The iGaming industry is always at the forefront of innovation, regularly introducing new technology to ensure players have the best experience possible. From virtual reality and artificial intelligence to cryptocurrencies and livestreaming, there’s a variety of tech developments that have pushed the iGaming industry forward. In the future, as these technologies continue to evolve, their role within the industry is likely to grow. Let’s discover some of the latest innovations that will help drive the industry forward!
Unlocking the world of virtual reality
The introduction of virtual reality into the iGaming world has helped make online gaming an unparalleled immersive experience. Many casinos have begun incorporating the technology into games like VR poker, using VR headsets to place players within a vibrant casino environment. The games include enhanced graphics and sound design to replicate the experience of a real casino through sounds like moving chips and the iconic slot machine bells. As well as sound design, visuals like spinning wheels and dazzling lights help replicate the buzz of a Las Vegas Casino.
VR has also helped the iGaming industry capture some of the interaction found within land-based casinos. Players have their own customisable virtual avatar, whose actions they can control. Their avatar is even able to interact with different design elements, like cards and roulette wheels, as well as other characters, including dealers and other players.
Although companies like Nintendo had developed VR headsets as early as the 1980s, they still haven’t completely reached the mainstream yet. As the accessibility and affordability of the technology continue to improve, it’s likely VR will have a greater impact on the iGaming industry, with more games designed to make the most of its exciting benefits!
Adapting to artificial intelligence
One area of technology that is revolutionising the iGaming industry is artificial intelligence. AI has helped improve customer service and experience personalisation, and it is likely to continue doing so even more in the future.
Instant customer service
One of the areas AI has had the biggest impact on has been customer service, through the introduction of services like chatbots. Rather than having to wait for a response from a human customer service representative, users are able to visit a site and get an immediate response from an AI chatbot. Chatbots are able to respond to customers’ queries accurately by analysing data from across the Internet to find their answer. Using AI has been revolutionary, allowing users to quickly access important resources like responsible gambling tools.
In the future, the industry will likely continue down this path, with improved access to customer service through AI. The tech also has great potential in terms of responsible gambling, especially through its ability to process data much faster than humans. By analysing player behaviour, AI can highlight patterns associated with problem gambling, like high, frequent spending or late-night gaming sessions. Although it is currently still down to the provider to make sure they offer early intervention to the customer, in the future, AI could be used to automate this process. Once a pattern that indicates problem gambling is identified, AI could be used to generate a message to intervene in the player’s actions.
Improved personalisation
AI is already used within the industry to provide a greater level of personalisation to customers when accessing a website. By efficiently analysing large amounts of data, AI is able to produce more accurate representations of patterns in player behaviour and customer preferences. Providers use this information to tailor the experience of players, recommending games that suit their preferences. Users can also see this personalisation in a provider’s marketing materials, like banners and ads, which are tailored to their historic behaviour.
In the future, generative AI could be used to further this level of personalisation by automatically generating and sending marketing materials. Once AI has been able to analyse which areas a customer is interested in, it could be used to send out marketing emails and messages that are targeted to them. Although generative AI is still developing, it’s highly likely it will be used to better customise the playing experience in the future of iGaming.
Lowering fraud levels
According to a Sift report, fraud within the iGaming industry grew a staggering 68.6% between 2019 and 2021! The most common types are bonus fraud, where players set up different accounts to claim a bonus more than once, and payment fraud, which can be when players make false chargebacks or use stolen cards.
AI has been introduced within the industry to lower fraud levels by analysing data and highlighting suspicious activity. Rather than waiting for a human representative to spot suspicious patterns in the vast amount of data produced across an iGaming platform, AI can automatically point out anomalies. This allows providers to take much earlier action, closing down or blocking the accounts of those viewed as a threat and preventing further loss of money.
One of the most impressive aspects of AI is its ability to continually learn and adapt as a result. Constant development can allow AI to keep up to date with new scams and methods of fraud much faster than a human would be able to. AI is able to spot evolving fraud patterns and suggest a fix before they become a widespread problem. In the future, this technology will likely be adopted more widely to help the industry combat rising fraud levels.
Adopting cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies and e-wallets have had a profound impact on many industries that involve online transactions, including the iGaming industry. Crypto is a form of virtual currency that is decentralised, meaning it’s not controlled by a single organisation like a national bank. These features allow for faster payments, lower fees, and improved exchange rates, all of which can be highly beneficial for players in the online gaming world.
Many iGaming providers have started to offer cryptocurrency, like Skrill, Bitcoin, and Neteller, as payment methods on their sites. There are also a number of casinos that specialise in crypto payments. In the future, the number of specialist casinos is likely to increase, alongside the growth in crypto ownership. As of 2024, there were an estimated 560 million cryptocurrency owners globally, a number that has continued to grow. This means it’s likely we’ll see more providers offering the popular payment method.
A better live gaming experience
One trend within the iGaming industry in recent years has been the increase in the number of live games available. Live games, like live dealer blackjack, allow the player to interact with a dealer in real time using a livestream. They have become increasingly popular with players looking to capture the experience of interacting that is found at land-based casinos.
The live gaming experience is highly dependent on livestreaming and video technology, with buffering and drop-outs resulting in a player losing their stake. Developments within these technologies have been essential in the growth of live gaming players. Better cameras, improved connectivity, and developments in livestreaming platforms have allowed for a smoother experience. By using popular comparison sites like NewCasinos, it’s easy for players to find the best live casinos that offer the smoothest experience. By examining each casino across factors including payment methods, bonuses, game range, and the experience of over 50 mystery players, they’re able to find the top options for players.
Pushing the iGaming industry to a bright future
Technology is essential within the iGaming industry to ensure players have the best experience possible, meaning providers are always quick to incorporate new developments into their offerings. Artificial intelligence has had one of the biggest impacts on the industry, improving customer service and personalising the gaming experience. In the future, we’re likely to see it play an even bigger role as generative AI automates customer marketing.
The latest developments in technology have also helped improve game offerings in the iGaming industry. Using virtual reality, providers are able to give players a more immersive experience through customisable avatars, enhanced graphics, and sound design. As VR becomes more widely adopted, it will have an even greater impact in moving the industry forward towards much more immersive games. Live dealer games have also benefited from improved livestreaming and video technology, making them an increasingly popular offering. As technology used by iGaming providers continues to improve and become more widely used, it helps drive the industry towards a very bright future.
