Online streaming has picked up steam over the last couple of years. Furthermore, it significantly affected the entire online gambling industry, affecting players and game developers in equal measure.
Many well-known companies have been using live streaming to make significant announcements for some time now, turning iGaming live-streaming into a raging, new trend. But, is there more to it?
We talked to BGaming's Maksim Krotau - Streamer Relations Manager, about their latest launch and streaming overall.
Maksim, hi! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about a topic that, judging by what we've seen so far, is burning up! Let's start from the beginning: What's a streamer?
I believe anyone who has spent time on the internet, be it YouTube or social media, has stumbled upon the word "streamer". Streamers are those who broadcast themselves on websites such as Twitch, YouTube, and even Facebook. Firstly, streamers are content creators and entertainers.
Those who succeeded in building a community around them have become opinion leaders and influencers. If we are talking mainly about iGaming, streamers are not only entertainers but experts and opinion makers who influence the players' preferences and decide what will be popular tomorrow.
We see that video slots streaming is gaining momentum; this is obviously just the beginning.
You've recently launched your first $15.000 competition for streamers! Was it/is it everything you've expected it to be?
We are excited, to say the least! Streamers are achievers, constantly searching for catchy content, and the Race allows them to compete with each other, create content, have fun and win real prizes.
The Streamers Race is our first event for streamers; of course, we are getting bumps and bruises. But we learn, expand our knowledge and connections, absorb feedback and work hard to transform failures into strength. Through trial and error. :)
But to summarise, the contest is going great so far! Fantastic experience and strong will to proceed development of this initiative. By the way, we watch streams with the internal team and truly cheer for the participants.
In your opinion, what do people get by watching someone else play? What makes streaming so attractive to the modern-day player?
We are social creatures, searching for entertainment and emotions: bonus hunts, predictions, giveaways. And streams of gambling games, with their emotional roller-coaster, reward the audience with a fantastic range of feelings. Streamers are for sure great showpeople as well!
They use the whole range of activities to engage with the audience. A sense of community belonging is also very powerful.
Also, what would you say motivates players to stream what they do?
While playing, you sometimes catch moments of super epic wins and crazy unexpected turns. And at these moments, of course, you wish someone was watching. You want to share your emotions. Whether extremely happy or sad, you want to share feelings and receive emotions back.
Switching off the emotional part, those streamers who actively engage, who found their competitive advantage and succeeded in building relations with their audience, earn on their streams pretty good.
How do streaming practices differ from tournaments or live casino games the players engage in? They interact in those, too.
It's definitely more intense! Streamers generate excitement and unite people.
Suppose we talk about tournaments and live games - every man for himself. No doubt, they are also exciting. But when you're sharing this feeling with thousands of people - it is an entirely different level. Streamers and their followers accelerate and intensify the emotions you experience while playing alone.
What are the leading streaming platforms, and why?
I'd say Twitch and Youtube are undisputed leaders. Facebook also lifts its game.
As a dedicated streaming platform, Twitch became a game changer, trendsetter, and maybe the core of the streamers community today.
We're familiar with old-school streamers who play and don't really engage with the audience. The new wave of streamers, however, is a whole different story - they include the audience and, in a way, make it belong. Is this new wave of streamers the future of iGaming streaming?
This is not even the future but reality, if I'm being honest. The new generation of online slot players is searching for different emotions. We see the spate of charismatic streams, who are hugely popular among the younger audience of players. And since the average age of our players is shifting from thirty to twenty years old - demand breeds supply.
How vital are streamers for game manufacturers from a marketing standpoint?
Talking from a content supplier perspective, we got an option to communicate with the end users directly. If used correctly, streamers are one of the most influential and targeted channels. I'll highlight "If used correctly," meaning that the streamer shares your values, attracts relevant audiences in relevant geo, and matches your player's persona. When you find such a streamer and your content is of high quality, the formula game+streamer is bound to be successful.
Is casino streaming here to stay?
For sure. Empowered by the unique approach to content creation, streamers will continue to attract bigger audiences. The power of shared experiences will push the popularity of casino streaming. Great example: the shared betting experience is a trend picked up and creatively expanded by Livespins.
In this socially-charged online casino, you play with your favourite streamer and place a bet as a group. The combination of Streamer & Shared Betting has grown popular among young audiences. Great to see the project growing and be part of it.
Can we expect more streamer-things from your creative kitchen?
Absolutely! Development of the streamers community is among our priorities, and You'll see more events for streamers from BGaming. Follow us on social media, and stay tuned!
