To say that the iGaming industry has come a long way would be a massive understatement. While the iGaming industry has been around since 1994, it was mostly in obscurity, especially from the painfully slow dial-up modem era. But, technology has improved so dramatically that today, the American iGaming industry is quickly approaching the $100 billion annual mark in revenue. This article highlights the key areas in that tech has totally transformed the iGaming industry into the exciting and rewarding phenomenon that it is now.
The Rise of Bandwidth Internet
As we mentioned, the early days of the Internet were exciting but slow. The dial-up modem had such limited bandwidth that it was often hard to maintain a steady connection while browsing websites. The early online casinos sent their members a CD-ROM to install the software on their computers after purchasing a membership.
However, in the mid-2000s, and certainly by 2010, broadband internet took off globally, especially in the United States. With much more bandwidth and, most importantly, speed, the promising iGaming world underwent a massive facelift for the better because more online members were finally able to access their sites.
The first bandwidth leap came from cable modems. However, today, fiber optics are taking root. Fiber optics are significantly faster than traditional cable modems, which now advertise different tier speeds to keep pace. One advantage, however, that fiber optics have compared to cable internet is the ability to hold and store more data, which is necessary as today’s online casino games continue to feature more graphical detail.
The Tech Shift from Flash to HTML5
From the 1990s through the early 2000s, sophisticated websites, including iGaming sites and games, ran on Flash technology. However, with the rise of broadband internet and a fundamental shift with major search engines like Google and Bing, the mandate to move from Flash to HTML5 technology went into overdrive in the 2010s.
There is no comparison between the improved HTML5 technology and Flash. Flash games were mostly limited to clicks and sometimes very glitchy, depending on the caliber of the programming. However, these glitches would often prove problematic during high-stakes casino games, causing many players to quit in frustration.
However, with HTML5 came the introduction of several Javascript libraries. Prominent game developers like Microgaming and NetEnt, who have been around since the beginning of the iGaming industry, wasted no time adapting their classic slots with more enhanced graphics.
From this came the rise of the modern-day video slot era. With better graphics, online casino players feel in love all over again with the new and re-imagined versions of the classic slot games. Also, the leading iGaming developers like IGT often remade their classic slot games. With the appeal of the fruity themes, the new and improved graphics with more pay lines prove to be such a homerun that today’s leading real money and online sweepstakes casinos have dedicated sections for the classic slots. Also, the new video slot era introduced more bonus rounds to make the games more appealing and exciting.
Tech Leading to Megaways and Multi-Jackpot Slots
When visiting today’s leading iGaming sites, you might take the sheer volume of megaway and jackpot slots for granted. With improved technology ushering in modern-day video slots, the next evolution of these bonus games was the megaway features. As these games improved their graphics, so did the interactivity with the games.
Fan favorite games like Sword of Ares and Gonzo’s Quest often featured the main characters hanging out on the reels, often reacting to wins and losses. With the rise of the megaways, the normal reels ushered in the tumble reel feature. With the tumbling reel, winning combinations expand the reels, and the winning multipliers increase, too, thanks to the improved technology.
While Microgaming generally gets credit for creating the first online progressive jackpot slot, thanks to technology, many leading sites often feature multiple jackpots within the same game.
The jackpot phenomenon is so strong now that even table games sometimes feature multiple progressive jackpots. And yes, thanks to technology, you can hit multiple ones in the same game!
Technology and Live Dealer Play
While online players take the smooth and sophisticated live dealer play for granted, it wasn’t always that smooth. While live dealer play was so slow to get off the ground in the early 2000s, it wasn’t until the rise of Evolution Gaming in the late 2010s that this science was truly perfected. With the power of HTML5 technology, Evolution Gaming perfected the art of live streaming from a professional studio in unbelievably clear 4k resolution. Live dealer players can chat with the dealers in real time and compete against them without a hitch.
Technology and iGaming Apps
Without a doubt, the most significant area for improvement between technology and the iGaming industry is the official apps. Widely available for free download, these apps allow highly secure and seamless gameplay. For those looking to compete in multi-table tournaments, technology with the app software makes these knockout tournaments go on without a hitch.
