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6 Technologies That Are Set to...The online gambling world is and has always been, at the forefront of technology. And a lot of the technology that we see today has been spurred by this industry, especially when we talk about payment encryption technology.
The industry has been doing a lot lately to offer a more immersive gaming environment and has done a great job of doing so. It also has done a lot to improve the security of players. But 2020 should see a lot of trends and innovations that will continue to increase online gambling’s market share in the gambling world. Here are a few of them.
What we should see in 2020 is even more of a shift towards more gamification. Online casinos like NetBet UK are already leading the charge with a variety of games that integrate a lot of gaming aspects. Many of their games combine the predictability and controllable nature of regular games with the thrill of casino games. This is one of the reasons why the brand has been able to maintain its position as one of the leaders in the industry and is often regarded as the top online casino in the UK. We can expect more online casinos to follow suit to attract some of the traditional e-gaming markets.
Augmented and virtual reality technology seems to be the last frontier in the online gambling world and could have some serious implications. While some online casinos have started dabbling in the concept and a handful of fully VR online casinos exist, we can expect a boom in 2020 due to the lower cost of virtual headsets.
While the technology was still inaccessible to a large portion of the population, companies like Oculus are doing a great job at keeping prices down. As a matter of fact, they just recently announced that they will be permanently dropping the price of the Rift.
Augmented reality technology could be used to transform any space into a casino, and virtual reality technology could take you into a whole other world. Land-based casinos could also use the technology to reach the online gambling demographic by bringing them through their doors virtually. Not only that, but they could also give players the chance to interact in real-time with other virtual players. This could be a game-changer for the industry.
Microgaming already started on a virtual reality roulette game that was based on Oculus technology. NetEnt, another prominent online casino software provider, has two VR games in their collection: Jack’s World VR and Gonzo’s Quest.
But augmented reality could see more adoption because of the nature of both technologies. While virtual reality headsets are now cheaper than ever, they are still pretty hefty, which does not make them the best option for on-the-go gaming. However, players only need a standard smartphone to run AR games.
While online casinos were not necessarily known for their high frame rates, volumetric fog or cloth physics, they do understand the importance of graphics in this day and age. The industry has been doing a lot to keep up with and seek inspiration from the PC gaming industry, and this is just another step in that direction.
The blockchain and cryptocurrency could also have a big year in the online gambling world, and this is another sector that technology seeks to disrupt. For one, the security and transparency blockchain technology offer is tailormade for the industry.
The secrecy that a lot of cryptocurrencies offer could allow people from markets where gambling is illegal to participate. Also, these casinos often do not have the same requirements for signing up and less personal information has to be shared during the sign-up process or when making deposits, for instance.
But this could also lead to more casinos operating outside of the normal regulatory framework, which could be an issue. However, blockchain casinos’ transparency could end up counterbalancing any fears players may have. Since every piece of data about their games can be broadcast to a permanent, immutable, and public blockchain, this would allow players to know which casinos actually have fair odds without the need for an outside regulatory body.
Gambling games are still a big thing on social media, and online casinos have been taking notes. That’s why you see an increasing number of games with social features nowadays. Players can accept challenges, play community slots, participate in discussion boards, etc. And unlike social media casino games, they actually get to play for real money.
2020 should also be the year where we see major improvements in mobile gambling. As a matter of fact, over half of the world’s population is set to have access to a smart device by this time. Still, many online casinos only offer browser-based mobile games and a dismal selection.
But we should see more casinos taking the next step and start paying more attention to the market. Players will be able to carry on games started on a desktop and continue them on their mobile seamlessly, for instance. We should also see casinos doing more to integrate their whole libraries on mobile. Not only that, but developers are also feeling more pressure to create games that will look great both on mobile devices and PCs.
Artificial intelligence is another technology that could leave a major impact on the industry. It is already used for support, with many casinos using chatbots to provide automated support to players. But it could also be used to learn players’ playing habits and offer personalised offers or game suggestions.
The online gambling industry is set to see a lot of changes in the next coming year. Expect to see most of these innovations to be rolled out in 2020 and continue to improve and transform the gaming experience for online gamblers.