History & Future of Online Casino Technology

Online casinos have been around since the 90s, and at the time, the main challenge was to ensure everything is regulated. Countries like Malta created their online casino laws and quickly became popular locations for gambling establishments to practice their online casino licenses. Microgaming was the first software provider that created an online casino software back in 1995, but there wasn’t a way to play with real money until 1996. This article will look at how online casinos advanced over the years and the future that awaits the industry.

History of Online Casino’s Technology

1997 was the year that introduced 200 online casinos, but as they were using dial-up internet, the connection wasn’t as reliable as today. A year later, broadband internet was introduced, which allowed online casinos to have a reliable internet speed -- they were able to introduce multiple slot games and table games. The very first online gambling site to offer live casino games was Live Casino Origins Planet Poker. However, the slow data transition made the games an unenjoyable, pixelated experience. High-speed internet and software providers played a huge role in the success of online casinos that had to adapt to new technology if they wanted to compete for the top spot in the industry. Because of the nature of online casinos (operating 24/7, dropping in and out of games, a responsive website), companies had to rely on multiple servers that could host multiple people at once.  For years, online casinos were primarily using Adobe Flash to run their games. However, with the recent rise of mobile gaming, all software providers decided to move over to HTML5 to ensure all games were just as responsive on mobile devices as they are on desktops. The switch was made permanent in 2020.

The Present: Online Casino Gaming Advancements Now

Over the years, online casinos have changed how they use technology to enhance their games. First and foremost, the amount of online casino games has increased to an unfathomable level, despite being limited just a couple of years ago. Software providers have also stepped up their game by providing striking visuals as well as a responsive and immersive design.  Adapting to mobile technology was another way online casinos took gaming to the next level. Being able to play from anywhere as long as you have a decent internet connection helped attract more players worldwide.  Technology has also enabled the arrival of cloud gaming, which is essential for seamless game streaming without any interruptions. With cloud gaming, players don’t need to download the games to their devices before they’re able to play -- they can access their favorite game from anywhere. 

The Future: VR & AR Casino Games

Virtual reality and augmented reality are the two buzzwords that will embrace the online casino world in the near future. And, in some cases, this technology has already been integrated into some table and slot games! The mission behind using augmented reality is to further bring players to the casino experience without actually physically stepping into a casino.  AR casino games allow players to get a 360-degree perspective of being in a casino and enjoy a new, immersive experience. Meanwhile, with VR headsets, players can enter a completely new virtual world, which is perfect for themed slot games. Adapting to mobile technology was another way online casinos took gaming to the next level. Being able to play from anywhere as long as you have a decent internet connection helped attract more players worldwide.  Technology has also enabled the arrival of cloud gaming, which is essential for seamless game streaming without any interruptions. With cloud gaming, players don’t need to download the games to their devices before they’re able to play -- they can access their favorite game from anywhere. 

In Conclusion

Since the introduction of online casinos in the 90s, the industry has shown it’s able to adapt to and take advantage of new technology fast in order to provide its players with the best experience possible. As more and more casinos start to experiment with AR and VR, they will enter a brand new era of an immersive iGaming experience. It’s an exciting time for the world of online casinos, with one question coming to mind -- who will become the biggest innovator when it comes to technology?