During the 1990s, the trend of online gambling took off. For centuries, those striving for an adrenaline-fueled gaming experience had little choice but to visit a land-based casino. However, since then, and particularly following the turn of the millennium, iGaming has reached new, unprecedented heights. Fundamentally, the rise of digitalization has drastically altered modern-day approaches to gambling. This is because the sector has adopted a more user-friendly approach to showcasing its latest market offerings. So, let’s take a look at the rise of iGaming.
Implementation of New Technology
In recent years, iGaming hasn’t shied away from embracing newly-developed pieces of technology. Given that the sector already offers an array of real-time variants of traditional poker games, it was only a matter of time before virtual reality developments broke into the market. Through compatible Oculus Gear VR software, users can now enjoy ME2ON’s 2018 release, VR Casino. Such concepts add a forward-thinking sense of realism to the industry, with in-game experiences longing to replicate real-world experiences like never before.
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Moreover, following such technological developments, increasing numbers of online casinos have sought to expand the accessibility of their titles. At Genesis Casino, the platform has recently focused on optimizing its casino games on mobile devices. In turn, prospective players can now utilize available bonuses across some of the sector’s most popular titles on iOS and Android-powered smartphones and tablets. These include Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, Fire Joker, Starburst, Vikings Go Berzerk, and many more.
Along with VR technology and mobile compatibility, artificial intelligence has also played a pivotal role in growing the appeal of iGaming. AI software can be used to sift through vast amounts of data – far more than a human is capable of – in order to generate the exact content that players are looking for and for which they remain loyal customers.
The Impact of Mobile Platforms
According to Alleywatch, by definition, the term iGaming concerns placing an online wager on the outcome of an event or game. This is something of an umbrella term, as such events range from online poker to sports betting. At the time of writing, a study from Global Market Insights forecasts that the web-based gambling market will enjoy a compound annual growth rate of 16.5 percent between 2020 and 2026. Perhaps the most significant factor behind this tech-driven market recording record figures concerns the impact of smartphones.
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Regarding platform popularity, a report from imageHOLDERS states that, as of 2018, mobile gambling accounted for 40 percent of the total online betting industry. Not only that, but the same report found that 164 million people were using their mobiles to immerse themselves in the sector’s offerings. Furthermore, data from ironSource have found that, along with other classic genres, casino has the highest day-one user retention figures of all mobile categories. The total sits as high as 43 percent. One of the primary reasons behind the popularity of remote iGaming platforms relates to user convenience, with prospective players now able to enjoy the latest games from any location via a network connection.
An Industry That’s Always Looking to the Future
Ultimately, the iGaming sector deserves credit for the speed at which it embraces ever-changing social trends and breakthrough technologies. In continually striving to modernize its approach, online gambling is now more accessible and user-friendly than ever before. In turn, this will likely remain the case for much of the coming years, which will positively impact long-term participation figures.
