Online Gambling Trends to Look Out For
Crypto, VR, AI, Social Casinos.
Online gambling is in a state of flux. Recent technological advancements have taken the possibilities of online casinos to the next level, creating a more immersive, engaging, and fun place to play casino games.
As the industry continues to shift, several specific trends have been identified as the main causes of change in the digital gambling scene.
Cryptocurrency acceptance
A key trend is cryptocurrency acceptance. In this list of popular real money slots, casino expert Vlad Grindu suggests that the more crypto a site accepts, the better the quality of the gambling platform. Many of the sites he selects accept over 15 individual types of digital currencies.
It’s worth exploring the emerging crypto trend further, given how much it has impacted - and is continuing to impact - the online gambling industry. First and foremost, dedicated “crypto casinos” have emerged that cater specifically to those who prefer to use crypto over fiat currency.
Crypto - such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin - can be deposited on these sites and used to wager and play table games. Once players win, winnings can also be withdrawn in their cryptocurrency of choice.
This provides many benefits to gamblers who like to invest in cryptocurrency. Firstly, it means that deposits and withdrawals can be made a lot quicker. Being decentralized, the crypto passes directly between the casino and the players, meaning transactions can be completed at a lightning-fast rate.
This aspect of crypto also means that no transaction processing fees are imposed, as no “processing” takes place in the same way as fiat currency transactions. This makes crypto gambling both the most speedy and economical option when it comes to online gaming.
Crypto has already made a big impact on digital casinos, and will likely continue to do so in the future. Crypto acceptance will become more widespread and crypto-dedicated sites will likely soon dominate the online gambling market.
Virtual reality
For many people, visiting a real, brick-and-mortar casino is difficult given state-level laws. Some states only permit a few casinos to operate, in often difficult-to-reach locations. In other states, such as Hawaii and Utah, gambling remains heavily restricted, meaning gamblers must travel to a completely different state to gamble.
In response to restrictive gambling measures, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a solution for many. With a VR helmet, poker players can simulate a real-life, Las Vegas-style poker experience from the comfort of their living room. They can see the dealer right in front of them and their opponents sitting opposite them.
There have been some VR-dedicated slot and table sites that have emerged in recent years. However, VR-based gambling is still an emerging trend, even though there are currently 65.9 million VR users in the US.
VR helmets remain expensive, which has put many gamblers off the idea of investing. As the price of the technology lowers, VR casino games will likely become more widespread.
Social casinos
Not everyone likes to wager money. Some enjoy the idea of online casinos and gambling gameplay but do not like the idea of losing. These same people also generally prefer the social aspect of casinos to the actual gameplay.
For these people, social casinos have emerged as the best online gaming option. Social casinos feature similar slot and table games to regular casinos but are totally free to play. Instead of depositing money, players can get right to playing and interacting with other players. Just as they don’t deposit money, they can’t win any either - these sites are all about interaction and the fun of the game.
Sophisticated chat features allow players to converse with their friends and meet new, like-minded gambling buddies. Points and virtual currencies can be won in the game, but these will not have any monetary value outside of the platform.
As VR becomes more common in the online casino world, social casinos will likely become as close to real, brick-and-mortar casinos as possible - minus the high stakes.
Social casinos are already predicted to grow in popularity in the coming years. As of 2023, the market size of this online gambling type was $7.39 billion. This is expected to grow to $11.2 billion by 2028.
AI and machine learning
Casino sites are known for having a much wider game selection than brick-and-mortar casinos. However, with such a wide game selection, it can be difficult for gamblers to know what game to play. This is where AI and machine learning come in.
Machine learning is implemented to analyze player behavior and make accurate recommendations based on this. This means that when a gambler visits a gaming site, the homepage consists entirely of games the algorithm has determined meets their taste. This makes game selection a whole lot easier.
Besides narrowing game selection, AI can also be used to detect suspicious activity and bolster security measures.
AI has already been adopted by many gambling sites and will likely continue to spread throughout the online gambling scene.
Conclusion
Several trends have emerged in the last 5-10 years that will likely define online gambling in the next few decades. Cryptocurrency is predicted to continue to grow in popularity, suggesting that crypto casinos will, too, become more widespread. VR helmets will become cheaper and create more immersive gambling experiences.
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