
There have been numerous other benefits that come with playing these games online. Often, the bonuses that are available to consumers is better than what they would find at the local casino. Because the number of options that are available to them are much greater, online casinos must offer more significant bonuses, especially in initial welcome bonuses. This is why some of the best online casinos in Kenya are offering matching bonuses for large initial deposits.
It has been these kinds of things that could keep people focused on playing online. Even as Kenya was reopening many of their businesses, consumers were still deciding that the enticements may be too good to pass on.
A Lesson Learned for Casinos
The pandemic has also taught a valuable lesson to the casinos as well as to other businesses. If a business does not have online options available to them, they are not going to survive.
Explained John Pappas, a lobbyist for a casino industry trade group, “But in the face of closures like this, it underscores the need for the industry to also have an e-commerce platform.”
This is a lesson that businesses across the spectrum are learning and is why casinos that offered an online option are finding that they are not struggling in comparison to those who did not offer the web presence.
Some casino operators resisted the online option initially but are now thankful that they were not too rigid. In fact, many are seeing that this move to the online world may have saved their business. It certainly has changed the industry for good. “The gaming industry is coming out on the other side a completely changed industry from where they are right now,” explained Yaniv Sherman, the head of commercial development at 888 Holdings.
It is a Worldwide Phenomena
The fact that customers are turning to online options in Kenya is not exclusive to the country. With casinos shut down across the globe, patrons are finding the online option is not only the only option available to them but is becoming a preferable one.
Some casinos have begun to reopen, but they had to do so with a decrease in the number of people who are allowed to be at the casino at any one time or are finding that customers are slow to return. This may become the new normal for this industry, making online the best option available.
While there are a large number of people who enjoy the entire experience of being at a casino, a large enough group simply wants to play the games. They are finding that online options are just as enjoyable as playing at a facility, which could drive down foot traffic at the physical casino.
A Safe Place to Play
Adding to the success of online casinos has been the sophistication of the platforms themselves. Security and reliability have long been reasons why many have chosen not to use online options, but these issues are no longer a concern.
Major payment platforms and e-wallets are now available for users, making it easy for players in Kenya to be able to deposit money into their casino accounts. Because some of the biggest names in finance have connected with these online casinos, customers have greater confidence in the dependability of transactions.
This confidence continues into the platforms themselves. By working with major international sportsbooks and casino operators, Kenya has been able to offer the very best options for online casinos. This gives consumers the latest games, innovations, and themes as well as options such as live dealers. Customers are denied very little in terms of the overall casino experience by playing online. This has helped to make this option even more attractive.
The New Normal
What online casinos are banking on is that even after the threat of the pandemic subsides, customers will continue to flock to the online options. They will have become accustomed to the benefits of playing online and will find that the experience is as enjoyable as it would be if they actually went to a physical casino.
They also realize that it is quite likely that many will be fearful that they are still at risk by venturing to the casino. This will likely be true for at least the first 8 to 12 months following the reopening of many of these facilities.
The casinos who have anticipated these kinds of concerns and have offered an online option will still thrive. Those who did not, will suffer.
One thing is sure, however. As long as fears of the pandemic continue, online casinos are going to prosper. People need an outlet to occupy their time, and gambling is one such venture that can now be enjoyed no matter where you are. These websites ensure people can pass the time doing something they truly love.
