Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X & Baby Boomers

In today's society, we can identify four distinct generations of consumers and workers, each characterised by their unique values, expectations, and preferences. Thanks to the emersion of online gaming, consumers now have access to a wide range of brands from around the world. As a result, it’s harder than ever to win loyalty from customers — and easier to lose it. In this environment, what increasingly sets operators apart is the overall experience they provide.

Expectations for customer service within the gambling industry significantly differ across various generational cohorts, including Gen Z, Gen X, Baby Boomers, and Millennials. These disparities stem from their distinct preferences, technological adeptness, and communication methods.

In my article, I have condensed each generation's discerned preferences and explained how Genesys aids operators in providing the necessary service and "service type" to accomplish the desired operator and customer outcomes.

Gen Z

Generation Z, also known as post-millennials, includes individuals born between 1997 and 2012. They are the most recent generation to reach adulthood and have grown up in a world with even more advanced technology and widespread access to information. When it comes to gambling, Generation Z may view it as a form of entertainment. However, they are less likely to engage in traditional forms of gambling and more likely to seek out the best UK casino sites. Similar to the generation before them, they participate in social gambling and engage in fantasy sports leagues.

Digital Natives: Gen Z expect seamless digital interactions and prefers platforms that offer mobile-friendly interfaces and quick access to customer service through chatbots and social media.

Personalisation and Speed: This group values quick and efficient service. They expect personalised experiences, instant responses, and solutions via live chat and messaging apps. Gamification of the service experience, such as loyalty programs and interactive support, is also highly appreciated.

Transparency and Social Responsibility: Gen Z is highly aware of social issues and expects companies to demonstrate transparency and social responsibility. They prefer brands that show commitment to responsible gambling practices and provide clear information about the risks associated with gambling.

Self-Service Options: Gen Z appreciates self-service options such as comprehensive FAQs, forums, and video tutorials that allow them to solve issues independently without contacting support.?

Millennials

The Millennial generation, also known as Generation Y, was born between 1981 and 1996. They grew up during a time of rapid technological advancements and societal changes.

Millennials see gambling as a form of entertainment and are more open to online and mobile gambling options than their older peers. While gambling is a way for them to potentially win money, they are also mindful of the possible negative effects, such as addiction and financial loss.

They are the most likely generation to engage in online gambling due to their comfort with technology. Their interest in social gambling, like playing casino games with friends online or participating in fantasy sports leagues, makes them stand out. They also seek out gambling options that match their values, such as socially responsible gambling or charity-based gambling.

Tech-Savvy and Mobile-Oriented: Millennials are comfortable with digital technology but also value human interaction. They expect efficient, mobile-friendly customer service but still appreciate the option to speak with a live agent.

Omnichannel Support: Millennials expect seamless service across multiple channels, including email, phone, live chat, and social media. They appreciate their customer service history being maintained across these channels, allowing for a smooth transition and continuous service.

Value for Money and Rewards: This generation looks for value and expects brands to offer loyalty programs, bonuses, and rewards for their patronage. Clear communication regarding these programs and easy access to support for related queries are essential.

Responsible Gambling Support: Similar to Gen Z, millennials value transparency and responsibility from gambling operators. They appreciate proactive measures such as self-exclusion options and support for problem gambling.

Gen X

Generation X refers to the generation born between 1965 and 1980. They grew up during economic recession and social change and are often seen as a bridge between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials.

When it comes to gambling, Generation X sees it as a form of entertainment but is wary of its potential negative consequences, such as addiction and financial loss. They often seek out the best gambling sites that offer free spins and are more involved in online gambling because they are comfortable with technology and have more disposable income.

In terms of gambling preferences, this generation enjoys a balanced mix of traditional and modern options. They are fond of lottery games due to their wide availability and ease of play. Additionally, they engage in casino games such as slot machines, poker, and blackjack. They also enjoy sports betting. Some UK online casinos offer horse racing betting opportunities, which Generation X appreciates as it is a traditional form of gambling that they have grown up with.

Generation X has distinct customer service expectations in the gambling industry that reflect their unique blend of technological adoption and traditional values. Here are the key expectations:

Efficiency and Convenience: Gen X values quick and efficient service. They appreciate user-friendly interfaces and seamless experiences across online and offline platforms. They expect quick resolutions to their issues without unnecessary delays.

Personalisation: Personalised service is crucial. Gen X expects gambling platforms to recognise their preferences and tailor offerings accordingly. They appreciate personalised promotions, recommendations, and communication.

Reliability and Security: Trustworthiness is paramount. This generation values reliable and secure platforms with transparent policies regarding data privacy and fair play. Clear communication about security measures enhances their trust.

Baby Boomers

The Baby Boomers generation includes people born between 1946 and 1964. They grew up during a time of economic prosperity and social change in the United Kingdom. When it comes to gambling, Baby Boomers see it as a form of entertainment and a way to socialize with friends. They are also more likely to consider gambling as a way to win money and improve their financial situation than any other generation. They enjoy visiting brick-and-mortar casinos, participating in lottery games, and are open to online casinos as well.

Personal Interaction: Baby Boomers tend to prefer more traditional forms of customer service, such as phone support and face-to-face interaction. They value personalised attention and are more likely to appreciate a human touch in their service interactions.

Clarity and Simplicity: This generation prefers straightforward and clear communication. They value detailed explanations and step-by-step guidance over quick, brief responses. Written communication, such as detailed email support and comprehensive instructions, is often preferred.

Trust and Security: Baby boomers prioritise security and reliability. They expect robust measures to protect their personal and financial information and appreciate regular updates about the safety of their accounts and transactions.

Accessibility: Ease of use and accessibility are crucial for baby boomers. They prefer intuitive interfaces and easy-to-navigate websites. When issues arise, they appreciate patient and understanding customer service representatives who can guide them through the resolution process without technical jargon.

