Technology is constantly changing how we operate as a society. Whether it’s cryptocurrency or artificial intelligence, massive disruptors to the status quo are here to stay.
For casinos, technology has also completely changed the game. Online operators have entered the market in droves, gameplay is simply unrecognizable from just a few years ago, and traditional land-based casinos are scrambling to keep up and stay competitive.
It’s clear that the gambling industry has changed, and it will only continue to change in the coming years. Here’s how technology has reinvented the casino landscape and how it will keep punters coming back for more.
We Want Instant Cash Options
Technology has made us an impatient society. But is that even a bad thing? If there is a technological option that makes things quicker, more convenient, and far more secure, it makes sense that consumers opt for that.
In old-school casinos, you have to go up to the counter to withdraw cash after winning a slot or table game. Exchanging your chips for money feels like an arcade-style exercise from when you were a kid, not a modern setup for 2023. It’s tedious, time-consuming, and you’re left with cash that you probably would rather have in your bank account.
Online casinos, on the other hand, can do this far more efficiently using technology. The fastest payout online casinos on the market are essentially instantaneous; you can deposit and start playing within a matter of seconds. And best of all, if you win a jackpot, that money is securely in your bank account just as quickly.
Mobile Gaming
Virtual casinos used to be a pixelated mess, only playable for those who love tech, because deep down, even the most fervent proponent of iGaming would know that the gaming experience was pixelated, inferior, a poor man’s version of the ‘real thing’. And mobile gaming, well, it wasn’t even a thing a few years ago.
Now, mobile penetration is up significantly in most countries, with many offering consumers high-speed 5/4G internet. With many people not having access to traditional internet connections, it’s been a game changer.
With smartphones now offering gorgeous graphics and fast processors as standard, even AAA games can be played without issue. Online casinos are now accessible from the palm of your hand, offering the same high-quality experience you’d get at home.
Social Club VR: Casino Nights
Welcome to a future that even Marty McFly would not have been able to predict, even when he journeyed into the year 2015. We’re highlighting Social Club VR: Casino Nights, a casino game designed specifically for the Oculus Rift headset, and symbolizes what we have to look forward to in terms of virtual reality tech.
In this game, you can walk into a casino and feel like you’re really there. It’s a super immersive experience, and you can enjoy all of the classics, like blackjack, roulette, and Texas Hold’em Poker.
Not only that, you can customize your avatar and the world around you, personalizing your entire experience. You can even connect with people from all over, making it an immersive community experience.
Live Online Casinos Changing the Game
iGaming has become a thorn in the side of traditional casinos, but land-based establishments always felt they had a trump card that virtual casinos just can’t beat.
Traditional casinos always argued that they had the in-person experience to offer, the community, meeting with others, a human connection. And it’s true, online casinos could not compete with that aspect.
Until now.
Online casinos now run live versions of their table games, plus much more. When you join a live room, you are placed in a virtual environment with a real dealer on a video link. They’ll give you the same experience, dad joke banter, and you can also chat with other players. All from the comfort of your own home.
The reason this has become possible is not just due to the developments of the game setup itself, but also the wider availability of high-speed internet (including 5G), which has made HD delivery possible. You now pretty much feel like the dealer is right there in your own living room (or wherever you may be!).
Outlook 2024 and Beyond: There’s More Coming
This is just the tip of the iceberg, the start of the journey. There’s a reason why experts predict a year-on-year growth of 10% or more across the board. And why traditional brands like Ballys are investing a boatload of money into their virtual offerings.
Technology has changed the game and it’s going to be the thing that will keep punters coming back for more. Old-school casinos are not dead, far from it, but only the companies willing to blend tech with their traditional experience will survive.