With technology at the helm, the world of online gambling is here. Faster internet speeds, smarter technology, and the rapid advance of smart devices are why people are connecting faster than ever before to a network of entertainment. We are living in the digital age, and one could argue that the internet is the Id of the social conscious. The matrix of our time.
With access to unlimited digital information at our fingertips, the online casino gaming industry is not only becoming more expansive, but more immersive, no exception.
The global shift from land-based platforms to an online market has never been more evident, and is visible with the rise of eSports tournaments, social gambling, mobile casino apps, and a range of online operators delivering the latest casino games in what has become a $100 billion a year industry. Welcome to the world of online gambling. Are you ready to play?
From trends to making serious ends
Ever since the online gambling industry first took off in 1994 with Microgaming Ltd., there has been no stopping the train. By the early 2000s, even console giants Sega and Nintendo attempted to break into the market, and ultimately failed to do so. Regional regulations were established and independent online venues took off like wildfire, and once the genie was out of the bottle, it was hard to put it back in.
A 2016 Statista report showed aggregate worldwide gaming revenues in the billions. Expert predictions estimated that annual GGR for online casinos would exceed $60 billion by the year 2020, and this figure referred to the U.S. gaming market alone!
With mobile tech, those numbers are growing even larger, and players are choosing online casino gaming in the form of poker, blackjack, bingo and roulette thanks to mobile apps and social gambling. Although the latter remain popular, the overwhelming favorite are online slots games.
A 2018 gamer report showed that online slots and especially no download slot games account for nearly 40% of mobile games played for the U.S. and Australia, with the latter group defining slots as “pokies”.
Slots games are assuredly the bread and butter of any good online casino due to volume and variety, and no download slots are a key to the success of industry operators. The shift from free slots to playing for real money is interchangeable as well because players can choose to play free games via their web browsers or see returns in the form of cold hard cash upon registering for a player account.
The winners
Over the course of 2018, the leading online slots brands have been NetEnt and Play’n Go. These providers have been battling it out for the top spot with Big Time Gaming dropping to third due lowered to RTP. Their success rests not only in the form of payouts and jackpot rewards, but superior in-game performance, which is a sure-fire cut above the rest.
It is no secret that to keep up with industry trends sleek graphics and immersive gameplay are now standard. Online casino bonuses and player rewards have begun to rival brick and mortar establishments, and the latest no download slots are adapting to the ever-changing formats.
The newest of these is of course virtual technologies like VR and AR, offering near-authentic casino experiences such as LuckyVR and Microgaming. Even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are seeing action, especially for slots.
Online slots are here to stay, and with social gaming continuing to rake in big thanks social media, the perks are many for operators and players alike.
It’s difficult to argue against the benefits of playing slots via mobile gaming apps and at online casinos when they offer everything from better device compatibility to the newest 3D and HD games.
Global conferences like ICE Totally Gaming have helped industry experts push the boundaries of what is possible for casino gaming, and only time will tell what is next for the market.