Catering to a Diverse Audience

Understanding these generational differences in customer service expectations is crucial for gambling operators aiming to cater to a diverse audience. By tailoring their support strategies to meet these varied needs, operators can enhance user satisfaction and loyalty across all age groups.

Experience Orchestration with Genesys Cloud

Experience Orchestration aims to create efficient, effective, and empathetic customer experiences, regardless of the customer persona or their preferred communication channel.

The Gen Z generation has shown a strong inclination towards self-service options, often favouring automated solutions over speaking with customer service agents. To cater to this trend, operators can utilise the powerful combination of Genesys' knowledge base and advanced generative and conversational AI capabilities to establish and maintain a fully automated contact centre. Leveraging Genesys' orchestration engine, the platform can seamlessly gather real-time customer data from various engagement systems and external applications through its open-API architecture. This enables Genesys to accurately ascertain the customer's intent and determine the most appropriate next steps to facilitate successful self-service interactions.

Millennials are alike in some ways, but different in others. As a millennial myself, I can confirm this. For a minor, non-urgent request, I'm okay with using digital bots and looking through self-service articles. However, if it's a high-priority issue, I prefer speaking to someone who understands my problem and can fix it quickly! This is the point at which the orchestration engine is able to once again ascertain the customer's intent and identify the necessity for engaging with an agent. Through the utilisation of AI-powered predictive routing, Genesys can not only direct the interaction to a designated queue but also to a specialised agent capable of appropriately addressing the interaction with a comprehensive understanding of the customer's issue.

As we move forward through generations, we come to Gen X. In my personal experience, I believe that this generation's approach to technology adoption varies from one extreme to the other. For instance, my parents both belong to Gen X. To give you some context, my father-in-law, when going on holiday, prefers to have his boarding pass printed and placed in a wallet before a trip, along with a meticulously planned itinerary for the week. On the other hand, my dad would opt for an e-ticket and feel comfortable using his mobile to access maps or the web to find places he wants to go. For the gambling sector, it's crucial to recognise that not all Gen X individuals are comfortable with digital channels. This is where the Genesys omnichannel capability proves invaluable, ensuring seamless and consistent service across all customer touchpoints, regardless of the engagement channel.

Finally, let's talk about Baby Boomers. We've all had a grandparent call us for help with downloading an app, accessing online banking, or even calling through WhatsApp instead of using their regular phone network (at least I have!). This illustrates the challenges they may face when dealing with fully digital contact centres, especially when their business still contributes a significant revenue share. Genesys has over 30 years of experience in the contact centre domain, initially specialising in voice services, which we continue to excel at today. It's important to note that a lack of tech-savviness on the customer's part shouldn't hinder a business from utilising AI to better serve them. By using Genesys's generative AI services like Copilot, calls can be transcribed in real-time while also identifying the customer's intent. This information is then used to suggest the best next steps to the agent, ensuring a smooth and satisfactory interaction.

Empathy in Action

Regardless of different contact preferences, all generations share a common desire to interact with a trustworthy operator who can support them efficiently and help them feel valued and connected. This is empathy. Empathy involves the human ability to listen and understand someone's situation while treating them with respect. It fosters unity among people, companies, and society. Empathy makes customers feel acknowledged and understood, which in turn builds trust and loyalty. In the age of personalisation, empathy is the driving force in winning customer loyalty. Ultimately, customer loyalty fuels growth.

Genesys brings empathy to life through our Experience as a ServiceSM vision. We integrate multiple customer engagement channels, data from our platform and third parties, and cutting-edge technologies, including digital, artificial intelligence (AI), and workforce engagement management. Our unique strength lies in orchestrating these elements to deliver personalised experiences to customers of all ages. Through these personalised experiences, we cultivate empathy between operators and players.

Journey Orchestration

Segmenting players based on generational characteristics is a key strategy for online gambling operators to keep players engaged. This involves categorising players according to their unique traits, allowing operators to provide tailored experiences for each player when they interact with the brand.

Genesys offers operators a tool called Journey Management to orchestrate player experiences and create personalised journeys for different player segments. Genesys Journey Management goes beyond traditional personalisation techniques by utilising customer journey data from all channels, sources, and systems. This ensures that every interaction with the brand reflects the customer’s entire experience, not just the current interaction. Each customer touchpoint is personalised based on the customer’s preferences and needs. By understanding customer intent and previous experiences, operators can guide customers towards their goals with every interaction.

The benefits of this approach are extensive. It enables operators to personalise customer experiences, align their technology to deliver desired experiences, and reduce the cost of service. This is achieved by proactively resolving issues, increasing self-service rates, minimising unnecessary channel switches and repeat calls, and significantly improving efficiency. Additionally, it assists in directing customers to the best agent based on their intent and behaviour and provides valuable insights into customers’ previous actions.

Conclusion

After conducting thorough research, the findings from my article strongly emphasise the critical need for a holistic approach when addressing generational dynamics in CX strategies for operators on a global scale. It is becoming increasingly evident that individuals now expect and demand personalised experiences that not only meet their unique needs but also make them feel genuinely supported and valued.

Fulfilling these evolving consumer expectations is pivotal for any organisation's success. By leveraging appropriate technology and integrating an empathetic and human-centric approach, companies can effectively differentiate themselves in the market. I genuinely hope that you will find these insights valuable and applicable to your efforts in delivering exceptional experiences for your customers.

We would relish the prospect of a conversation with you to explore how Genesys can seamlessly support your operation in effectively differentiating your service across your diverse player base while consistently delivering best-in-class and unparalleled customer experiences.

Ryan Black

eGaming & Sports Betting Vertical Lead, UKI

M?+44 7760 957273

[email protected]