Online gaming technology is constantly evolving. What was innovative and fresh 20 years ago now looks dated and stale. Of course, there are fundamental features that remain the same. Random number generators (RNGs), for example, are still the main way of ensuring online casino games are fair. It’s also true that the games you’ll find at our top-rated online casinos are pretty much the same today as they were in 2000. Yes, there have been a few ingenious updates in recent years, but, overall, the games are the same.
However, for all the similarities, there are plenty of differences between today’s leading sites and those that launched at the turn of the millennium. This is because software developers and operators are always looking for ways to improve their products and embrace modern innovations. The most obvious example of change in recent years is live dealer gaming. The combination of webcams, RFID chips, and dedicated gaming studios has created a unique real-time betting experience. That’s where we are now, but what about the future? What will online casinos look like in ten years’ time?
VR to Make Casino Games More Immersive
Well, we can actually use live dealer games as a springboard. The reason for developing these games was, in part, based on the desire to create a more immersive gaming experience. The best way to make something more immersive is to make it more realistic and you can’t get any more authentic than human dealers. This move towards enhanced realism taps into the virtual reality (VR) trend. As an industry, VR is expected to boost global GDP by $1.5 trillion by 2030. Part of its future value hinges on how realistic and immersive games are. Essentially, VR casino games will build on this desire to make the user’s experience more immersive.
How can we be sure VR will be used within the casino industry? Simple, there are already VR casino games out there. Microgaming launched its first VR prototype in 2015. VR Roulette was previewed at the Global Gaming Awards and gave Oculus Rift users the chance to bet from all angles. NetEnt jumped on the bandwagon a couple of years later with a VR take on the classic slot game Gonzo’s Quest.
What we can glean from these early innovations is that all casino games can be turned into VR experiences. Moreover, we may see new worlds emerge. For example, Gonzo’s Quest VR allows you to play the slot and explore its tropical environment. Perhaps we’ll see developers expand on this and link their VR games. This would allow you to walk from Gonzo’s Quest to another slot or table game. That would eliminate the need for lobbies and game menus. All you’d have to do is enter a virtual casino and move around the gaming floor like you would in a brick-and-mortar venue.
Safe, Random, Smarter Gaming
Away from the potential of VR, there may be changes to the way games are randomized. Blockchain technology and smart contracts are already being used to randomly deal cards and secure transactions at cryptocurrency poker sites. This technology could easily find its way into the online casino gaming sector. Basically, smart contracts are based on cryptography. That means every aspect of a transaction has to comply with the pre-set conditions of the contract.
If anything is missing or tampered with, the “contract” can’t be fulfilled. This makes smart contracts virtually tamperproof. That’s perfect for online casinos. Not only will this technology ensure results can be randomized and irrefutable, but it will also make everything secure. From this, we can also say that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum will be accepted by casinos in 2031. There are many sites that already accept crypto deposits. However, as the technology powering these coins improves, the chances are they’ll be more common in the online gaming world.
As well as being safe and convenient, cryptos are borderless. That means they’re not localized to a specific country. Their usage could speed up transactions in situations where casinos and their customers aren’t in the same regions. Cryptos could also remove the need for lengthy security checks. This, in turn, would make withdrawals a lot more efficient.
Therefore, we could find ourselves in a situation where casinos of the future are not only safe but capable of processing all payments instantly, regardless of where you are in the world. When you combine this with the potential of VR, there are a lot of things to look forward to in the coming years.
