In 2013, the landscape of online gambling continued to shift dramatically with several key developments. But three major changes stand out:

• New legislation and regulation in various jurisdictions
• Technological advancements in software and gaming systems
• Increased focus on mobile platforms

The year saw significant legal changes as countries grappled with the rising tide of online gambling. In the United States, for example, the state of New Jersey passed a bill to legalize internet gambling, which allowed Atlantic City casinos to offer online poker and casino games. A link to the bill can be found here. Meanwhile, in Europe, countries such as the UK continued to maintain strong regulatory bodies like the UK Gambling Commission, setting standards for operators to adhere to. These changes helped to create a safer environment for players and legitimized the industry as a whole.

Technological advancements were also critical to the evolution of online gambling in this year. The industry saw a significant upgrade in the quality and variety of games offered, with providers like Playtech and Microgaming leading the way in creating immersive experiences. Live dealer games became more prevalent, allowing players to experience a more realistic casino environment from the comfort of their homes. You can find more about live dealer advancements in 2013 here.

Lastly, the importance of mobile gambling soared in 2013. Casinos recognized the need to cater to users on smartphones and tablets, leading to a proliferation of mobile apps and responsive websites. The statistics from 2013 suggested a significant upward trend in mobile device usage for online gambling, prompting operators to focus on mobile platform optimization. This transition can be seen with companies like LeoVegas, which at the time was one of the early adopters in the mobile gambling space, setting an industry standard. For more info on the rise of mobile gambling platforms in 2013, the 'Global Online Gambling & Betting Market 2014' by Statista provides insights, which can be accessed here.

In 2013, the online gambling scene saw major changes in laws, technology, and ease of use, preparing it for more growth and new developments in the future.

In 2013, many places changed their rules about online betting. In the US, there was a lot of talk about a new law for online gambling which wasn't passed, but it got people thinking and led to states like Nevada, New Jersey, and Delaware allowing some types of gambling on the internet. These states made their own rules to check where the players were and to fight against illegal money handling.

• Nevada became the first state to launch a legal online poker site in April 2013.
• New Jersey approved online casinos and poker sites, with operations starting in November 2013.
• Delaware also commenced online casino and poker services in 2013.

In 2014, the UK made a new law that says all gambling companies working with UK people must have a license from the UK Gambling Commission. Companies started to prepare and apply for this in 2013. The aim was to make sure online gambling was fair, safe, and to protect people who might be hurt by gambling, like those who are very young or who can't gamble safely. The Commission also stressed that these companies must take care of their customers.

In 2012, the European Commission created a plan for safer online gambling. This plan outlined important steps taken in 2013 to help different countries work together better, protect kids, fight scamming, and keep sports betting fair. Gambling companies had to start checking players' ages properly and work harder to stop money laundering. Even though each European country had its own rules, it was becoming more common for all of them to have strict and similar gambling laws.

New laws changed the way online gambling companies do business, requiring them to use better technology to follow rules and change their advertising to meet legal standards. These stricter rules were meant to control the gambling industry, protect customers, and make sure online gambling is fair and follows the law.

In 2013, the online gambling world made big improvements that changed how websites run and how users play games. The key change was using HTML5, which allowed people to play casino games directly in their web browsers without needing to download apps or software. This made it easier for everyone to play games on mobile phones, tablets, and computers. Thanks to HTML5, more people could access online casinos with ease, helping these websites to attract more users.

• Integration of HTML5 for device compatibility
• Adoption of live dealer games
• Advancements in cybersecurity measures

Live dealer games were a big change in online gambling. They let players join in on games with real dealers who are shown through a live video. Players can bet as the game happens, just like in a real casino. This made online gambling feel more like playing with others in a real place, fixing a big problem with how online casinos used to feel lonely and less exciting.

Game companies also worked hard to make online betting sites more secure. They used better protection, like SSL (a way to encode data), to keep user information and money safe. These websites also started using smarter systems to spot and stop cheating. These security steps were really important to make players feel safe and to deal with more people betting online.

In 2013, the online gambling world improved a lot. It became safer and more fun for players. These changes also helped it to follow the rules better. Because of this, more people started gambling online, and the industry grew bigger that year.

In 2013, the online gambling market grew a lot and some big companies like Bwin.Party, 888 Holdings, and Betfair were very important. More people started gambling on their phones, there were more options for betting during sports games, and more places in Europe and some parts of North America were okay with it. But there were still some big problems with the laws, especially in the United States because of a law from 2006 that made things difficult, so not every place was able to grow the gambling market in the same way.

• Bwin.Party saw a surge in its sports betting revenue.
• 888 Holdings reported significant growth in its casino and poker services.
• Betfair enhanced its position with its Betting Exchange model.

The trend in the market showed that tech improvements were key. Companies like Playtech and Microgaming, which create software, kept updating their games and making them easier to use. This meant that people who already played their games stayed interested, and new players came in because they were looking for fun and easy-to-use gambling options. Because nearly everyone has smartphones now, it was really important for these companies to make sure you could play their games on your phone without any problems.

Customer protection and responsible gambling also became focal points in 2013. Amidst the market growth, there was heightened attention on the need to provide users with safer gambling environments. Initiatives such as self-exclusion programs and deposit limits were implemented by responsible operators and were encouraged by regulatory authorities. Although still an emerging concern, the industry's effort in promoting responsible gaming gained recognition and became an integral part of the discussion on market regulation and customer trust—a trend that was expected to continue shaping the online gambling landscape.