The advancement of technology has made our daily activities much easier to handle. There are no spheres of our lives which technology hasn’t impacted in one way or another. One of the parts that have got a significant improvement is gambling in its newest online version. The number of online casinos is overwhelming. For sure, most of them create a state-of-the-art experience for players.
In this article, we’d like to take a look at how this industry has grown and the role that technology has played in its development.
Playing a game for money typically involves placing bets or playing the odds in order to win. Gambling remains incredibly popular due to the adrenaline rush or thrill gained from taking risks. There is no innovation that can change this feeling. Despite dramatic changes in the industry caused by the rise of technology, gambling has continued to be a quite popular pastime.
From dice rolling in 100 A.D. to Las Vegas or playing online Baccarat Australia casino on the smartphone in the 21st century, these all are evidence that technology has changed the way people play. The analysis of the history of gambling allows us to understand how and why technology has influenced this activity so much.
Significant dates in the history of gambling
·1638. The very first casino was established in Venice, Italy. Pretty soon, it became a hotspot for international gambling. It featured a room known as Il Ridotto next to the Saint Moses Theater where theatergoers could gamble during intermissions.
·1790. Harry Ogden was the first to open a bookmaker in Newmarket Heath, UK. He firstly made a profit from bookmaking.
·1845. Gambling is limited to the racetrack due to a law that restricts cards games for money. Therefore, the ‘brick and mortar’ bookies started placing bets on sports instead of just races.
·1961. Betting shops were legalized. Over 10,000 shops were opened in the USA within the first 6 months. You can find more information about it at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_in_the_United_States
·1986. Further gambling legislation allowed betting shops to provide hot drinks and TV to show races. Computer generated racing courses and fixed-odds betting terminals were also added.
·1998. Betdaq and Betfair betting exchanges opened. That has caused the launch of online bingo and poker sites.
·2012. Revenue from online gambling has reached $4 billion
·2021. The global online gambling market size was valued at $57 billion.
The main branches of today’s gambling market
Online casinos
A turning point for the gambling industry was the invention of online casinos. Now, it’s one of the most lucrative digital industries.
The narrative of gambling changed in the 1990s. That time, gamblers started playing online games from their homes and offices. The automated processes made things easier for both players and casinos. It also allowed new players to get familiar with classic casino games and boosted the process of creating new games.
Besides the convenience, another good thing is that online platforms offer bonuses and promotions that players can take advantage of. They include but are not limited to free spins, demo versions and welcome bonuses. Such offers have become almost an industry standard when it comes to a digital world of online casinos. These features attract even those people that never stepped foot in a land-based casino.
Mobile gaming
The release of the first commercially available smartphone was in 1994. Since then, the number of their users has been growing exponentially. Now, mobile phones occupy more than a half of the WWW traffic.
Some poor countries, like India, just skipped the desktop phase of the Internet and stepped into the mobile phase right from the start.
Smartphones brought remote gambling to a whole new level. Today, people have access to online casinos right from their pockets. The only thing they need is the Internet. Literally, they can start playing online games on the go.
Mobile devices are the best thing that has occurred to the gambling industry up to this point. With a constant rise of numbers of mobile-first users, it will only keep getting better.
Virtual reality
Virtual reality or VR is a computer-generated simulation of the surroundings. By using special equipment, like helmets and gloves with sensors, users can interact there in a real way.
VR improves the overall experience of players while they play their favorite games at online casinos. Not only does it allow them to reach various places within the casino but also helps interacting with dealers and other gamblers. VR has elevated the gameplay to such a point where properly equipped players can have almost the same experience as in a land-based casino. In VR, game design, sound effects and other things are more realistic.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence technology is used by enterprises of the gambling industry for collecting and processing information about consumers based on their previous preferences and gaming behavior. This allows casino companies developing new games and making them more interesting to players.
It’s one of the ways online casinos enhance player experience with plenty of new games and features.
One of such features is the ChatBox option. Initially, it was used by players to contact casino customer support. With the help of artificial intelligence, it has expanded to processes of depositing and withdrawals.
Blockchain technology
And, of course, it’s impossible not to say anything about blockchain technology. It’s one of the newest additions that technology has brought to the world. One must agree that it has the power to change the way payments are made dramatically.
One of its main features is the cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Etherium and many others. It seems that it’s only a matter of time before crypto becomes the only accepted payment method at online casinos.
It offers a lot of new opportunities for gamblers. Firstly, it’s a safe and fast way of making transactions. Secondly, there are fewer restrictions imposed on crypto than on fiat money. And last but not least, when using cryptos for depositing money at online casinos, players don’t have to give their personal information before making a payment.
Conclusion
When it comes to improvements in the gambling industry, there is only one thing that technology has taught us – nobody knows what’s next! As long as the gambling industry keeps using these improvements the right way, there are no limits to what can happen to online casinos in the near future.
