The Latest Technological Trends in the iGaming Industry 2022

Top iGaming Tech Trends in 2022

The online gambling industry has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to the utilization of emerging technology – as a relatively young industry, the online casino sector has naturally benefitted from new technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and cryptocurrency, as well as the growth of high-speed internet and live streaming. Given the intertwined nature of tech and iGaming, what are the latest technological trends shaping the industry in 2022?

Metaverse

Widely touted as the future of iGaming and computer gaming as a whole, the metaverse is one of the most exciting emerging technologies to have been taken on board by the online casino industry. Closely linked to blockchain tech, the metaverse could be described as a more immersive extension of VR, in which players can freely ‘move’ between a potentially endless network of digital environments or worlds, interacting with other users (or avatars) and objects. The metaverse holds transformative potential for the iGaming industry because it enables players to trade, make transactions with cryptocurrencies and accumulate items in the digital world whilst experiencing highly immersive and realistic 3D environments via a VR headset. Metaverse casinos are on the rise, and there are already some dedicated metaverse game lobbies where you can experience the thrills and spills of live casino play in augmented, otherworldly reality. Many of the best online casinos (including the best casinos operating globally) have already made use of the tech, and online players are likely to see more dedicated metaverse iGaming platforms in the coming years.

Blockchain & Crypto

Of all the emerging technologies in our list, blockchain and crypto have already had the most impact in terms of iGaming and the online casino industry; blockchain tech (a variation of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)) essentially records real money transactions with a unique crypto signature known as a ‘hash’ – this enables accurate verification of individual users and a safer way to make cash deposits, wagers, and withdrawals online. Blockchain is intrinsically linked with cryptocurrencies, of which the most well-known is Bitcoin – other common crypto coins currently doing the rounds in the iGaming market include the U.S. Dollar Coin (USDC), Ethereum (ETH), Binance Coin (BNB), and Tether (USDT). A rapidly growing variation of the crypto coin are Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs), which are image-based and not mutually interchangeable. While the use of crypto and NFTs enables more freedom, flexibility and anonymity when playing casino games online, it also provides greater security than traditional fiat currencies. Blockchain and NFT technology have already been utilized in the sports betting industry, mainly to verify the identity of gamblers and provide safe and secure payment processing for real money transactions.

Artificial Intelligence

While AI tech has largely been used to implement cool-off systems thus far (to encourage responsible gaming and limit problematic gambling online), emerging artificial intelligence systems are already so advanced that certain programs are even capable of beating human players at poker. As you might expect, AI holds untold potential in terms of the iGaming sector, having already served a diverse range of purposes from improving safety, security, and customer support to personalizing game content for individual users. It seems likely that AI will take a more dominant role in the industry as a whole as the technology develops.

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality tech has been in development since way back in 1968 when the first VR/AR headset was connected to a computer; as you might expect, the technology has come on in leaps and bounds ever since, and VR is currently on the hottest trends in iGaming. By wearing a VR headset, you can enjoy immersive and interactive 3D environments including casino lobbies and live gaming tables – as well as extra immersion and obvious novelty value, VR has countless potential for online casino gamers, especially when it comes to providing a more authentic and realistic take on the land-based casino experience, such as enabling players to recognize physical ‘tells’ in other players and play live dealer games in real-time. While the selection of VR games online remains relatively sparse, discerning casino gamers are likely to have access to a much wider range by 2023 as the tech becomes cheaper and more accessible.