The online casino industry has gone from strength to strength over the past few decades, moving from an area packed with potential to being one of the most popular forms of gambling worldwide. Significant developments in the evolution of mobile casinos have made it far easier for players to enjoy slots and other games, having a knock-on effect throughout the entire industry.
While online casino platforms are devising increasingly practical and feature-heavy mobile applications, gaming software developers are pulling out all the stops to create unique and exciting titles. This is particularly evident with online slots and live dealer titles, which have evolved significantly since the early days.
The casino industry has also been characterised by continuous welcome bonus and ongoing promotion upgrades over the past decade or so. These offers represent a fantastic opportunity for players to start enjoying games with reduced financial risk, an especially useful factor for beginners.
Numerous emerging trends in the online casino industry are having a positive impact nowadays, and investigating these can give vital clues to what the future holds. From next-gen live dealer games to virtual reality casinos and upgraded mobile applications, the future looks very bright indeed for the online casino industry.
So, do you want to know more about the most exciting emerging trends to watch out for? Keep reading for the lowdown.
Mobile-first gaming
Mobile casino access is hardly an emerging trend nowadays, as the industry has been steadily moving towards smartphone-based gaming over the past decade. While mobile casinos aren’t exactly new, operators and software developers are constantly looking for novel ways to enhance the mobile experience, either through best-in-class native applications or HTML5-optimised mobile browser websites.
The future of the online casino industry will be closely linked to the increased adoption of mobile technology. iPhone and Android users can get access to notable advantages like push notifications and touchscreen-optimised gaming, creating new opportunities in the process. Just imagine what the next generation of mobile slots could look like after developers have thought up new ways to incorporate bonus features or base mechanics into touch screens.
Generous bonuses
Again, online casino bonuses aren’t exactly emerging trends, with these offers historically granting new players and existing customers a compelling range of options. They have become somewhat of a bedrock of the casino industry, but this doesn’t mean they’re unable to evolve. Even more generous promos are emerging trends, with operators not only offering more bonus funds or free spins, but also creating new and inventive promos on top.
One of the most notable examples from the past few years is cashback promos. Platforms can offer players a percentage back on their losses in bonus funds on certain days or at specific times. This can add up to be a significant incentive in the long run and is particularly useful for trying out new games or strategies.
Forward-thinking slot bonus rounds
The online slots world is ripe for technological innovation, with these games offering unparalleled flexibility regarding bonus rounds, in particular. Slot developers are always looking for new ways to refresh things like free spins, for example, often throwing in expanding symbols and other inventive features.
Some of the best slots nowadays take things even further, with infinite expanding reels being one of the most exciting inventions in recent years. Software developers can also add increasingly complex visuals to complement these bonuses, upgrading the aesthetics alongside the actual gameplay.
Virtual reality games
The arrival of commercially accessible virtual reality gear is hugely exciting for online casino fans, especially after more operators successfully incorporate VR capabilities into their existing gaming portfolios. Players could theoretically enjoy online slots from inside the theme, bringing a completely new sense of realism to games such as Gonzo’s Quest or Big Bass Bonanza.
And that’s just the start. Virtual reality live dealer games could go a step further in bringing the grandeur of land-based casinos to online players. The sky is very much the limit regarding virtual reality and how it can change the online casino industry. As time goes on and VR headsets get cheaper and even more accessible, analysts expect virtual reality casino gambling to be the next big thing.
Live dealer game shows
Modelling live dealer games on popular TV game shows like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has been a consistently exciting new trend over the past few years. Software developers such as Evolution are always trying to freshen up their games, and using game shows as templates is an inventive way to flip the classic live dealer table games on their head.
Some of the most interesting modern live dealer game shows take their inspiration directly from popular online slot titles – take Gonzo’s Quest Treasure Hunt, for example, a live dealer game show set in the same world as NetEnt’s legendary slot game.
Pioneering slot mechanics
It’s not just slot bonus features that are being continuously refined and updated. General online slot gameplay is also changing, with software developers coming up with new and inventive twists on the classic game concept. The emergence of Megaways slots is by far the most impactful recent event, with Big Time Gaming setting the foundations for over 200,000 ways to win, in some cases (White Rabbit Megaways is a great example).
There have been other mechanics making a splash since Megaways, such as Megaclusters or Infinity Reels, and there’s no doubt that other innovations will also get more popular as time goes on. With the news that AI is expected to boost banking revenue by $301 billion by 2030, analysts are licking their lips at what this technology could also mean for slot mechanics.
Modern payment methods
The first thing most people think about when discussing online casino evolution is gameplay, but evolving payment methods behind the scenes are also having a major impact. The emerging trend towards digital wallets over the past few years has made it far easier for gamblers to budget, with these banking options facilitating an easier separation between day-to-day finances and casino funds.
Moreover, digital wallets don’t require so much sensitive personal information, this being a particularly pertinent topic in the online age. Analysts also expect cryptocurrencies to become more commonly accepted at online casino platforms as time goes by, although much of this depends on whether global authorities will stretch the rules to make this possible.
Crash games
Crash games are some of the newest developments on the casino scene. These emerging titles have caused a buzz akin to the invention of online slots in the early 2000s, blending straightforward and fast-paced gameplay with an inherently captivating mechanic. Players follow an exponentially increasing multiplier on the screen and must decide when to cash out before the multiplier crashes.
Developers such as Spribe often use planes to visualise the multiplier, adding to the excitement. Crash games are also notable for offering all players the exact same game, with each round taking place simultaneously worldwide.
Legal developments
The legalisation of a regulated casino industry in US states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania is part of an emerging legal trend, with an increasing number of authorities opting to legalise the online casino industry. The knock-on effects for software developers, casino operators and players are huge.