Gamers have been enjoying online casinos since the 90s, and it hasn’t relented in enthralling them to date. On the flip side, the booming iGaming industry is a persistent push for technological advancement. As players increasingly demand creative gaming choices and exceptional games, casino operators turn to innovative technology for answers.
Providing the most authentic casino experience today involves using AR, VR, and other advanced iGaming Technologies. Understanding how online casinos integrate these technologies today and their future projections will improve your gaming experience.
Modern iGaming Technologies
Technological developments have transformed the online betting industry from player interaction to payment options and accessibility. These innovations have been around for a while, but online casino operators weren’t jumping to use them.
However, the recent pandemic is partly responsible for online casinos’ like the ones here have renewed vigor in using and lauding the effects of the following technologies:
Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented Reality (AR) is physical reality enhanced to create a digital environment. Unique software creates and superimposes pixels or 3D images and information on the user’s actual environment. Besides the pictures, AR also transmits sensory stimuli (digitally or by technology) to mimic and improve the natural world in view.
A few AR betting sites have been around for some time, but the technology has only recently equalized pre-existing gaps.
The first multiplayer cross-technology AR online casino—XR casino—was established in July 2021. XR casino will support AR, Mixed Reality (MR), and VR betting in games including slots, roulette, and blackjack.
You can download and experience their beta test games for smartphones in AR, pending the official launch of these games. Playing regular casino games with AR will have transport punters to a virtual casino where they can touch, hear, and see everything. Thankfully, gamers can enjoy AR betting with simple hardware like mobile phones.
Virtual Reality (VR)
VR technology includes glasses, headsets, haptic gloves, and special controllers. These work together to immerse the user in a wholly digital 3D world that they can explore in 360°. As a result, sound and touch feel real, even though everything is virtual.
Compared to AR technology, the iGaming industry has been using VR technology for years, as detailed below:
- In 2015, Microgaming’s first VR roulette game won the Digital Gaming Innovation of the year. Punters could place bets with Leap Motion 3D controllers and Oculus Rift DK 2 glasses.
- NetEnt also has VR casino slots, including Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, Jack’s Worl, and Scarface.
A few VR casinos are available, but you can also find VR versions of these games on regular online casinos.
Blockchain Technology
High on the list of modern iGaming technology is blockchain. Crypto casinos are the biggest beneficiaries of this technology, with players appreciating its seamless payment option. Thanks to blockchain, transactions on the best Bitcoin casinos are more secure and transparent.
Blockchain-based casino games and provably fair games are also beneficial offshoots of blockchain technology. Provably fair games allow punters to enjoy their favorite games without fear of foul play.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized the iGaming industry by providing more realistic betting adventures., similar to VR. Chatbots are a practical application of AI’s ability to simulate the human mind. The human-like chatbots interact with gamers in many capacities, especially in customer service.
This is a relief for online casino operators, as they minimize their customer service’s workload without compromising on players’ personalized service. We hope to see software developers patterning AI after masters of various casino games.
It would be a lifetime experience to play poker against an AI version of Johnny Moss with real-life bluffs and reactions.
Cloud Gaming
Cloud computing is a welcome addition to the iGaming sphere, as it allows bettors to play their preferred games without downloading. With some of these games’ content levels and visual display, device space might be a concern for some players. However, cloud gaming gives you an endless supply of thrilling game sessions, and you only need a solid internet connection and sometimes a good gaming monitor.
Mobile Devices
When online casinos first appeared on the iGaming scene, punters could only access them with computers. 1996 wasn’t exactly buzzing with smartphones and other mobile devices, unlike today. You now have access to any online casino site at your fingertips.
Whether you’re lounging at home or waiting in line, you can entertain yourself and earn actual cash playing casino games on your mobile. Even better, many online casinos have apps that make it easier for players to access games on the move.
Current smartphone technology also encourages VR games to move from computer monitors to smaller screens. Smartwatches have joined the conversation of iGaming on smaller screens, and you can use them to place bets quickly.
I expect developers to combine AR and VR technology with online casino games on smartwatches in the future.
How Do These Technologies Impact Land-Based Casinos?
Online casinos use modern iGaming technologies to recreate the experience of brick-and-mortar casinos. As more punters experience the ease and convenience of online casinos, physical casinos may continue to lose their appeal. Likewise, if land-based casinos don’t amp their efforts to offer players better, they might be left behind.
Making their buildings AR and VR-friendly is a step in the right direction, but it’s an expensive step. It’ll involve installing costly cameras and other technologies and running intricate protocols on lightning-fast networks. Together, these will ensure the protection of user data and flawless betting experiences.
Although it’s a costly endeavor to keep up with the times, the benefits far outweigh the pitfalls. Some brick-and-mortar casinos have already started on these improvements post-pandemic, and the dividends are clear. Technology has come a long way, but the future holds limitless possibilities.
A fully immersive virtual casino experience is no longer an impossible dream, and we’re yet to see how it’ll affect land-based casinos.
Conclusion
Technology’s meteoric rise is driving the iGaming industry into a frenzy trying to keep up. Thanks to modern iGaming technologies, players worldwide can shake hands, talk to each other in real-time, play on the go, and bank anonymously. Many online casinos may take some time to adjust, but eventually, everyone will get on board.
