Ways Online Gambling Has Changed Over 25 Years
The year 1994 marked the development of online casino software. When this software launched a short while later, the online gambling industry was born. Despite many different game offerings, poker had the biggest impact in the early years. By the turn of the century, online gambling popularity had increased at alarming rates, with new sites popping up everywhere. Today, this industry has exploded. What’s changed over the last 20 years that has given this industry such great success?
Technological Advancements
When the first online gambling sites appeared online between 1994 and 1998, the internet was relatively new. WiFi was virtually unheard of, and those that did have internet access were still using dial-up modems with slow connections. Improvements in internet technology and access to internet connections gradually allowed more people to play on these sites. Still, it was mobile technology that caused the industry to take off.
Mobile betting made its debut in 2003 in the UK when The Betting Site was launched via a 3G connection. By the time the iPhone made its appearance in 2007, there was no turning back. The emergence of gaming apps on smartphones allowed people to gamble from virtually anywhere, at any time. When the Apple App Store launched in early 2008, Texas Hold ‘Em was the most downloaded app.
Advancements in mobile technology may have been the catalyst for the development of online casinos, but they weren’t the only innovation. Gambling software is big business with lots of competition.
Software Improvements
Software design changes daily, and software companies are constantly making improvements in how they deliver their online games. 3D technology and video slots have replaced classic slot games. Enhancements in audio and video result in more engagement, bonus rounds, and more incentives to keep players spinning the reels.
Live dealer games, and live sports betting sites allow users to interact during their gameplay like never before.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality, or VR, is the latest trend in casino gaming. While this technology is still in the early stages, it’s starting to appear on gambling websites. It requires that users have special VR equipment, which restricts the rollout. For those who can experience it, VR provides a 360-degree gaming experience and is as close as it gets to sitting inside a brick-and-mortar casino without ever leaving home.
Choices
Aside from advancements in technology, the most significant change in online gambling might be the number of choices players have. When online casinos first debuted, players had only a few options. There were only a few sites, and the selection was limited.
Those days are now gone. Logging onto an internet casino will now render you thousands of game choices. Players aren’t limited to traditional casino games either. Sports betting, slot games, card games, video poker, all of them are online, and players can choose between multiple variations of each.
Final Thoughts
The online gambling industry was virtually unrecognizable compared to its birth 25 years ago. It’s now big business, raking in almost 50 billion dollars each year. With fierce competition, advances in gaming software, and hundreds of different sites to choose from, players have tons of options for where to gamble their money. As technology continues to advance, online casinos may move in new directions with virtual reality and live games, but they will certainly continue to grow.
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