In recent years, technology has changed the face of humankind. That also includes the changes in the entire gambling and casino industry. Today’s gambling industry is nothing like the old betting shops we used to see a few decades ago.
This article will trace the innovation brought in by technology in the casino industry. So, let’s dive right in.
The Gambling and Casino Industry: Then Vs. Now
The gambling industry came into existence in the late 1700s. Various laws were initially against it, and people did not actively participate. However, during the 1960s, gambling was officially legalized in betting shops. Soon, the number of shops skyrocketed.
During the 1980s, technology was introduced in the gambling industry. People began to enjoy various games such as computer-generated racing courses. People would now gamble with drinks and snacks at the betting shops.
Finally, the internet came, which pushed the gambling industry to new heights. Revenues began to increase by many folds and crossed 40 billion by 2015. Now, there was no going back. Since then, the industry has shown tremendous user base and revenue growth.
What Did The Internet Do?
The internet was a gift by growing technology. Suddenly, anyone with a laptop or smartphone had access to online gambling and casino sites via platforms like casinos not on Gamstop, which provided a list of good casinos on the web. The user base began to grow exponentially. People could sit back at their homes, any time, and play these casino games.
This is precisely what the gambling industry needed: a huge user base that converts into substantial annual revenue.
How Betting Shops Joined Hands With Technology
Technology has given everyone access to the gambling industry now. However, betting shops still had a few things that an online casino website or app could not offer, such as:
- The social environment of betting shops
- The entertainment of physical gambling games
- The sense of spending physical cash in a betting shop.
Therefore, nowadays, you will find betting shops integrated with technology. These shops use touch screen technology, which makes them user-friendly. Technology also brought innovation in the other elements of gambling like cash counters, ticket printers, etc.
How Is Technology Powering The Gambling and Casino Industry?
As I mentioned before, technology has helped the gambling and casino industry to skyrocket. This brought many challenges like increased user base, security of the users, safe payment methods, etc. However, technology was more than happy to address these challenges as well. Let us look at them now.
Cloud Server: Empowering Online Casinos
If you buy a car, you need a garage to keep it. Similarly, if you run a vast online platform or website, you need a server to keep it on. Cloud computing technology enabled the gambling industry to handle its substantial online user base. So, how powerful is this cloud server?
For most bloggers and small businesses, cloud servers are not needed. On the other hand, big e-commerce sites like Amazon, Alibaba, and eBay run on powerful cloud servers. Now you know how an online casino site handles millions of users at once. You don’t even need to download an app or software. You may visit a casino website, and the cloud server will handle all the games, graphics, payment system, and so on.
The Programming Behind Online Casinos
As you may wonder, an online casino is not easy to develop. It would help if you had a high level of programming knowledge and understanding of informational technology. Therefore, only computer engineers and programmers can handle this responsibility.
The programming language used behind an online casino is mainly based on C++. Programming plays a significant role in gambling games and their outcomes. One such example is Random Number Generation technology.
This technology keeps the element of randomness in the casino industry. Let’s say you are playing roulette on your smartphone. RNG technology will decide where the ball will finally land. This eliminates unfair gameplay so that no one can predict any specific patterns.
Portability of Smartphone
What’s the one thing the majority of us spend our time on? Yes, it’s our smartphones. Technology brought the gambling industry to our smartphones, giving access to anyone across the globe to dip their hands into the world of online casinos.
The programming language that helped to achieve this is HTML5. HTML5 helped software developers to create mobile-optimized casino apps and websites, eventually boosting the number of players in the gambling industry.
AI and Machine Learning: Making the Gambling World Smarter
The rise of artificial intelligence meant that we did not have to code everything. Programmers could define some conditions, and the machine would use its logic and keep learning. General examples of AI technology include chatbots on casino websites. AI is also used when a person plays against the computer. AI has improved the overall user experience of the online gambling world.
High Levels of Security: Safe Gambling
A casino website is a goldmine of funds flowing through it. Naturally, hackers try to attack it now and then. This demands the security behind gambling websites be very sophisticated.
For example, when I signed up for a casino website, I had to verify my identity using a government-issued ID card for security reasons. Then, while logging in, I was allowed to set a two-step verification code. That means even if my password is stolen, no one can log in to my account without that code.
The data that flows through these websites is encrypted in every way, preventing any loopholes. The website uses Secure Socket Layer(SSL). The types of encryption include:
- End to end encryption
- TLS encryption
Payment and Blockchain Technology: Fast, Secure & Reliable
Payment systems have also been transformed by technology. Blockchain technology, the force behind the cryptocurrency industry, also fuels the gambling industry. This allows transactions to be instant and without any taxes or fear of detection. All you need is the wallet address of the receiver.
PayPal is also used extensively to add or withdraw funds from gambling and casino websites. Thanks to its simple, quick, and highly secured payment system. Users find it to be safe and efficient to transact with PayPal.
Website Design: Maximizing UX
If you surf the web regularly, you know how much web design matters. Today’s technology allows us to design a website in every possible way. This helps in maximizing user experience and user interface. Users find it attractive and entertaining to participate in such platforms, resulting in better engagement.
VR and Audio Quality: Realistic Experience
Technology has given birth to wonders like virtual reality. The gambling industry has made use of VR to improve the gambling experience. Additionally, audio quality has also improved over time to offer realistic gameplay to the players. Similarly, augmented reality is also now used in the casino industry. AR can create an authentic experience where we no longer need physical betting shops.
Final Thoughts
Technology has transformed the global gambling and casino industry. It has removed the limitations of traditional casino shops, and digitization boosted the growth. However, user discretion is recommended while gambling; the gambling industry has attracted players from all parts of the world. So yes, technologies have influenced the gambling and casino industry differently. Now, it’s up to us to use this technology in the right way.