You don’t need to have spent a decade in iGaming to become a good writer. Experience is important, but what matters more, in my opinion, is your willingness to learn.
The best iGaming writers out there are comfortable admitting when they don’t know the ins and outs of a gambling aspect (be it law, regulation, or a term) and then putting in the effort to understand it.
Acquiring new knowledge every day is what I think separates an average iGaming writer from an exceptional one.
Why? The deeper your industry knowledge becomes, the better equipped you will be to spot inaccuracies, ask the right questions, and pinpoint user pain points easily.
Overall, that is what I believe leads to genuinely useful content.
To start off…
Knowing Only the Terminology Just Won’t Cut It Anymore
Yes, every iGaming writer should know what RTP, volatility, house edge, and the like mean. But just being aware of the glossary meaning isn’t enough.
I’ve talked about first-hand tests and how vital they are when reviewing casinos. They matter more than you can imagine.
Personal testing really turns a basic understanding of a gambling term (like paylines) into practical knowledge after playing a variety of online slots across different casinos over an extended period.
The same goes for betting systems based on Mathematics. Simply reading about them is not enough.
Writers need to put their knowledge to the test to be better equipped to explain pros and cons while remaining objective and aware of any risks and downsides.
The bottom line: a great writer knows the pitfalls in an industry by continually acquiring and testing new knowledge.
Which leads me to…
Digging Deeper into Industry Laws & Regulations
Some may argue that it is not a casino reviewer’s job to know about all the specifics around iGaming laws in the Geo they write about. I say otherwise.
Yes, we’re not lawyers, and yes, some regulations are so convoluted that it is hard to untangle their meaning. But I will always argue that it is our job to know the industry. And that includes the laws and politics of it.
Plus, I’ve been doing this for a long time, and it was twice as hard ten years ago without AI’s help. Writers like me back then had to think critically and analyze complex legal documents on our own.
Now, we have AI assistants that can do it for us. There is no excuse when ChatGPT, Gemini, or any other artificial intelligence can summarize data you give in a matter of seconds.
So knowing how regulations differ from country to country, it is our job as iGaming writers to understand that an “online casino” doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing in the UK, Canada, the USA, Germany, South Africa, etc.
This becomes particularly important for topics related to responsible gambling, licensing, and bonus content.
And this matters a lot to me because, the way I see it, I write for other players. I lend my voice to topics that are important to them, so at the end of the day, I believe, the key thing is that…
Industry Knowledge Helps You Spot BS
It is so much easier to spot red flags in a casino and its operations when you have pre-existing knowledge of the industry.
This is particularly helpful when spotting:
- unrealistic bonus claims
- misleading win promises
- incorrect descriptions of licenses
- shady winning strategies
- fake claims about game fairness
- confusing platforms
- shady company owners
- operators blindly copying competitors
And here’s where 10+ years of experience and hundreds of casinos tested become relevant rather than just being a credential in your bio.
Honing your skills by reading about the industry and then testing that knowledge in real-world situations will make you better equipped to highlight problematic areas for players.
And it has always been my view that ultimately this is what makes being an iGaming writer worth it from a moral standpoint.
Finally…
My Thoughts on Industry Knowledge and Why It Is Still Relevant in the Age of AI
As a writer myself, I spend hours every week reading iGaming journals, news, and forum discussions. The industry is changing, and new regulations are being passed every day (for example, Bulgaria recently announced new laws for affiliates).
So I would like to expand on my test-first-play-first-write-next philosophy. Reading and learning are still valuable skills.
And yes, AI can help you break down complicated laws and deliver news and tidbits faster. Still, critical thinking is what we must continue doing. We, as writers, shouldn’t let our brains atrophy.
So, why continue studying?
Industry knowledge improves your questions. A good writer will not just accept the information supplied by a casino or an affiliate at face value. They will know what needs further checking.
And this will set you apart from other writers in terms of authority positioning.
Ultimately, it works in your favor, making you a more valuable asset to editors and companies seeking E-E-A-T professionals in YMYL areas.
So, it’s a win-win. Readers gain valuable insights into casinos in the context of iGaming as a whole, while writers who expand their knowledge become more capable of producing useful content more quickly.
Industry knowledge doesn’t mean knowing everything. It means recognizing what you don’t know, knowing why it matters, and knowing where to look for the answer.