Statistics show that the casino gaming industry continues to grow since the opening of online casinos. In the US, the online gaming market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.7% until 2030.
Another report predicts that the online gaming industry will reach a market volume of $133.60 billion USD by 2029. The number of active online casino players in the world will likely reach 281.8 million by 2029.
These figures show that the internet has helped the casino industry grow.
But how exactly has the internet contributed to this growth? Have casino games changed since going online?
Read on to find out.
How the internet helped the casino gaming industry grow
Casino games have become more popular now that they’ve been made available online.
But why exactly have they become more popular? How has the internet influenced the growth of the casino gaming industry?
- Accessibility = an increase in popularity
Before the internet, casino games could only be played at land-based casinos. These gaming venues sometimes have short opening times and are hard to get to.
Individuals with busy schedules and who live far away from land-based casinos struggle to play at the venues.
The growth of the casino industry was limited by these factors. It is harder to grow a business when customers cannot visit said business.
The opening of online casinos completely revolutionized the casino industry.
Casino games became more accessible than ever with the creation of the first online casinos at the end of the 20th century.
Nowadays, customers can access casino games within seconds.
There are thousands of popular online casinos to choose from and thousands of games on each platform.
Each year, new online gaming venues appear on the market and successfully attract new players. For example, Bally Casino is a popular online casino that opened in 2023.
At these online casinos, gamers can play whenever they want. These virtual venues are open 24/7.
Gamers also have the freedom to play wherever they want as long as they have an internet connection.
They can even choose which gaming device they want to play on. For example, they can choose to play on their mobile device, a laptop or even a console.
In short, the internet has helped open up access to casino games and has made casino gaming more accessible than ever.
Thanks to the internet, more gamers are starting to play casino games, which has boosted the casino industry’s growth and popularity.
- A modern image
Some players associated casino games, especially bingo and slots, with older players. They did not think that these casino games were designed for them to play.
But the internet changed these games’ overall image and public perception. The internet modernized casino games and made them more attractive.
The casino industry has been able to grow and attract new demographics of players thanks to online casinos.
Recent studies show that players are inventing and playing bingo variations like party bingo. They are also trying out new casino variations like Slingo, a combination of slots and bingo.
By adapting to new technologies, the casino industry managed to modernize its image and stay relevant.
How have casino games changed since going online?
The internet as well as new technological developments have changed casino games. Here are some of the main ways in which casino games have changed over the last few decades.
- They’ve become more complex and unique
The casino gaming industry has grown, which means there is now more competition. Because of how competitive the industry now is, game developers have to be inventive with casino games.
They have to come up with new casino variations, invent new casino games altogether, and offer a truly unique gaming experience.
For example, they come up with original themes, rules and storylines for the slot games they create. They invent new slot mechanisms and even combine casino games together to make them more exciting.
Players can find all types of inventive and truly unique casino games on the market now.
- They’re becoming more immersive and realistic
New technologies are making online casino games immersive and realistic. There is still some progress needed for most online games to be fully believable, but the technology is heading there.
For example, some online games can now be played with a Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) headset.
Many popular online casinos also offer live online casino games. These online games have a live dealer, a real human who is usually filmed by the casino to offer online players a more realistic experience.
Final thoughts
Casino games are gaining popularity and evolving thanks to the internet.
Online casinos have successfully modernized the image of the casino industry. They are helping the whole industry grow and expand to new markets.