While a lot of industries have technology to thank for many of the innovations that continue to drive them to new heights, it would be fair to say that the casino and gambling industry is one of the most affected by the growth of mobile technology in particular.
It is estimated that the online gambling market will be worth $66.7 billion US dollars in 2020 with experts expecting it to grow to a massive $250.4 billion by 2027. However, this growth wouldn’t be possible without the advanced technology that online casino software developers use to create memorable gambling experiences for mobile users. In this article, we take an in-depth look into the technologies behind online casino games for some insight into how the technology is driving growth in the sector and a look at what some of the top players in the casino game industry are capable of.
Types of Casino Game Software
Online casinos generally use one of three types of software. The first type is download software that requires players to install files on their device of choice before they can play any casino games. No download games, which mostly operate using flash technology, form the second type of online casino software. This type of software is particularly popular as these games can be played from either a desktop PC or a mobile device without the need for the player to install anything onto the device. The third type of software, mobile casino software, includes applications for mobile devices that are designed to allow players to use their phones or tablets to play online casino games.
Many online casinos give players the choice of multiple ways to play their titles. Platforms such as Casino.com give players the option to play their favourite titles online on their PC or players can download the site’s mobile app and take their gaming on the road with them. For example, players looking to relax and unwind with a few hands of baccarat can visit the website www.casino.com/ca/baccarat/ or they can download the mobile application and play wherever they are.
How Casino Software Works
Casino game software allows players the ability to play some of their favourite casino game classics, place bets online, and take home thousands in winnings from their pursuit of these pastimes. While the graphics and design of these games are important, the driving factor behind the success of most online games is the ability of the software to ensure that games are fair.
Traditional slot machines in brick and mortar casinos made use of sets of levers and pulleys to produce winning outcomes on machines and to ensure that spins produced random results. To emulate this, online casinos make use of complicated and sophisticated software that uses a random number generator (RNG) to ensure fairness.
Mobile Casinos
Mobile casino gaming is becoming increasingly popular. Smartphones and other mobile devices utilise Markup Language HTML5, which is the software more commonly found in video games. This ensures online casino games work just as well on smaller screens.
Software development comes with its long list of challenges, which is why most online casinos choose to outsource the development of games and applications to companies who specialise in creating and improving online casino software.
Technology in Live Casino Gaming
The ‘live’ casino experience is an interesting middle ground between traditional casinos and online casinos. Live casino online games offer all the fun of playing in real-time, but without the hassle of actually needing to visit a casino. Players can join a live poker game or play baccarat in real-time. It offers an extra level of excitement, but as you might expect, there are some unique technological conundrums to conquer.
Setting up a live casino game involves specific requirements. Players have to be able to see the dealers and other players in real-time. There also needs to be security monitoring of dealers and players.
Cameras are used to capture dealer action. Multiple cameras are needed to ensure a 3-D view of the dealer’s table, the roulette wheel, etc. In addition, monitors are needed to check the cameras and ensure the live feed is running as expected.
Online casinos use a nifty bit of technology called a game control unit to manage each live game as it progresses. The game control unit helps the dealer manage all players in the game, simultaneously. This is essential because otherwise, the dealer would soon lose track of who was doing what.
Advances in technology have already seen the online gaming market explode in popularity as more and more people have access to technology that once was reserved for the rich few who could afford to buy desktop PCs or laptops. Thanks to the rise of mobile gaming, more people than ever can experience the thrills of online casino gaming.