From land-based casinos to online platforms: The rise of iGaming

Land-based casinos have been a domain of unquestionably fun and thrilling gaming experiences for decades. It offers a social atmosphere where people come together, savor meals, have drinks, and enjoy the company of others while gambling. 

However, a new revolution came into existence during the mid-1990s, the one that allows players to enjoy their favorite casino games from the comfort of their homes. This revolution is iGaming which is transforming the way we play. iGaming has opened a world of new possibilities for casino lovers. Online casino platforms boast a variety of games, from classic slot games like, roulette and blackjack to live dealer games that recreate the casino environment in your living room. 

In this article, we will look into the shift from land-based casinos to online platforms, the rise of iGaming, the driving forces behind its phenomenal growth, and some iGaming trends to look out for. 

Read till the end to know about the interesting transformation of the iGaming industry.

The pinnacle of Land-based casinos

The Land-based casinos officially marked their beginning in the early 17th century with the establishment of casinos in Venice, Italy. However, modern casino gaming came into existence in 1931, when Nevada legalized gambling in Las Vegas. This legalization resulted in the development of the Las Vegas Strip, which was popularly known to be the hub of resorts and casinos. Las Vegas became a big player in the casino market and opened some popular land-based casino franchises like The Flamingo (1946), and The Tropicana (1957). These franchises were a mix of luxury, entertainment, and gambling.  

Talking about casino games that were popular at those times were card games like 

• Blackjack
• Poker
• Baccarat
• Roulette
• Other dice games. 

Apart from this, classic slot machines and spinning wheels were also dominating the casino market. 

But as they say, good days don’t last forever. The 21st century posed new challenges for land-based casinos due to massive competition from online casino platforms and the change in the player’s preferences. Indeed technological advancements did help many land-based casinos to make things better for the masses. They shifted from classic slot machines to video slots, electronic table games, and live dealer terminals. 

Just as land-based casinos were making peace with technological advancements, the COVID-19 pandemic happened. The iGaming industry started booming. Online casino platforms became a source of entertainment and income for players across the globe during the lockdown. This resulted in many US states legalizing online gambling platforms. 

Many land-based casinos and bookmakers have had to shut down for the period of lockdown. Some were able to pave their way back into the market, while others had to bid their farewell. All this contributed to the decline of land-based casinos.

The rise of iGaming

It all started with the internet boom of the mid-1990s which opened the doors for online gambling platforms. iGaming companies like Microgaming created their first online casino platforms and promoted the development of more online casinos. 

During the late 2000s, smartphones and mobile apps started expanding rapidly. The introduction of the App Store and Google apps accelerated the growth significantly. Many early mover operators saw potential and invested in online casino platforms and mobile apps. 

From hundreds of classic slot games and table games like Baccart, Roulette, and Blackjack to niche games like, Bingo and poker, and even Live dealer experience, online casino platforms have a lot of things to offer. To keep the players engaged, casino platform operators started offering bonuses, rewards, and promotions that gave a new definition to online casino entertainment. As of today, the iGaming industry has a massive market size that is expected to reach $125 billion by 2027. Other than ease of access, a plethora of games gave online casinos an edge over land-based ones.

Emerging Trends in the Igaming Industry (2024)

1. Virtual reality & Augmented reality 

Virtual reality and augmented reality will entirely transform the way people play online. It will give players the feeling of being physically present in the game while sitting at home. By putting VR headsets on, players can directly experience the real-world casino and interact with other players. 

Remember the Pokemon Go game where you could catch Pokemon characters through your mobile phone? That’s augmented reality. Let's say you want to play roulette and you open the game and point your phone towards a table and a classic roulette wheel appears. Now you can click the number on your phone you want to wager on. 

2. AI-driven personalization

AI can gather a vast amount of user data and can understand their needs and preferences. This enables them to suggest those games, tips and offers that a player might like and increase player engagement. 

Apart from these features, chatbots, and virtual assistants enhance the user experience by providing instant responses to their queries and guiding users through the iGaming platform.

3. Cryptocurrencies in iGaming

Crypto transactions are comparatively faster than other payment methods. It can initiate deposits and withdrawals within a few minutes or hours which would otherwise take days in the case of other payment methods. 

Overall, cryptocurrencies are revolutionizing the iGaming industry by offering a faster, more secure, and potentially more anonymous way to gamble online. As cryptocurrencies become more mainstream, we can expect even wider adoption in the world of online gambling.

Conclusion

The digital advancements have given an upper hand to the iGaming industry which resulted in the dramatic shift of land-based casinos to iGaming platforms. The convenience and variety of online platforms are the major reasons for this shift. 

But this doesn’t mean that land-based casinos have lost their charm. Instead, the rise of online casino platforms has allowed land-based casinos to make their online presence stronger than ever. They can utilize their existing popularity to reach a wider player base online. This will not just drive traffic to their online casino platform but will also increase visits to their offline casino. 

If you want a smooth transition from a land-based casino to an online casino platform then PieGaming can help you with that. Their white label iGaming software solutions and turnkey software solutions can help you establish your online casino in a short span of time.