A Look at the Evolution of Online Casinos

The Early Days of Online Casinos

Online gambling can be traced back to the mid-1990s. In 1994, Microgaming released the first online casino. During the early years of online gambling, the industry was a bit of free for all and lacked regulations to protect players. There were many questions about legitimacy, legality, fairness, security and so on. Furthermore, by today’s standards, the graphics and usability of casino software in the mid-90s was extremely basic.

In the early days of online casinos, the industry suffered from a lack of trust between players and operators. With no proper oversight, players were worried that games could be rigged to favour the house.

Payments were also an issue as online payment methods were very much in their infancy. Players had very limited options and both deposits and withdrawals were extremely cumbersome. There were also legitimate concerns around payment security.

However, despite all of these challenges, the potential of online casinos was clear to see. Over the following ten years, the industry gradually came into its own as technology, regulations, and players matured. Regulatory bodies were established, technologies advanced, and in general, people became more familiar with the internet.

Rise in Popularity and Advancements in Technology

Following the difficult early days of online casinos, the iGaming industry rocketed in popularity during the 2000s to early 2010s. New technologies were used to engage players while also reassuring them that they were playing in a safe environment.

Furthermore, gambling authorities began to impose strict standards on the industry, forcing operators and software developers to raise their game. Respected brands moved online and players knew they could enjoy their offerings with peace of mind.

The improvement in computer graphics also had a huge impact on player engagement. The more advanced graphics, animations and sound effects elevated the experience and added to excitement. Furthermore, providers started innovating, introducing new features to games that players had never experienced before

Towards the latter stages of the 2010s, online gambling took a giant leap forwards with the introduction of live dealer games. These games gave players a more realistic casino experience, as a professionally trained dealer, croupier or host was streamed to players in real time via webcam. As internet speeds increased and streaming technology improved, these games became more and more immersive.

Mobile Gaming and Accessibility

Mobile technology has had a huge role in the gambling industry. Pre-smartphones, gamblers could place their bets via text message. Today, players can enjoy high definition graphics, live streaming dealers, and any type of game they wish at any time on their mobile devices.

There was a time when nearly all online casinos ran on Flash. However, the emergence of HTML5 technology, which allows the games to run directly in web browsers, has had a huge impact. Today, all games are developed using HTML5, which ensures cross device compatibility. This means that whether playing on a desktop or mobile device, players no longer have to install any additional software or applications.

Members of Galera.bet can enjoy all we have to offer from their mobile devices with ease. From creating an account to playing games and cashing out winnings, it can all be done with ease while on the go.  

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are two emerging technologies in the online gambling industry. VR technology creates a completely immersive experience for players. Players enter a virtual world with the aid of a headset. While it is early days, it seems likely that virtual reality online casinos will soon be with us. AR blends the virtual world with the physical world. It is less obvious how it can be integrated into online casinos, but given how creative developers are, it is sure to happen.

The Future of Online Casinos

Online casinos have come a long way since their inception in the mid-90s. The industry has consistently harnessed the latest technologies in order to give players the best possible experience. At present, the world is focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), and it is already being put to use by online casinos to improve the player experience.

AI and ML can be implemented at casinos to create a more personalized experience for players. The systems can be used to track player activity and recommend games that are likely going to appeal each individual player. Furthermore, they can also be used to understand player behaviour. This can benefit the security of online casinos, as AI and ML tools are much faster to detect fraudulent behaviour.

Since the early years of online gambling, when the industry was a bit like the Wild West, things have come a long way. At Galera, we make use of the latest technologies to protect our players, provide easy and secure banking, and a user friendly experience. Furthermore, we work with the top software providers to ensure that we bring our players the highest quality games complete with the latest innovations for the best possible gambling experience.