The iGaming industry has taken classic casino table games and slot machines to new levels, giving players greater choice than ever before. It is also one of the most competitive tech industries, with online casinos and game developers competing for their share of a crowded market. Therefore, technological innovation is vital in standing out from the crowd.
Here are three possible areas of tech development that the iGaming industry could witness in the next few years.
VR
Originally heralded as a technological development that could redefine our experience of gaming, VR has found it difficult to attract a mainstream audience. While new VR output continues to be released, such as a Game of Thrones-inspired title on Viveport Infinity, it has struggled to be a serious rival to console gaming. The iGaming industry could be a key area that changes the perception of VR. While online casinos outperform their land-based counterparts in terms of choice and convenience, the communal side of the casino is inevitably lost.
VR could be the crucial tech that brings together the ease of online gaming with the atmosphere of a physical casino. A VR headset can transport players to the legendary Monte Carlo or Las Vegas casinos while facilitating interaction with other players’ avatars. The relatively simple nature of casino games allows the gameplay to translate smoothly to VR controls. Early VR casino efforts have arguably underwhelmed, but it is only a matter of time before a developer gets it right.
Cryptocurrencies
The adoption of blockchain and related currencies by the iGaming industry could give cryptocurrencies a huge push towards their mass adoption in other industries. While there have been millions of Bitcoin transactions, cryptocurrency payment options are not yet widely available at e-commerce or gaming sites. More choice is always better when it comes to making financial transactions. An all slots casino review notes how this particular website allows users to instantly deposit through a range of methods, including Neteller, Visa, and MasterCard.
That kind of range of payment methods is standard for the industry, so those that adopt cryptocurrencies will instantly stand out. Given iGaming’s emphasis on frequent transactions, with most users looking to regularly withdraw and deposit funds, the nature of cryptocurrency would translate seamlessly to the world of online casinos. The iGaming industry has embraced PayPal in the past few years, so we expect a cryptocurrency to follow suit.
High-quality slots
Slot machines were once a matter of choosing your stake, spinning the reels and waiting, but online slot developers have taken the simple gaming concept to unlikely new places. Many slots use elaborate video introductions with graphics that rival a console game’s cutscenes. Some slots introduce characters with unique abilities that start bonus rounds or affect the symbols on the reels. However, given the restricted mechanics of a slot game, it is reasonable to wonder just how slot developers can take this genre to new places.
The answer could be to give slots a greater sense of progression. Companies such as NetEnt already add a form of narrative to some of their slots, but this could be extended further. Rather than just a video introduction, cutscenes with dialogue choices could be added so gamers can personalize their experience. A player could also rack up bonus points across multiple visits, allowing them to unlock new characters or rewards.
The iGaming industry doesn’t necessarily need these new technological advances, as the core gameplay of casino classics remains appealing in its own right. Yet the development of VR, the introduction of cryptocurrencies and the enhancement of online slots could prove influential in attracting a new generation of gamers.
