It cannot be understated how earth-shattering the effects of the internet have been upon modern life. Within every miniscule aspect of our lives, online functionality, brought forth through blisteringly fast technological progress, has enabled new experiences, fresh products, increased accessibility and improved functionality for all. Naturally, gambling has also been touched by neon blue hand of the internet, and currently the nascent online gambling industry is experiencing stellar levels of growth. What does this mean for gamblers? Are these services worth all of the hype surrounding them?
The primary force behind the spread of online gaming has been due to the increased accessibility of gaming, brought on by the rise in mobile technology. Tablets, smart phones and the like have all allowed individuals to play on the go; commutes, once tedious journeys peppered with unwarranted attacks on the notion of personal space, are now relatively fun affairs, where one can slowly wake up and exercise the brain by playing some games on the way to work. Online gambling sites have naturally been quick to tap in to the mobile revolution, creating their own apps for mobile devices that are well received and excellently presented. Though mobile technology is indeed a wonderful thing, perhaps playing on the toilet, or late night in bed might be taking the word portable a little too far!
The sheer volume of games available has also been a key driver behind the growth of online gaming. Before, if a person wanted to play casino games they would have to either travel to a city that held host to brick and mortar casinos, or buy a pc game that would rarely feature more than ten individual modes of play. Now, casino websites offer an endless flow of new titles; slots, blackjack, roulette- all continually updated, frequently relevant to contemporary pop culture. The fact that all of these games are online is also a huge advance from disk-based casino games; who wants to play against an artificial intelligence, for fake cash!?
Online casino games are also now a lot cheaper than their brick-and-mortar equivalents. Penny buy-ins, free cash for new customers, and regular events where certain casino games are free or can be played at a massive discount; traditional casinos simply do not have this positive, customer-centric relationship with their clientele, perhaps due to the fact that the majority of customers are visiting for the day, from out of town.
The fact is that online gambling sites are continually updating and honing the products and services which are on offer to their customers. A year or two ago the aforementioned spread of apps spread through the industry. Today, live dealers are en vogue; imagine playing online games such as poker and blackjack, in a online ‘room’ of people, but with a real person dealing! Day by day, the industry catches up with the well established world of brick and mortar casinos, and due to the enormously reduced running fees indicative of online businesses, can offer far better services and cut-price deals to customers. Why would anyone set foot in Vegas again?