Online Casinos in 2019, What Next?
There’s no denying that 2018 saw a big decline in land-based casinos and high street bookies. More of us are playing our favourite casino games on our computers and mobile devices, and if there’s one thing online casinos are big on, it’s constant improvements.
It’s pretty hard to find any other industry that’s managed to consistently stay ahead of technology trends better than the world of iGaming. The industry has moved seamlessly from adding flash games here and there for desktop PCs to mobile games for all kinds of tablets and smartphones. The industry continues to use all the latest trends, too, to improve delivery of games and the way we play them.
Now, it’s a new year and that means even bigger, better trends to look forward to.
Let’s delve into what 2019 promises in the world of online casinos.
Virtual Reality to Get Bigger
Online casinos are the ultimate convenience, aren’t they? But there’s still just one thing about them that some people miss – the thrills and sounds of land-based casinos. It’s only natural for us to want an authentic gambling experience. It’s a big part of the fun. And now online casinos have heard you.
Thanks to amazing advancements in virtual reality technology (VR), which has already been in the spotlight for the last few years, online casinos are able to bridge the gap between the online and offline world of gambling. We’d go so far as to say that VR technology is changing the way we gamble, making our online experiences more immersive than ever.
Of course, if you already own VR gear, you can jump right into the experience at any of the VR casinos already around.
Best of all, more and more online casino operators have set their sights on VR technology. Experts predict that the total VR gaming market is set to soar to around $520 billion in the next 3 years. That’s a pretty bold prediction but software providers are already slogging away to introduce the technology on a mass scale as quickly as they can.
Cryptocurrency Growing in Popularity as a Banking Option
Accountability and visibility have always been a concern for online players. The mere thought of sharing banking and personal information with online casino operators can be a hard pill to swallow.
In the past year or so we’ve noticed just how popular cryptocurrency, and especially Bitcoin, has become amongst current and prospective players. Even as the world’s regulatory bodies are trying to determine how best to protect the cryptocurrency business, online casino players are whole-heartedly embracing the idea of funding their player accounts and making withdrawals using cryptocurrency.
It’s easy to see why. Cryptocurrency banking offers complete anonymity, immediate transactions and low to no processing fees. You can deposit and withdraw using crypto, too. It’s exactly what’s needed in the online casino industry.
As 2019 rolls in, we bet that we’re about to see an influx of new software providers entering the iGaming market. That means more online casinos and more ways to offer even better products to players.
Controlling Online Slot Play
For some time, the advance of mobile devices has threatened to outrun casino software developers. But thanks to advancements in HTML5 and native app software, slot designers have more than managed to keep up. Now, you can find all the newest and most popular slot titles across all your preferred devices.
Let’s face it. Most of us have several different devices just under one roof. And the majority of us have internet access at home. That’s why it’s important for casino players to be able to chop and change how and when they play. So, some developers have come up with a way for you to stop playing your favourite slot on one device and pick up where you left off on another device or your desktop PC.
What’s more, we’re seeing the evolution of customisable online slots where you get to choose your bonuses, volatility and even the game layout. 2019 is set to bring more of these amazing features to our fingertips, making online slot play even more thrilling and leaving you totally in control of your gameplay.
Smartwatches to Join the Trend
It’s not only VR revolutionising the online casino market, but the rise in popularity of smartwatches has also turned a common piece of tech into something rather incredible.
This year, players are set to get an increasing range of online casino games right at their fingertips, or wrists. The smartwatch industry is expected to reach a global worth of over $32 billion by 2020, which goes to show this is no passing fad. In fact, back in 2015, Microgaming showed us just how possible iGaming is on watches when they released the Dark Knight Rises slot for Samsung watches.
As wearable tech becomes more intuitive, we expect to see gaming developers finding more ways to integrate casino games into smartwatches.
Live Casino Gaming Goes Big
You’ve probably played a live casino game or two at some point. It’s the perfect way to achieve the interactive casino experience you crave from the comfort of home – or on the go via mobile devices.
Live streaming has become popular in online casinos and this year, we expect live casino gaming to get bigger and better. We’ve heard rumours of group chat functions being implemented, face time with dealers and an even more immersive experience.
Advances in Security and Technology
Each year, we watch technology evolve in the online casino industry. This year, we think the focus will be on secure login technology. The whole idea is to let you log in quickly, so you can get on with the important matter of fun gaming.
In terms of mobile gaming, tech has advanced so much so that you can now use your fingerprint to log in with ease to your favourite online casino. Keep an eye out for that one!
Mobile Casinos on the Rise
Mobile casinos were one of the biggest trends in 2018 and it’s going to continue soaring this year. Players demand convenience and that means being able to play wherever they are and whenever they feel like it.
We think we’re set to see an increase in mobile live gaming this year, too.
More Rewards for High Rollers
The competition for top players is heating up across online casino platforms, and one of the best ways to capture high rollers is to offer the best possible rewards. After all, most of us don’t just keep playing at an online casino for the wins, we hunt for the best rewards, bonuses and VIP programmes. Casinos that cotton on to that trend will continue to find amazing ways to incentivise their platform through better and bigger rewards for high rollers.
It also means that big players will set the trend for the result of us. The hunt for the boldest punters is set to change the iGaming reward structure, or even create a type of two-tier structure with different promotions and incentives and different levels – enhancing the VIP and loyalty programme experience.
Continuous Gamification
One particularly notable transformation in the online casino business has got to do with the upswing in gamification of games, and we think this trend will well and truly carry on in 2019.
Firstly, Virtual Reality technology makes online casinos look as though they’ve come right from a video game, but this is only really available to people who have the necessary headsets and gear. If you don’t have all the kit, you can still enjoy the Virtual Reality casino experience thanks to the increasing gamification of casino games.
You’ve probably already noticed that traditional Random Number Generator games have become a little arcade in style. So, in the very near future, we can look forward to unlocking achievements and completing missions to get to higher levels in games or even unlock better bonuses, something we’re really excited about.
Also, thanks to gamification, some online casino operators now feature an online casino rating algorithm. Gamification has further resulted in the introduction of traditional video games to online casino platforms. For instance, slot games of popular games like Candy Crush offer you the opportunity to enjoy all your favourite mobile games while playing to win real cash.
Live Streaming’s Getting Bigger
We mentioned how to live gaming continues to grow in popularity with online casinos. Well, we think we’re set to see a rise in the number of players broadcasting their online gaming sessions. In fact, streaming platforms are already rather popular with poker players and game players alike.
Last year, we saw an upsurge in the number of online slot players using live streams to boast about their big winning sessions or even review the latest online slot titles. With more players keen to pay a subscription, we could well see live steaming platforms become the go-to place for many online casino players.
Gambling Regulation to Come Under the Spotlight
2018 was a big year for global gambling regulations, and they continue to improve each day in terms of curbing malpractices and gambling addictions. 2019 will carry on this trend.
Don’t worry, though, it’s not about to affect your awesome gambling experience. In fact, 2019’s regulations are likely to make your gameplay safer and more reliable on the whole.
Roll-On 2019 and Online Casino Gaming
There’s no doubt that 2019 is going to be an exciting and even better year for players. Just looking at our predictions, this year is set to be more interactive, reliable, secure, engaging and immersive than ever before.
Best of all, there will new games and slots titles released regularly, more bonuses and promotions to look forward to and a truly optimised and personalised gaming experience for all.
Roll in 2019, we say!