How Smartphones Revolutionized the Online Gambling Industry
Mobile gambling on the web was a challenging concept a decade or more ago. Not that there weren’t any mobile casinos, but they certainly lacked the wow factor. Compared to online casinos which have boomed in the past 10 years or so, mobile casinos became a thing much later. Everyone was expecting them, but due to technical limitations, they couldn’t blossom the way everyone expected.
The adoption of online casinos happened in a much smoother way than the adoption of mobile casinos. As soon as the first online casino went live, it was clear which direction the industry was going. It was also clear that mobile gaming will become part of the future, but the current gen phones a decade ago weren’t that capable of handling iGaming software. It all changes when Steve Jobs introduced the first touch-based smartphone – the iPhone, that the industry realized what needs to happen next.
How Technology Affects the iGaming Industry
Technology and the online gambling industry are always in sync. It’s been a major driving force in the industry for years. Whenever technology evolved, the online gaming industry followed. From online casinos to virtual sports betting to live dealer games, this particular industry has always had strong links to the evolution of technology.
Mobile technology in particular, to be more precise. Revolutionary smartphones have completely changed the way we interact with the digital world. They’ve opened up the eyes of the iGaming industry too, with developers quickly reshuffling and turning mobile-first. It took a while, but mobile casinos were already live around 2010. The first ones were web-based apps instead of dedicated apps which came with the evolution of the developer process for both Android and iOS devices. The ecosystems grew stronger day by day, and it wouldn’t be too long before the industry completely shifted to mobile gaming.
Players did so too. The first mobile casinos in Australia received a lot of attention. Players could finally spin their favorite pokies on the go. Sure, the freedom online casinos promised was a great thing, but why sit and play from home when you can do it anytime? There was a slight obstacle with mobile gambling in the beginning – limited Internet speeds. But, those who paid a bit more for their packages got the best of mobile casino games, being able to enjoy them anytime as long as they had a stable Internet connection.
Considering the impact mobile technology had on the world—including the iGaming sector—it was clear that something needed to change. Online casinos were constantly evolving with better games and in design too. Developers create graphic-intensive games nowadays, with bonus rounds that play more like video games and less like slots. That takes a toll on the hardware, so smartphones and the Internet itself had to evolve further for the industry to blossom soon.
Continued Innovation
It didn’t take long for the biggest tech giants to adapt to the new situation. Media content was getting more and more popular including casino games, so the industry focused on bigger, brighter, and better screens. The smartphone was evolving into a bigger entertainment device than ever before. Year by year, screens grew larger. This meant more screen estate for pokies and other casino games. Players loved the idea right away.
With the new screens there was also need for more juice and processing power. Batteries suddenly started to get more capacity, and every year the top tech giants introduced new processors that powered the top smartphones. Sales were through the roof, and you can bet that online games and especially casino games were a factor for the high demand.
Memory capacity and RAM speeds also increased, and in general, the smartphone evolved at an incredible rate. In Australia, mobile pokies are the new normal. The land-based casinos is still holding a part of the market, but mobile casinos were slowly overtaking both online and land-based venues. Every player was and still is excited about mobile gambling which is now at its highest possible level.
Which Casino Games Are Available On the Go?
Nowadays, you can play any casino game on your smartphone. Not just casino games. Mobile video games are becoming more and more interesting for developers. For example, the Assassin’s Creed series will recently see a new full-blown installment in the series released for mobile devices in Assassins Creed Jade. It won’t be a lightweight title for sure, and that’s proof of how powerful smartphone have become nowadays.
Pokies are the most popular game in Australia, of course, but roulette, blackjack, and poker get a lot of attention too. Just like in online casinos, the RNG variants of these games are available for free practice. Then there are live dealer games which showcase how far the online casino industry has gone.
Imagine playing at a blackjack table in a land-based casino – the lush atmosphere and human contact are definitely something mobile casino games were missing. Well, not anymore. Live casino games have completely changed the way the industry operates. They bring the atmosphere of a real casino straight to your device. Thanks to these games, you can enjoy live casino gambling on your phone live never before.
What Does the Future Hold?
The future of mobile casinos in Australia is certainly bright. More and more developers are turning mobile-focused as per the industry’s demand. More and more players prefer to play on their phones, and with all casinos being fully mobile-based, it’s easier to play casino games on your smartphone than ever.
Also, smartphones have become truly amazing devices. Not just in regards the screen, but in processing power, battery juice, and memory too. Mobile casinos may be getting heftier, but there are also powerful devices to meet them on the other end.
We have no doubt that the industry will fully focus on mobile gaming in the future. We’re expecting advances in the VR and AR fields, allowing players to interact with their favorite games in a completely new and exciting way.
