Most people today are familiar with the phenomenon of the online casino. It’s been part of our lives since almost the dawn of the internet, and for most of us, became a familiar player in the entertainment space at least a decade ago. However, this is a world that is constantly updating, always innovating, and forever moving forward. That means that, even though the early product we started with was great in many ways, it’s been getting better and better in the years since.
So, what’s changed for the mobile casino in the last decade? Let’s find out!
Mobile-First Approach
When digital casinos were first born, they were pretty much exclusive to desktops. While smartphones do technically date back to 1992, over 30 years ago now, they weren’t really at the point where anybody would even have thought of playing video games on them for a long time after that. Indeed, playing games on a desktop was still somewhat novel back then, so it’s not surprising nobody was really focused on jumping to the clunky bricks that represented smartphones at the time.
We all know that’s changed. Today’s smartphones are totally different beasts. They’re thin, light, and ultra-responsive. They’re not quite outstripping the power of gaming laptops/desktops yet, or really even tablets, but there’s no question that mobile gaming has more than taken off. In 2023, it was estimated that about a third of gamers in the US were playing exclusively on their smartphones. With light, low-intensity games like casino games, it’s pretty much a no-brainer to focus on this market and tap into it.
That’s why the mobile casino has taken off in such a big way. The smaller screen can present some challenges, but really, these games seem like they were almost designed to be tucked into our pockets, a bit like the way a pack of cards would once have provided you with your own portable casino in years gone by. Today’s mobile casino has proven itself phenomenal in its launch into the mobile-first market, with intuitive interfaces, fast and responsive games, and cross-platform compatibility all giving it a major edge.
It’s worth noting that when you design for mobile games, you don’t just have to think about the processing power of the device in question. You’ve got a really obvious limitation: the screen size. While there’s a constant fluctuation in this as the desire for a bigger viewing surface competes with the desire for portability, even the biggest smartphones are pretty restricted in this area. However, mobile casinos have risen admirably to this challenge, managing to compact even detailed games so that they don’t just fit on tiny screens – they feel good on them. And they’ve also done that with some breathtaking graphics.
If you haven’t checked out games on an online casino, it’s worth taking a look just to marvel over the beauty of their animations and images. Slots have transformed from basic cherries and bars to bright, gorgeous extravaganzas, packed with themes and animations. Games like poker and roulette have been animated with such care, they feel like they’re really unfolding in front of you. Even the interfaces tend to be stunning, with slick navigation and appealing layouts. Mobile-first forced designers to step up their game… and it’s hard not to be impressed.
Social Uptick
If you played in one of the early digital casinos, you probably felt very much that you were by yourself. There were other players out there, for sure, but interactions were limited. Not so in today’s world. Today, everything is connected. The casinos themselves have built in all kinds of features to let players chat and interact, but they’ve also spread beyond their own platforms and into other spaces. Forums, YouTube videos, and social media sites have become part of this world. The latter of those is perhaps the most exciting; there are about 4.8 billion social media users, which is almost 60% of the world’s population. No wonder the casino community feels big.
It’s not even just focused on the games these days; a whole culture has been built around this world. If you’ve ever wanted to bring the casino vibe to your life in other ways, you need to look no further than social sites like Instagram for ideas in abundance. For example, this video on the perfect Vegas-style dinner? It’s very much an example of how the casino has infused many other spaces with its elegance and luxury.
Live Streaming
We can’t really look at what’s changed in this space without acknowledging at least one of the most impactful alterations – live streaming. A few years ago, live-streaming professional dealers to players all around the world wouldn’t have been feasible, but with better internet becoming widespread and overall improvements in hardware, live dealer games have taken off in a huge way for casinos. Many platforms offer things like blackjack, roulette, poker, and more. Players seem to love this option, which gives you back the feeling of the luxury physical casino and a nice social boost… without you having to change out of your pyjamas.
