The evolution of tech has fueled the gaming industry for more than 40 years and with new advances in the form of cloud computing, virtual reality, and augmented reality, and ultrafast internet connection now making its way into the mainstream, there appears to be an excellent case for it continuing to transform online gaming during the 2020s and beyond.
Tech and gaming thus far
Playing online casino real money has improved immeasurably in a relatively short space of time and those changes have been driven by advances in tech. From the quality of digital casino games to payment methods and security measures deployed to protect players, tech has made it safer and easier than ever before for gamers to indulge in exciting digital experiences.
Technological innovations have improved the intricacy of animations and improved the quality of graphics to create more engaging atmospheres online while casino platforms have improved UI and UX design to make user’s interactions as quick and efficient as possible.
Mobile gaming has also come on in leaps and bounds during the last ten years. Gamers now expect to dip in and out of their favorite games on smartphones without any loss in quality. Tech has been crucial here, enabling platforms to develop and publish apps with compelling features and a mobile-optimized experience that matches and sometimes exceeds its desktop counterpart.
Cloud-based gaming
The online gambling market is expected to be worth almost $103bn by 2025 and its annual growth of around 11.5% during the next five years is expected to be fueled by technology and the strengthening of the freemium model which has come to the fore during the late 2010s. A separate report by GlobalData found the video gaming market will be worth $300bn by that time, and that again, the mobile and innovative tech will lay the foundation for growth.
“Today’s video games industry is in the throes of a huge transformation from a product-oriented business to an as-a-service model,” GlobalData principal analyst, Ed Thomas says.
“At the same time, new technologies like 5G, cloud, and virtual reality will usher in a new phase of innovation, while new business models like support for in-game micropayments are already changing the economics of gaming.”
Enhanced VR and AR
For online gambling specifically, the smartphone combined with the proliferation of sports ads, which are supported by a tech-powered network of online agencies and exchanges, will help to increase the popularity of online betting around the world during the next five years.
As the new decade gets underway, new tech is ready to innovate online gambling yet again. Players can expect to see enhanced AR and VR technologies during the next 12 months. While virtual reality has been mainstream for a few years now, augmented reality could be set to create a new breed of online or live casinos complete with virtual overlays.
Unlike VR, AR allows players to compete in a real-life environment and immerse themselves in a 360-degree surround sound experience. AR is still a few years away from mass adoption but the fact that the potential is already there indicates tech is ready to transform online gaming again.
Blockchain
Blockchain is another form of tech that gamers can expect to see incorporated into their hobby during the next decade. A number of gambling platforms have already started accepting the most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC), which promises to revolutionize deposits and withdrawals at online casinos. Decentralized cryptocurrencies can deliver better experiences by lowering transaction costs, cutting out the middleman and increasing security and transparency.
Cloud gaming
Cloud computing will also change online gambling for the better in the near future. Cloud gaming enables games to be processed via a secure online server rather than locally on a user’s device. The improvement of this tech and wider adoption by gaming platforms will allow gamers to access instant-play sites without the need for software installation. It will also lower operating costs and increase compatibility across mobile and connected devices.
The cloud can also power new experiences. For example, the additional processing power can support many of the VR and AR experiences mentioned earlier and support more CPU and memory-intensive blackjack, slots, roulette, and poker games. Developers will be able to increase the scope and scale of these games and deliver experiences that were unthinkable just a few years ago.
Everything points to technology being a major lever of transformation in the gaming industry for the foreseeable future and this tech will overhaul every aspect of the online casino experience, from logging on and payments to interaction and gaming quality.
