The world of online gaming has undergone significant changes over the past decade, and online casinos haven't been left behind. While traditional casinos remain popular with gaming enthusiasts, online casinos are attracting more and more fans as many people prefer to play casino games from the comfort of their own homes. With an estimated 3.24 billion gamers worldwide, experts expect the industry to continue its meteoric growth for some time.
Advancements in technology have driven the growth of online casinos, with gamers able to live out a casino-like experience from anywhere in the world. Although popular games like Mega Moolah Canada already use cutting-edge graphics to deliver a top-notch online casino experience, technological trends will allow these games to become even more realistic. Virtual and augmented reality promise to take online gaming to a new level. 3D avatars, gesture imitation, and live interactions will change how we engage with online casinos, making brick and mortar casinos and their online counterparts almost indistinguishable.
Mobile Gaming
Online casinos have been making their mark on the gaming industry ever since the internet became mainstream, with the first one opening its doors in 1994. Although the first online casinos consisted of only a few highly pixelated slots and card games, they were a sign of things to come.
With the advent of smartphones and tablets, online gaming exploded in popularity, leading to the majority of Canadians playing video games in one form or another. With portable devices and mobile data, gamers can now access their favorite games at home, on the bus, on the subway, or wherever they may be in the world. Online casinos have also integrated social networking into online gaming, allowing players to compete in tournaments against opponents around the world with real-time leader boards.
Today, online casinos boast massive catalogs of games, and many have live dealer options too, so players no longer have to travel to a brick-and-mortar casino for an authentic experience. Instead, they carry a casino in their pockets and can join the fun anytime they want.
Artificial Intelligence
While smart devices have put casinos in the hands of billions of gamers worldwide, developments in artificial intelligence (AI) allow online casinos to give users a real-life gaming experience. AI enables computers to make decisions and react naturally to players' actions during a game. Technology has come so far that competing against an AI opponent is almost indistinguishable from competing against humans.
Online casinos also use AI to enhance the user experience by offering players tips and game recommendations, and by evaluating how a player is progressing through a game. AI's goal is to make the online casino experience as realistic as possible.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) technology has become more accessible over the past few years, with VR headsets becoming more affordable and gamers embracing the technology on gaming consoles, mobile devices, and computers.
Online casinos have used VR technology to blur the lines between brick-and-mortar casinos and the virtual world. Gaming isn't the only thing that attracts people to traditional casinos, however; it's also the excitement and social atmosphere, something that's hard to replicate online.
However, VR reality has allowed online casinos to merge the virtual and physical worlds, allowing players to interact with live dealers and players in real-time, resulting in an experience similar to traditional casinos.
Blockchain Technology
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and other cryptocurrencies have become household names during the past couple of years, revolutionizing how the world thinks about money in the process. The online casino industry has taken notice, and many casinos allow players to use cryptocurrency instead of fiat currency for deposits and wagers.
An advantage of using cryptocurrency over fiat money is that it's hard to manipulate because all transactions are recorded on the blockchain. Many online casinos have encouraged users to use cryptocurrency in order to avoid security risks.
