Digital technologies constantly break new grounds, so it’s easy to forget that some of them have been around for decades. In case of the iGaming industry, that means around 30 years of continuous growth and development and the results are obvious – today’s online gambling websites are not remotely similar to the earliest endeavors of this kind. This booming industry continues to evolve and integrate new elements, but it’s interesting to look back at the past and compare modern iGaming sites with their predecessors.
Here is a brief retrospective of the main trends in iGaming since its invention to present times.
1990s – Humble Beginnings and Early Buzz
It didn’t take long after the formation of the World Wide Web for people to figure out it can be used to gamble in virtual casinos and betting shops. The earliest online gambling companies were founded in the middle of this decade, and kept multiplying very fast. Interestingly, Canada was among the pioneers of regulated online gambling – when the Kahnawake Gaming Commission was established in ’96 it was one of the first bodies in the world charged with overseeing games of chance administered on the web. Video slots were launched for the first time in 1998, marking a big milestone in the history of iGaming. Before the decade ended, there were hundreds of online casinos available along with the first poker rooms and similar game-specific platforms.
2000s – Explosive Growth and Better Regulation
As fast internet became more widely available, more people flocked to gambling sites and the volume of business started growing very rapidly. Many of the leading companies were founded in this period, and a lot of investment was made to improve the technology enabling secure real-time exchange of information that was necessary for online casino play. The regulators started catching up with the market around this time, and took upon themselves to grant licenses to legitimate operators while pursuing shady companies that tried to scam players or avoid taxation. The number of options for the players greatly increased during this decade, with platforms specialised for specific forms of gaming (i.e. slots or bingo) becoming commonplace. However, the quality of service remained relatively basic – websites were prone to crashing during peak volume hours and some of the games were characterised by poor graphics and choppy play.
2010s – iGaming Goes Mobile and Global
Around the time when smartphones became a global hit, iGaming quietly had a makeover and adapted to the new ecosystem very well. Coupled with universally available broadband internet, the arrival of handheld devices capable of accessing gambling sites completely changed the equitation. People were now free to spin the roulette wheel while they were out doing their chores, and this ease of access led to another boost in popularity. Mobile devices also allowed people who didn’t own computers to take part in games, which in turn invited participation from countries with lower computer literacy levels. It’s fair to say that 2010’s were a perfect storm that propelled the iGaming industry to heights that no one even considered possible just a few years prior. Suddenly, sports betting and poker websites started sponsoring elite soccer teams and advertising on primetime TV, signaling that the final frontier has been reached and nothing stood between iGaming and mainstream recognition.
2020s – The Responsible Gambling Era Begins for Real
With more and more countries legalising online gambling and huge number of websites being launched, some of the responsibilities of the providers came into focus. In addition to much better technical quality and choice of games or betting propositions, modern iGaming sites have mechanisms in place to prevent gambling addiction and money laundering. Some nations are going a step further and establishing wider self-exclusion programs designed to keep people with addiction issues away from all gambling websites. Legal gambling platforms are now regarded as entertainment venues, and as they adopt policies of this kind they will increasingly become acceptable to the average person. At the same time, the quality and diversity of games has never been better, with live casino games in particular advancing by leaps and bounds. The sites are also diversifying payment methods and increasingly embracing crypto coins as legitimate means of fast and discreet money transfers. All things considered, we have a lot of reasons to cherish the current era of iGaming, with classic titles like Blackjack still being relished by players in all countries.
A Peek Into the AI-Powered Future of iGaming
Fascinating new technologies based on machine learning and artificial intelligence are transforming the field of iGaming once again and there is no telling what their impact will be. The power of AI could make online gambling more convenient, safer and more personalised, but it will take some time before the operators fully integrate this technology into existing products or develop completely new ones. Some casino brands are already testing AI-driven features such as virtual customer support agents, but this is just scratching the surface. We seem to be heading to a golden age of iGaming where maturing technology, better defined regulatory environment and a huge influx of new players are creating conditions for the next stage in the advancement of this form of digital entertainment.
