South Korea is one of the wealthiest countries in East Asia with a highly developed technological infrastructure and a highly educated workforce. The market is equipped with all the factors necessary to support a rapidly growing iGaming industry: fast and universal internet access, plenty of disposable income and a culture steeped in gaming.
But if you are a provider interested in entering this promising market, you need to know more than just the lay of the land. With TESTA’s crowdtesting-powered market research and benchmarking, we can help you learn how your games are holding up against major players in the market.
This report is about South Korea’s live dealer iGaming market and how the largest live dealer games are stack up against each other.
Live dealer games captivate players by fusing the thrill and social atmosphere of a real casino with the comfort and accessibility of online gambling. Players enjoy real-time interaction with professional dealers that foster trust and transparency while experiencing a wide selection of games from the ease of their homes. In fact, the Asian online casino market segment is expected to grow at a 14.9% compound annual growth rate between 2020 and 2025, according to data from Gambling Insider.
By leveraging our expertise in iGaming, TESTA looks to empower providers to capitalize on the tremendous potential of live dealer games in the coming years. To that end, TESTA has previously released resources that cover topics such as the state of live dealer games performances in Ontario, as well as a real-life client success story that illustrates how crowdtesting can help providers craft better player experiences.
Background: state of live dealer games in Korea
Market projection
South Korea has a tech-savvy population that is predisposed to online gambling games thanks to a major esports presence in their culture. As a result, their iGaming industry is projected to experience rapid growth.
- South Korea’s 2024 iGaming market is projected to reach a revenue of US$878.70m.
- The online sports betting market in South Korea is also estimated to have a market volume of US$801.70m in 2024.
- The average revenue per user (ARPU) for South Korea is projected to be US$94.58 in 2024.
- The number of users in the iGaming market is expected to reach 12.1m users by 2028.
- User penetration rate is forecasted to be 18.1% in 2024.
(Source: Statista, Market Insights, Online Gambling – South Korea)
Test method and results
South Korea’s top live dealer game providers
According to the ranking from the online casino website sportsbet.io, these games are the top 6 live dealer games in Korea. TESTA worked with its local Qrowd testers in Korea and assigned testing assignments for these games. All the data collected are then sent back to TESTA for centralized analysis.
Test setup
- Each tester was asked to conduct test assignments on their own devices.
- All tests conducted were video recorded and sent back alongside collected data.
- Testers were asked to:
- Enter the online casino website sportsbet.io
- Login to their account
- Search for the top live dealer games on the website with the region filter set to South Korea
- Measure the game load time
Once each tester completed their assignment, they send the collected data and recorded video footage back to TESTA for analysis.
Test parameters: live dealer game load time
For this test, we are solely interested in finding out how long it takes for the games to load. Since the test platform is a website, the load time calculates how long it takes from clicking on a title on the search page to the point at which the user connects to the live stream successfully. If the stream loads the instant the game’s web page finishes loading, it is considered to have a 0.00 second load time.
Load times play a pivotal role for iGaming titles as it impacts both player engagement and retention. Excessively long load times tend to be one the direct causes of high player churn. To facilitate a smooth experience for players, load times should ideally be as short as possible.
Test data: live dealer benchmarks in Korean online casinos
- Fastest loading game
- Both Ezugi’s Fortune Baccarat 1 and Bombay Live’s Baccarat 1 came in at 0.00 seconds.
- Most in need of optimization
- BetGames.TV’s Baccarat came in at a lethargic 19.32 seconds.
Korea’s fastest loading game actually loads the live dealer stream instantly and has an impressive 0.00 second effective load time. In fact, even Korea’s slowest loading game at 19.32 seconds is relatively fast in Asia because the country has some of the best internet speeds globally, which significantly enhances the user experience by providing faster and more reliable game loads compared to many other regions.
For providers looking to integrate into the Korean iGaming market, special attention must be paid to optimizing their load times in Korea because user expectations are shaped by the generally high internet speeds. Slow-loading games may result in lower player engagement and satisfaction, making speed a crucial competitive factor. Furthermore, being competitive in the Korean market requires meeting these high-performance standards to ensure player retention and positive reviews.
Conclusion
Crowdtesting is a highly valuable tool for gaining up-to-date real-world insights into global markets, which is especially important in a dynamic industry like iGaming. The strength of TESTA’s crowdtesting model lies in the fact that it is not only able to yield technical metrics like game load times but can also provide a nuanced understanding of user experiences and preferences through other forms of testing. By harnessing the power of TESTA’s Qrowd testers, providers can expect timely and affordable access to accurate data and user metrics to help them better navigate the market.
This analysis of live dealer games in South Korea is only one instance that exemplifies how TESTA can empower its clients to optimize their offerings for maximum market penetration and player satisfaction. As a trusted partner to the industry, TESTA has already released a collection of publicly accessible market research reports to help providers understand the industry landscape and stay ahead of their competition.
If you are interested in getting even more detailed market insights or customized solutions to benefit your iGaming business:
- Contact us: Experience first-hand how TESTA’s crowdtesting can benefit your iGaming operations.
- Find us on LinkedIn: Share the insights you’ve gained from TESTA’s analysis across the industry.
- Read more articles: Stay informed about the latest trends and benchmarks in iGaming.
About the author
Ian McKinnon
TESTA Head of Marketing