Online casinos have drastically changed in the last ten years. Propelled by the rise in the likes of mobile technology, computer game software, and better and more immediate payment systems, online casinos are now the go-to for many players.
In this guide, we take a look back at the online casinos of old and compare them to modern-day platforms. And as we explore the topic, we look at some key factors that have helped evolve and shape the online casino world into what it is today.
Let’s take a look at how casinos operated online back in 2013.
What Were Online Casinos Like 10 Years Ago?
It’s fair to say that online casinos that existed over ten years ago looked very different from what we know and play on today.
Perhaps the biggest differences lie in usability, accessibility, and performance.
In and around 2013, mobile technology was still developing. The top phones at the time were the iPhone 5s and the Samsung Galaxy S4, which lack the power and performance of modern-day equivalents. Phone applications (or apps) weren’t as common back then either, so players had to log in via the browsers installed on their devices.
Additionally, mobile data wasn’t as powerful as it was back then, so a Wi-Fi connection was likely necessary to connect to online casinos reliably.
As a result of all of this, not many people could enjoy online casinos on mobile devices, so gaming on desktop computers was more common. However, the experience wasn’t a great one, with graphics nowhere near as polished as they are today.
Within the last ten years, gambling companies have tackled these issues. They’ve taken advantage of better mobile technology and sought to improve the user experience as much as possible. Let’s look at how.
What Are the Features of Modern Online Casinos?
Fast-forward to the modern day, and online casinos look mightily different from their counterparts of ten years ago. For one, there are many more online casinos to play with nowadays, such as Barz Casino.
As we’ll see in the sections below, there have been some huge improvements made in the last decade, which have propelled the popularity of these types of casinos. Let’s take a closer look.
Improved Mobile Performance
Arguably the biggest contributing factor to the growth and development of online casinos is improved mobile performance. Back in 2013, not many people had top-of-the-range phones that could run apps and platforms related to gambling.
Even those who could afford those devices didn’t enjoy the same power and specs that are now available on modern-day devices.
In the last few years, mobile technology has not only drastically improved, but it’s become more widespread, affordable, and accessible. Players can now download casino apps on most devices and play them without any issues such as lag, delays, or system malfunctions.
As well as this, more and more countries around the globe have created reliable mobile networks powered by the likes of 4G and 5G. This means that players no longer need to be connected to Wi-Fi in order to play their favorite casino games.
For betting companies, this has significantly opened up their market, allowing them to target players all over the world, from Africa to Europe.
Just looking at the US online gambling market alone, in 2020 it generated a turnover of $8.7 billion. This is expected to increase massively⎯by around 12%⎯by 2030, which suggests developments and innovations are likely to continue.
A Greater Array of Games
A key factor in the growth of online casinos relates to the improved gaming experience that they’ve been able to offer.
Back in the day, online casinos featured only the core and most basic of games, like blackjack, roulette, poker, and slot machine games. The graphics of some of these games were the opposite of immersive, which had the potential to bore some players after a while.
Casinos have sought to address this by partnering up with some leading computer game companies, like Konami, to bring their players an even greater experience. It’s not uncommon to see slots created in the style of popular brands, like Deal Or No Deal.
And perhaps one of the biggest advancements is the introduction of live casino games. The premise behind them is simple: players can watch a live stream from a real casino and bet along in real time.
Live table games have been rolled out for some of the most popular casino games, like blackjack, baccarat, and roulette. This is arguably the closest a person can get to visiting a real casino from the comfort of their own home.
Better Welcome Bonuses and Deals
As online casinos have evolved in the last few years, something that has helped accelerate their growth is the introduction of welcome bonuses and deals.
The online casino world is fiercely competitive. As a result, each gambling company is looking to lure in players. One way they do that is by financial inducement.
Online casinos now offer players the likes of matched first bets and first deposit bonuses. This means that a player can potentially double their initial input free of charge.
Online casinos also offer the likes of free spins on slot machine games, sometimes without the need to make a cash deposit. This allows players the chance to try casino games for free.
And casinos sometimes offer players free credit to play certain games, like online poker.
These opportunities to earn extra money have all become staple offerings of modern online casinos.
More Ways to Pay
A big development in the online casino world is the evolution of payment methods.
While players can still use their standard bank accounts, deposits and withdrawals can sometimes take a few working days to process. This leaves players left in limbo as they wait for their funds.
One way that modern casinos have gotten around this is by adopting cryptocurrencies as a payment method. A big perk of crypto is that it uses blockchain technology, which allows for immediate and secure payments.
This modern advancement has improved the overall experience for online casino players, who can now access their winnings right away.
