Online casinos have been around for three decades now, and already, they’ve begun generating billions in revenue, annually. Some see a future where the iGaming industry overtakes its land-based predecessor, and where online casinos are the more popular way to gamble.
Many may argue whether online casinos are superior or not to their land-based predecessor. However, the truth of the matter is that they are rapidly growing in popularity. Of course, like all things online, iGaming relies entirely on modern tech to operate.
For some, this itself is a downside. For others, it is a beacon of a hopeful future. Digital technology is advancing with each passing day. New innovations are just around the corner, and many are wondering how they will be implemented to improve online casinos. In this article, we attempt to answer the question.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is pretty much synonymous with science fiction. From the ancient origins of robotics, like the golem, Talos, to the Laws of Robotics cooked up by Isaac Asimov, AI has played a major role in story-telling for as long as stories have been told. In 2024, however, AI is closer to being real than ever.
Indeed, many companies are already using AI in some ways. Customer Support live chats are pretty much exclusively run through open source AI in 2024. Online casinos, however, were among the first to embrace this new development. It is worth noting also, that customer support is not the only way to implement AI in the casino.
One of the big problems people have with gambling sites is that these platforms host a large number of games. If you visit an internet kasino, you might just become overwhelmed by the large library. But, if used properly, AI tools could curate a selection of games, tailored to each, individual player. Indeed, many would benefit greatly from such a tool.
It doesn’t stop there, either. A lot of people have put forth the idea that AI could also help with monitoring problematic gambling behavior. For example, if a player is betting too much, the AI could register this as suspicious, and inform a human employee. They would then do their best to resolve the issue.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is another staple of the science fiction genre. While most identify it with TRON or The Matrix, the actual origin of virtual reality as a science fiction trope dates back to 1935, in a story written by Stanley Weinbaum titled “Pygmalion’s Spectacles.” Today, VR is mostly identified with the cyberpunk subgenre, as well as the video game industry.
However, the use for VR extends far beyond just gaming and entertainment. Many museums, art galleries, and other cultural landmarks have begun offering “virtual tours.” Customers can access their VR equipment and go on a virtual tour of an establishment that is half-way across the globe. Of course, the tech isn’t quite there to fully capture the experience. But, it is certainly impressive that it is even possible.
But, how does virtual reality relate to the online gambling industry? Well, many might just assume that VR casinos online are already possible. Sadly, however, that is not the case. VR technology is simply not at the point where an online casino could viably use it. That means, the only VR casinos are social games available at online gaming shops.
That being said, it is entirely possible that within the next decade or so, developments in VR will reach the point where VR headsets can connect to online casinos. At which point, players would be transported to a realistic online gambling hub, where they could interact with other players and play their favorite games.
The best part of all of this is the fact that online casinos, and online gaming in general is becoming a lot safer than ever. Though in 2024 players still have to deal with some risks when gaming online, there is no doubt that the industry has significantly improved its security and safety measures.
Augmented Reality
Some might call AR a sub-category of virtual reality. However, in the eyes of many augmented reality is totally distinct from virtual reality. That being said, they do both run on the same principles of blending the tangible with the digital. But, what exactly is the difference between augmented reality and virtual reality?
Well, the basic difference is that VR transports the player into a fully digital, virtual world, whereas AR brings that virtual world to the player. Overlaying digital elements in the real world is the basic premise of AR. To explain it best, we would take the example of Pokemon Go, which allowed players to use the camera in their phones, to view the pokemon as if they were in our world.
Once again though, we must ask how augmented reality could change the iGaming industry? And once again, the answer is quite simple, yet complicated. The best way to describe it is to imagine a fully virtual, and operational casino in your living room. In theory, this could be possible with a sufficiently advanced augment reality program.
The problem? We do not yet have such advanced technology. That being said, AR and VR are among the two technologies that gamers and developers are most excited about. Which means that, in the next decade or so, we may just see a world where both AR and VR reach the point where everything we’ve discussed in this article becomes possible.
Some Things to Consider
The future is never certain. We can make predictions about the developments in technology, and we can all hope for the best outcomes. However, by no means can we say that everything we’ve talked about in this article will certainly occur as discussed.
However, based on the technology that we have right now, and looking at the advancements made in the past decade or two, we can certainly draw some well-informed conclusions. So, while not everything discussed in this article is certain, a lot of the points we’ve brought up are quite probable.
