Online casinos and IT technologies are a match made in heaven. New digital solutions improve all areas of the gambling industry and set new trends every year. For this reason, online gambling evolves very fast. According to info from Juniper Research, the revenue of this ‘fun’ industry will reach 1 trillion dollars by 2022. But what makes it so popular? What’s new in the world of online casinos? Read on.
Why opt for online casinos?
Unlike traditional gambling venues, online casinos are perfect for beginners. They act as a multi-purpose gaming platform that allows you to play various games from slots to lotteries, stay tuned for the latest industry news, get responsible gaming support — all this from the comfort of your home. Moreover, casino websites are a real gold mine for regular players. In a bid to improve gaming experience, online casinos offer many promotional deals that attract new jackpot hunters. Players have access to a variety of interesting offers and lucrative bonuses:
- free bet;
- limited bonuses;
- daily events;
- bonus spins;
- generous jackpots;
- loyalty programs;
- and lots of gifts, prizes, promotions, and other riches.
The gaming sector always has a joker up their sleeve, and it’s almost impossible to cover all bonus offers from all casinos in our article. For this, you can check 1highroller online casinos and see the full offer list. To claim such bonuses from a casino you need to sign up, play responsibly, and comply with the wagering terms and rules. Mind, however, that these rules may vary for players from different countries. For example, one casino may have exclusive bonuses for gamblers from the United Kingdom, or Malta, or any other country. So, check the terms carefully.
However, all those goodies are not the only method that casinos use to attract customers this present time.
The relevant casino trends and solutions
To be more appealing, gambling websites start implementing new approaches and innovative solutions. What are they?
1. Virtual reality
Virtual reality has been popular with gaming companies for years. Naturally, VR makes the game more atmospheric, entertaining and thereby interesting. The technology is effectively implemented by the giants of the online gaming industry such as Microgaming and NetEnt. The latter developer has improved their Starburst slot and made it VR-based. They are set to continue leveraging this ‘real’ technology in their games. What’s more, the exclusive virtual casino platforms emerge now. They welcome customers to visit virtual game rooms. Upon log-in, the player is provided with the following VR entertainment:
- roulette (both European roulette and French roulette);
- poker;
- slot;
- baccarat;
- blackjack;
- other popular cards games.
The player can enjoy the upgraded table games without leaving their home. It’s even more exciting than a video broadcast at the casino live with real dealers. VR games offer the atmosphere of a real gambling house: cards are in your hand, and the cash is on the table right in front of you.
2. Mobile gaming
Online casinos and gaming platforms are gradually switching to the mobile market. Now, you can spin the reels of your favorite online casino games like Book of Ra, Rainbow Riches, Starburst, or Megaways right from your mobile phone. In addition, all bonuses, wild and scatter symbols are accessible.
Such casinos come in the form of a mobile app or a mobile-friendly website and provide the same opportunities to the user. With it, you can:
- register at a casino;
- deposit and cash out;
- contact the support team;
- manage your account;
- search for the needed info;
- access all kinds of games;
- play live;
- and even broadcast video.
You can visit the casino, enjoy games, and even win jackpots right on the go. With diverse mobile gaming options, the online gaming business will continue attracting more and more users. In 2019, the number of registered players, who opt for mobile games, has hit 2 billion.
3. Messengers for mobile gaming
Although a mobile app is a very convenient way of playing games, this option still has some drawbacks — for example, annoying ads or fast battery draining. Therefore, the developers have come up with an alternative. They now apply instant messengers for playing in live casinos.
Players immediately appreciate this casino experience, because instant messengers do not have ads, work faster, and consume less battery power. In addition, they instantly provide you with the requested info and offer secure communication channels.
The game processes are managed by bots. They help you place a bet in the sportsbook, access the often-played games, make a deposit, register, change a password or email, check out the customised events, and so many more. All you need to do is log in, and type in a command. Technical problems like lost access are solved by the support service via live chatbots. So, players can contact them directly from the messenger, without sending an email.
4. Blockchain and cryptocurrencies
Online gaming is a business sector where users make thousands of money transfers daily. Not all traditional banking systems support gambling-related transactions. Moreover, casinos often have a limited number of payment options for particular countries. Thus, it has become necessary to use a payment system that would simplify these processes. Cryptocurrency is one such system. Due to blockchain, it is free from middleman control and is exclusively peer-to-peer. It means that there are only two parties to the transaction — the player and the casino. Cryptocurrency transaction records are immutable and are permanently stored within blockchain. So, you can always check the destination of your payments. What’s more, it is a way to make a deposit and withdrawal anonymously.
Another significant advantage of blockchain — the customer’s data is safe. In a Bitcoin casino, a player doesn’t need to reveal their personal data like credit cards number, or bank account details. This technology evolves day by day and covers more spheres.
5. Big data
In a bid to stay tuned for customer needs, casino companies should analyse large volumes of info to create reports, forecasts, estimates, and useful solutions. In the case of gaming, with the help of accumulated data about favourite games and player behavior, the company could find new approaches to satisfy customers and therefore, earn more money.
Take Caesars Entertainment as an example. This is one of the leaders in the US gambling business, which operates the famous Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas and more than 50 gambling establishments around the world. Over the years of its existence, the company has accumulated an impressive amount of data about their customers. To put it to use, the company has launched its Total Rewards loyalty program, which is now one of its most valuable assets.
This technology gives access to new market opportunities because the information about the players allows casinos to improve the quality of the content, and introduce new secure environment.
6. Switch to regulated markets
Sweden and Switzerland have already abolished the monopoly of online casinos. But, the gaming companies still need to apply for local licenses and go through the gambling commission checks to work seamlessly and responsibly.
Annually, the number of countries that support online gambling increases. In 2019, gamblers have gained legal access to the online casino market in Pennsylvania and Buenos Aires. Brazil, Japan, and some US states are also considering appropriate rules to make the market regulated.
Games of luck are a significant source of additional state revenue. Thus, more and more countries are striving to establish favourable tax regime and improve online casino environment to keep users safe. For licensed casinos, the requirements for storing and processing personal data of players are being tightened. What’s more, gambling companies should promote responsible gaming principles, and reflect them on their Terms & Conditions page.
The companies begin to apply new approaches to secure the data of registered customers. For instance, they can impose special conditions to open an account, implement mandatory identity verification when you sign up, require that you provide proof of residence (country, city, street), and add two-factor authentication along with password-based access.
Summary
The gaming industry focuses on improving every aspect — marketing, Internet security, communications and terms of use. Now, it is not enough for a casino to have advantageous offers, promotions, and bonuses. Gambling websites strive to gain a competitive edge by providing new opportunities to players. They organise networking events like tournaments, introduce innovations like cryptocurrency, offer licensed products only and even the ability to play favourite live casino games.
In this fast-evolving sector, only those gambling companies win that choose to innovate. This results in the growing revenue of the online gaming sector and the increasing number of players that want to jump on the bandwagon.
