Without tech, there would be no online casinos
Digital technology – abstract artistic impression. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay, free license
Without ‘modern technology’ there would be no online casinos. They are a product of what drives them. While online casinos started life on desktop computers, the introduction of Apple’s iPhone and later Android devices took iGaming stratospheric. Untethered from a desktop, players had a mobile casino in their pocket, and increased connectivity allowed people to play what they wanted, where they wanted (well, as long as gambling was legal where they resided).
Even when state laws did not allow it, some people chose to take a risk at offshore casinos, but that is not a recommended route as players have nothing to fall back on should something go wrong. They might also find themselves in breach of local laws, so it is advisable to stick with what is legal when it comes to online gambling.
Something for everyone
Fortunately, most US citizens can play at online casinos these days, either for real money in seven states or at social and sweepstakes casinos nationwide. The rise of these new ‘play for fun’ online casinos is an example of a recent technological transformation. The software studios have adapted existing popular online slots and other table games to play with a new ‘virtual currency’. Rather than playing with real money, the games are powered by Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, and prizes are paid out the same. This means that players are not technically gambling, similar to playing poker for matchsticks, but in a more sophisticated way!
This has broadened the entertainment experiences in the US to allow almost everyone to enjoy the thrill and fun of online casinos. The software developers of the games have learned a good deal from the video games industry, and you can experience similar slick animations, slick graphics, and engaging narratives as you would find in other online gaming. However, none of this would be much fun if you did not know you were playing in a secure environment.
Transformational tech to keep players and casinos secure
In the earliest days of the internet and online casinos, there was a nagging concern about security. How could a player know the site was safe and their details were shielded from hackers? Even more concerning was how did they know that the site itself was not a scam. A great deal of work and technological advances have gone into creating online casinos that offer the highest levels of player safety. This is an essential feature when considering the amount of personal data that must be shared.
The online casinos, in turn, need to shield themselves from possible attacks and scammer. Therefore, their security has to protect its customers and the casino itself. Imagine the damage that could be done if a hacker got inside the systems and changed the odds of the games in their favour. They employ all sorts of technical wizardry to keep your and their information secure, prevent unauthorized access, and ward off cyber threats. This includes advanced encryption and safe connections so that even if cybercriminals did manage to intercept your data, it would be all scrambled up and undecipherable.
You can check you are playing at an online casino that uses the most up-to-date technology to keep things secure by checking that it carries up-to-date licenses and runs using HTTPS protocol and not just HTTP. That S stands for secure and is essential to keeping you safe.
Will Artificial Intelligence take over?
At a time when the whole world seems to be talking about Artificial Intelligence, it is worth remembering that online casinos have been using this technology for quite some time. Whether it is the chatbot that helps us through the initial sign-up process or helps us contact customer services in the event of a problem, most of the interface we have at online casino sites is driven by technology. The sites and apps also learn what games we like to play to show us more of what we want and invite us to play similar games. Bonuses and promotions are also driven by algorithms and machine learning to encourage us to play at certain times or just spend just a little bit more.
Tech to look after you
There is quite a bit of technology out there to ensure gamblers play responsibly, too. While online casinos are businesses that need to make a profit, the good ones also recognize that problem gamblers are not good for business. The casino might get a short-term gain, but that is not a sustainable customer relationship and damages their reputation in the long term. Therefore, there are lots of technological tools available to players to allow them to set deposits and playing limits. There are even web tools to prevent some gamblers from accessing any gambling sites in more extreme cases.
Apps keep evolving
Apps have transformed online gambling, allowing people to play the games they enjoy the most in a ‘lighter’ environment without having to stream so much information to play their favourite games. Many online casinos offer streamlined apps so that rather than the entire casino offering, a player can have a selection of online slots, roulette, or the table games they like to play most.
Could it be magic?
On the subject of table games, one of the most significant technological transformations of recent years must be live dealer casino games that are now available at many online casinos. At first appearances, they are nothing short of magical, with real players and human dealers interacting at a virtual card table as if they were all in the same room. Cards are dealt, hands are played, and bets are placed without any apparent time delay. The whole experience takes place in real-time. Of course, it is not magic that drives live dealer games but amazing technology. The ‘casinos’ where the dealers operate are, in actual fact, specialist filming studios equipped with specialist cameras that can translate the images and numbers on the cards into data to be calculated by computers.
Step into the future
Technology is the beating heart of the online casino industry, from games to payments and customer service to security. The next big step is expected to be even more immersive online casinos through virtual and augmented reality. We probably will not have to wait too long for this to become commonplace, or maybe something else unexpected will pop up.