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8 Online Casino Trends That Must Stop In 2020
By Shane Addinall Feb 21, 2020 OpinionThe online gambling industry seems to have become a little stale of late with no new major advancements in game development, new technologies or the adoption of blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Here are 8 trends holding it back from greatness.Online gambling is hardly a fledgling industry anymore with the earliest online casinos being available online as early as the mid to late 90s. In terms of globalisation, implementation of single wallet accounts and the adoption of mobile technology online gambling has always been a driving force. However, the last few years have seen a slow-down in progress as much of our efforts have been internally focused or waiting for legislation and legal processes to untie our hands.
As those hungry to see casino entertainment reinstated as a driving force behind progress here are 8 current online gambling trends we want to see end in 2020:
Bye-Bye Black Market Casinos
Let’s be frank online gambling legislation works. From the benefits of player protection, access to Responsible Gambling resources, reduction in fraud, access to local banking methods, the ability to advertise via above the line channels and having a government body invested in resolving payout and game fairness queries, there is no better option for both casino and player than to be part of a regulated market.
We need to see black market casinos finally put to bed through increased regulation world-wide or through players in grey markets having access to gambling at regulated casinos even if the licencing isn’t specifically for their region as they still benefit from the processes and most protections afforded players from regulated markets.
Real-Life Blockades Affecting Online Activity
The “real-world” needs to catch up with the realities of globalisation through digitalisation. Regional borders are becoming less relevant as we move to a more digitally focused society, and in a perfect world, these two would seamlessly coexist.
In practical terms, a player from a regulated market such as the UK should be afforded his right to gamble online even when travelling abroad. The internet in his current location doesn’t belong to that country so why should his access to content based in the regulated market he hails from?
With secure access keys, blockchain-enabled authentication and high-level encryption it is perfectly reasonable to prove that a person has legal access to certain online content regardless of where they find themselves in the world.
Nothing Cryptic About Crypto
While a few years ago cryptocurrency and blockchain technology was new, bordering on scary to most people, however over the last few years it has moved from obscurity to a household conversation topic.
The time to invest in offering cryptocurrency gambling is now. Offering deposits and withdrawals using Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and other available cryptocurrencies is now easier than ever to set up thanks to various plug-and-play solutions on offer from exchanges and other dealers in the virtual coins.
Provably Fair Gaming
A hot topic for online casino players, especially those in unregulated markets, is the question of fair play. The ability to offer your players proof that you have not tampered with their bets, payouts and the returns offered by the casino games they play is available through blockchain technology.
The concept of Provably Fair gaming is a simple one, with an encrypted sequence proving that the outcome of the game in question meets the advertised payouts players can gamble with the peace of mind that their provider is treating them fairly.
In 2020 this idea of Provably Fair gambling should become a cornerstone offering allowing players in all regions, regulated and unregulated, the assurance of trusted game results.
Go Mobile Or Go Home
Any online casino that does not yet offer mobile gambling needs to seriously reconsider their desire to be a part of this industry. The reality is that players deserve access to gambling entertainment when and where they want it – if a casino couldn’t be bothered to invest in getting a mobile solution, then they don’t deserve their players.
Reliance On App Stores
While not as heinous as online casino who don’t offer any form of mobile gambling it would be great to see mobile app-based casino fade to black in 2020. With the advancements in HTML5, there is simply no need for an online casino to force their users to install a 3rd party app on their mobile device.
In addition to serving the player, having your online casino fully mobile optimised makes the most sense for the casino provider as well. There is no need to maintain an Android app, an iOS app and their online casino. With HTML5 your online casino serves all three platforms and is easier and more cost-effective to maintain and enhance with gamification and other player engagement features.
Same Old Clone Drone
A common complaint about many online casino game providers is that while they offer massive game libraries the majority of them are nothing more than clones of existing games. This practice of cloning means players find themselves disappointed time and again when there is little new or exciting about a title that looks promising from its marketing material.
2020 needs to be the year of innovation and creativity. RNG-based casino Game developers need to take their lead from providers like Evolution Gaming who have created several interesting new games like Lightning Dice or augmented more popular games like MONOPOLY Live with its engaging 3D Monopoly board feature which keeps the game feeling fresh.
Lean Into Virtual and Augmented Reality
Much like with cryptocurrencies 2020 needs to see more online casino investing in Virtual and Augmented Reality experiences for their players. Mobile needed online casino to dedicate themselves to innovating and experimenting in the space and VR and AR need the same focus to see them gain ground and become an online and mobile gambling mainstay.
Non-gambling games like Pokémon GO has proven that there are millions on potential players for clever and exciting games using this virtually untouched technology. It’s time for online gambling companies to lead and not follow.
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