The Internet has become an essential part of our lives. It has been a big thing ever since the beginning, but very few suspected that it will reach this level of popularity. It has changed the way many industries work and spawned a lot of new ones. Whether we like it or not, every activity we are doing today largely depends on it.
The casino industry is one of the first that embraced the rapidly changing online tech landscape. From car rental, to buying food and clothes-it’s highly unlikely that you can find a business without a digital footprint. Online casino games have improved and upgraded throughout the years, especially the technology behind online slot games. The growing list of new online slots points to the changing dynamics of this tech-oriented game model.
The Early 90s
Online casino businesses started their development in the mid-90s. That was a time when the internet was used for transferring land-based industries into the virtual world.
The first ever online casino was launched back in 1996 by the provider InterCasino. Back then you were able to choose from only 18 casino games. The fully functional gaming software behind it was developed by Microgaming and Cryptologic, famous online software development companies. The same year, one of the first offshore licencing jurisdiction Antigua & Barbuda passed its Free Trade and Processing Act. This enabled online gaming sites to acquire licences and open offices there.
Within one year, the number of online gambling sites went from 15 to 200. The popularity of gambling websites has been going upwards ever since. In no time, they became very popular amongst players as they offered new ways to enjoy casino games. In the months that followed, many companies were inspired by the success of InterCasino and followed their example.
Since then, numerous casinos and games emerged, making the field extremely competitive. Each operator strove to be the best and to offer varieties of games. At that time, computer technologies were a big limiting factor. Companies had to think outside the box to make their products more appealing to the audience. Providers had to come up with various schemes and solutions in order to be ahead of their competitors.
Contemporary Development
As time went by, the overall players’ experience got better and better. The graphics were of a much higher quality and sound effects were far more realistic. Offers evolved, bonuses grew, the games were improved, and loyalty programmes were introduced.
However, the majority of players still preferred to play at a traditional brick-and-mortar casino. This was about to change when live dealer games were introduced. The tech development allowed players to interact and watch live streams while playing.
What Can We Expect
The future’s looking bright. From live casino rooms that make you feel like you’re in a land-based casino, to beautifully designed slots that attract with their design and story – the progress is obvious. Many operators are now exploring the potential of VR games. This technology can detect players’ actions, which can further improve their gaming preferences.
The rise of machine learning is also making an impact on the popularity of games. This intelligence model helps operators to automatically crowdsource the feedback, letting them see which one is performing best. These parameters can be further useful in the future in order to grow the popularity and track their progress.
The Bottom Line
The online casino industry is dynamic as far as the tech development is concerned. Game developers are trying their best to implement the latest technology to their advantage. We have already witnessed the convenience brought by mobile apps and online gaming platforms. Future-oriented technologies like AR and VR are the next big thing in this industry. In addition, we could probably expect realistic and high-quality games enabled by VR and solid data security. With more positive laws and regulations leaning towards casino gaming it is estimated that online casino gaming will outstretch to $1 trillion in 2021. Improved mobile experience is cited to be an important factor for this potential development.
