How iGaming Companies Embrace Technology To Fuel Online Play

Some industries have been altered dramatically by the rise of modern technologies like computers, smartphones, and the internet. Telecoms companies can no longer charge exorbitant fees for an international phone call, since you can make one for free over Skype, Whatsapp, or Zoom. Prices for consumer goods are also much cheaper in many areas thanks to the increased competition from online retailers.

The iGaming industry, which allows people to enjoy casino games, poker, sports betting, and bingo from the comfort of their own homes is one that could not exist without embracing technology.

iGaming had been something that had been theorised by industry experts and academics for many years, but it became a reality in the mid-1990s after legislation passed in Antigua and Barbuda made online wagering legal for the first time. However, technology is an equally important piece to the puzzle, as, without the personal computer and widespread adoption of the internet, the prospect of playing casino games in front of the TV at home would have remained just a pipe dream.

Over the two and a half decades that have passed since the first iGaming websites launched, the industry has continued to embrace new technologies to provide an ever-improved service to its customers.

Competition in the iGaming industry is fierce, there are hundreds of companies operating in the space all vying for the same customers. This is why we see many of the biggest brands offering free bets worth hundreds of pounds in an attempt to entice new bettors. Therefore, using innovative technologies that improve their offering is a good way for iGaming companies to differentiate themselves from the competition without competing exclusively on price.

Here are some of those new technologies and how the iGaming industry has put them to good use.

HTML5 Allows For More Interactivity

The first online casinos and poker sites would only be played on the bulky desktop and laptop computers we had in our homes. They usually (and sometimes still do) required the user to download proprietary software rather than running from within their web browser.

This was because the web technologies available at the time were not capable of offering the interactive experience required in a casino.

For context, the first iGaming services began launching in 1995, while Macromedia (now Adobe) Flash didn’t launch until 1996. The technology was still primitive compared to today’s standards, and it didn’t become capable of running games until the late 1990s and early 2000s. Java, a similar technology also launched in 1995, but was, like Flash, still primitive.

The problem with using proprietary software is that it requires more effort and work from the customer who must be computer literate enough to be able to install it correctly. While this is relatively simple, in the early days of the iGaming industry it was something completely alien to many.

Thankfully, HTML5, the latest version of the markup language that’s used to create the websites we see in our web browsers, includes the function to allow interactive elements.

This has meant that online casinos and bookmakers have been able to do away with their own downloadable applications and allow their customers to just access their services through their web browser.

HTML5 also improves compatibility, since it runs natively in the browser, while software created specifically for Windows can’t natively run on macOS or Linux.

Therefore, by embracing HTML5, iGaming companies have been able to serve more customers, regardless of their computer skills or the device they use.

Smartphones and Tablets Let Users Enjoy iGaming on The Go

HTML5 is just the first step that iGaming companies have taken to broaden access to their services. Another major improvement has come from the adoption of mobile technologies like smartphones and tablets.

They were as big of a leap forward as computers were back in the 1990s. By allowing users to bet on sports and play slots, table games, and card games from their own personal mobile device, iGaming companies have made their services more convenient.

Social features like chatrooms found in mobile apps have helped to appeal to broader demographics too. Research has found that women prefer video slot games over men and that being able to play them on their smartphone is much more appealing than having to sit at a computer desk.

Evidence of this can be seen in the fact that female participation in online casino games has increased significantly since the release of the first smartphones in the late 2000s. According to Spelinspektionen, Sweden’s gaming regulator, women now account for more than one-third of the country’s gamers.

For fans of sports betting, smartphones make placing a bet on a game much more convenient. In the 1990s and early 2000s, most people that had a computer used a desktop rather than a laptop. Often these machines wouldn’t be located in the same room as their TV, meaning placing a bet online couldn’t be done at the same time as watching the game.

Smartphones mean fans can bet on their favourite sport from anywhere, including in the stadium, a sports bar, or in front of the TV at home. This has also made proposition bets more attractive, with bettors able to make wagers mid-game on factors like which team will score next, or which player will receive a yellow card.

Live Streaming Makes The Whole Experience More Realistic

In the quest for an even better gaming experience, online casinos have embraced live streaming technologies to offer a new form of casino game. Known as “live games”, iGaming companies have brought the human dealer element of the game into the digital age.

When playing a live game, users will see a real person on their screen. In real-time, this person will control the game like they would in a land-based casino, dealing cards, spinning the wheel, and advising players when they can and can’t place bets.

These live games add an interactive element, allowing the dealer and players to communicate, similar to how they would in a physical casino. Other players can also see the conversations, making it a much more social experience.

This live streaming wouldn’t be possible without improvements in video conferencing technologies, high definition cameras, and faster internet connections.

Since its inception in the mid-1990s, the iGaming industry has continued to embrace new technologies to broaden its appeal and make it more accessible. The three examples above are the biggest three technological changes seen in the last two decades, but the industry has also embraced many other smaller changes too.