It’s not just one avenue of casino betting that has changed unimaginably thanks to the internet; whether it’s slot machine gaming, roulette, blackjack, or poker, there have been such immense changes that the industry has totally transformed. Land-based casinos still take up a good chunk of the industry, and there’s definitely a place for them in the market. Still, the internet has generated such stiff competition that land-based casinos have been forced to adapt to the colossal disruptive innovations from online casino betting.
If the slot machine gaming industry were a standalone entity, it would still be a multi-billion dollar industry. This should give you some idea of just how big slot machine gaming is in today’s gambling market, and this has been fuelled heavily by the rise of both the internet and smartphones.
When the first slot machine design hit bars and restaurants around the latter stages of the American Wild Western era, they were met with huge acclaim. They grew immensely in popularity within a very short period. The original design, courtesy of Charles Fey, was extremely basic compared to the slot machine games you see today, which have 3D graphics, 10×10 reels, and seven or eight bonus games. There’s also a big switch in the type of slot games out there, for example, progressive jackpot slots, which are separate prizes that increase with each game, with no impact on the base game. Theoretically, these jackpots can spin for a long time and become mega prizes. Some progressive jackpots run into the millions of dollars.
It’s not just progressive jackpot games pushing the boat out in this gambling sector. Although some of the biggest prizes are often in the world of progressive jackpots because there’s now so much money moving into the industry, some of the world’s most excellent designers and developers in all gaming fields are trying to design the next big slot game. Luckily for slot machine game designers and land-based casinos, they remain one of the most popular games.
If you take a trip to some of the Vegas casinos, you’ll be able to see that slot machine gaming is still as prevalent in physical casinos, the same as it ever was.
Blackjack and roulette started as table games in European casinos hundreds of years ago. While they’ve enjoyed steady popularity, the internet has introduced a new world of live casino gaming to an enormous audience. There was little to no change in how the game worked for hundreds of years, apart from the slight variance between American and European, where the American wheel has a zero and a double zero. Still, the European wheel only has one singular zero.
For those casino players who prefer games with more strategy, such as poker, this is another area that transformed entirely because of the rise of digital platforms. Land-based casinos have hosted professional poker tournaments and games long before the internet existed. However, once the internet penetrated the industry, it created a domino effect that opened up new versions of long-standing casino games.
Online platforms haven’t just helped casino companies benefit by bringing together some of the world’s best gaming designers to deliver incredible end products. In addition to the colossal spread of new, innovative games on display in table-based casino games sectors like blackjack, and roulette, online platforms have helped facilitate some of the world’s top poker tournaments, bringing vast volumes of new players and spectators who are interested in playing the game.
While gambling company profits continue to soar, more companies than ever are looking to get involved in the industry. It’s not just casino operators looking to tailor their operations to a digital audience. Game designers and big names in marketing and advertising are all looking to get involved in one of the fastest-growing digital sectors over the last decade, with many believing that will not slow down soon.
As more countries begin to wake up to the possibilities of a well-regulated economy that approaches gambling with a firm but fair hand, they’re beginning to reap the rewards of an industry that often provides billions in tax dollars. Online platforms have also been able to leap into mobile gaming thanks to the widespread convenience and affordability of smartphones, tablets, and other devices where you can gamble or play your favorite casino games on the move. It’s not just mobile gaming that could reshape the industry. Other innovations are starting to cause a stir amongst gamers and providers, too, such as new types of assets you can gamble with, such as cryptocurrency, which is becoming a progressively viable way for people to deposit their funds and gamble.
The evolution from lever-based, 3-reel slot machines to immersive, progressive jackpots on gigantic reels has been astonishing. Likewise, the emergence of roulette and blackjack to live dealer games that are channeled directly into the palm of your hand from all over the world is another astounding revolution, and we imagine twenty or thirty years from now, there’ll be a new wave of innovations that we will be discussing in this everchanging, forward-thinking sector.