One of the go-to industries to keep an eye on for its innovative use of game delivery tech to an in-demand market is iGaming. The industry has not only implemented intelligent solutions through game design for video slots, live dealer games, lottery, and bingo, but it has also taken full advantage of evolving technology such as smartphones and 4G/5G networks. In fact, when it comes to becoming the early adopter of new tech solutions, it is iGaming companies that often pave the way with a staunch example of this being the willingness to adopt cryptocurrency.
In this guide, we take a deep look into how the iGaming industry is evolving in both B2C and B2B sectors of industry. Specifically, we look at how innovators have invented new ways to engage players, how the industry is implementing secure gaming platforms, new payment options, and of course, the sharp rise in mobile gaming.
Live Dealer Software Platforms
Live dealer software platform providers have broken down a key barrier in table game betting on traditional favorites such as Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Poker, Craps (Snake Eyes), and Sic Bo. In all honesty, the concept is a simple one, yet does require impressive software to pull off the perfect user experience. Live dealer games have a webcam hooked up to a physical gaming table inside a land-based studio with live cards, dice, or roulette wheels while the tables have real-life dealers, croupiers, or game hosts. You can see this type of tech in action in US markets in this bet365 casino review by Caziwoo.
Players simply log on to their online casino, select the game and start placing bets. Now the webcam tech isn’t overly complex. It’s similar to hooking up a video conference meeting. However, where the magic comes into live dealer gaming is the way players bet using virtual chips. The software that interacts with the webcam stream allows players to place their virtual chips directly on the felts as if they were physically sitting at a land-based casino table. As a result, it brings land-based casino gaming directly to players’ living rooms or smartphones. What’s more is the results are natural, thus eliminating computer generated outcomes.
Cybersecurity in iGaming
In the iGaming industry, one of the selling points often used is just how safe it is to play over the internet. Online casinos take advantage of SSL certificates, so their websites use the ‘HTTPS’ prefix to guarantee all comms with the casino use encryption. On top of this, casinos that obtain official licensing must follow certain cybersecurity protocols in order for the licensing body, such as the Division of Gaming Enforcement’s Licensing Forms for New Jersey casinos, to approve the platform safe for online players to transact with and play games.
Cryptocurrency iGaming—Software providers & platforms are the early adopters
While in the USA, there is no legal way for licensed online casinos to offer crypto gambling, there are plenty of cryptocurrency casino options out there. Mostly, these casinos hold a Curacao license, which is issued by the Government of Curacao, an island in the Caribbean.
Online casinos connected to this authority can offer crypto gambling via BTC, BCH, XRP, LTC, ETH, DOGE, TRON, USDT, and more. There are more than 1,000 of these casinos online and that number is still growing, and many of the earlier entrants into the crypto gambling market have been around for more than half a decade already. It is fair to say that these are the early adopters of crypto gambling. However, what is it that makes cryptocurrency so attractive?
Yes, there are fast deposits & withdrawals (according to network speeds), and anonymity when transacting with casinos. However, there is another factor to consider. That is that cryptocurrency games are seen as more transparent. Provably Fair RNG algorithms determine the random results of digitalized casino games, and what makes this algorithm so attractive is that it is fully checkable/verifiable on blockchain ecosystems. As every result is recorded on a public ledger, anyone can check the results of any game at any casino.
Mobile (Smartphone) Technology
Finally, and arguably the most innovative in iGaming, is the introduction and use of smartphones and tablets, allowing the casino industry to leverage new tech to continue its growth. Casino game developers have cleverly adjusted their games through an evolving mobile market. First slots and tables needed reprogramming for iOS, Blackberry, Windows, and Android app interoperability. Then came Flash technology, giving players access to casino games via their web browser without the need to download.
Although Flash was a game changer, it had its flaws, which led to the introduction of HTML5 browser gaming. HTML5 transports JavaScript through web browsers to player’s smartphones, tablets, and desktop screens using intelligent, responsive tech that is able to detect the device’s screen size and hardware to send the best possible version of a web page, casino, or game to the player’s device. Add the evolution of HTML5 with consistently evolving mobile networks, which are now up to 5G, and effectively we are walking around with mobile casinos in our pockets that can do the same job as a desktop when it comes to playing slots and table games.