Online gambling is undoubtedly among the toughest entertainment niches in terms of competition. That is why more and more stakeholders pay attention to AR and VR, implement blockchain, and use AI and AI-based solutions to find a competitive edge. The Wager Beat CEO once said: “We must constantly learn to improve, focus in all directions simultaneously, and use all available tools for it”. 

VR and AR

Both Virtual & Augmented Reality are terms that can confuse an unprepared reader. While the words “virtual” and “augmented” seem to be synonyms, they are both not the best adjectives to use with the term “reality.” So, let’s bring clarity to the discussion.

Virtual Reality

The first association with this term is VR headset. The person stops seeing the reality around and dives into an imaginary world by putting on the glasses. Of course, a landscape can be very similar to a real environment to make an impression of entire presence and involvement — or it can be alien, weird, and fantastical to us humans. It all depends on the developers’ design. 

Don’t you want to play in the casino outside our Galactics?

In online casinos, this technology is still in the first implementation stage. The main reason is that users need to have a VR headset, which is not a common device. The demand for VR gambling content is pretty low, so casinos can afford to slowly start implementing responsive games. The opportunity to be present in Las Vegas or Macau while sitting in the home chair will surely gain popularity, so stakeholders are preparing for it right now. 

Augmented Reality

This kind of technology is closer to the real world than AR: as it does not require full diving into the artificially constructed environment. Anyone can take a smartphone, open the camera in an AR application, point a camera to a wall, and see the painting of the Mona Lisa hanging on it on the screen. Pokemon Go craze is the most famous example of AR technology so far, but nowadays it’s implemented everywhere, from the travel industry to e-commerce — people check how new furniture will look in the empty room, how the new clothes will look on them, continue to enjoy new AR games, etc. 

In online casinos, this technology simulates the user’s involvement. A smartphone can transfer you to the real poker room or blackjack table with other real players. The background and video quality are much better. They create a more realistic atmosphere and give people joy. As AR is cheaper to implement and use than AR, so online casino owners are starting to actively adopt it into their games. 

Blockchain

Turning to blockchain in the topics related to online businesses usually means a conversation about cryptocurrencies and security, so let’s talk about them.  

Alternatives to fiat currencies 

It’s hard to imagine that the one reading this article doesn’t know what cryptocurrencies are and how Bitcoin has detonated the financial markets. Crypto brought an opportunity for people to play with currencies that aren’t controlled by any government. Transactions can be completely anonymous. 

Security of your play 

Existing on a blockchain, transactions in cryptocurrency are mostly anonymous — as it’s already been said — and fast. The underlying structure of blockchain makes them more secure as well. With the gambling industry being somewhat famous for so much fraud it experiences (and enables, if we’re being honest), cryptographically secured data within the blockchain makes messing with the outcomes of your games almost impossible (read: very difficult to perform.) So, blockchain-based venues are safer to play in, both in terms of personal privacy and the safety of your experience in a casino. 

Artificial Intelligence, Predictive Analysis, and Data Modelling

Predictive analysis and data modeling are pretty common directions aimed at determining the behavioral needs of the clients and addressing them via business services. Such knowledge helps to choose better individual offers like games or bonuses and predict market trends — and it’s possible to gain this knowledge via AI. 

Artificial Intelligence

AI is already used by almost every online casino, to a greater or lesser extent. Some use real-time data analysis that underlines AI in every possible sector, while others prefer to apply it in only one of the following directions:

• control of underage gambling and detection of signs of addiction;
• personalized promotions
• fraud and cheating detection

Recent technologies help create algorithms for all these aspects simultaneously. Top managers, developers, and marketers are still needed, but AI helps them to accomplish more tasks with higher efficiency.

Data Modelling

The need for data modeling is an inevitable element of every serious business, especially online casinos with their growing competitiveness. Data modeling via AI helps collect more precise data about customers and build more accurate predictions based on it. It analyses the number of competitors, the number of players, and their preferences, or helps maintain compliance with new regulations. 

Predictive Analysis

Processing a huge amount of data is surely the sector where AI has advantages over humans’ intelligence. As the digital gambling market situation changes daily, none can process it daily and include everything that happens into a data pool for forecasts, while AI-based tools can. They allow casino owners to know when it’s the best time to offer bonuses, what games will be most loved and when, how their revenue will change over a certain time, and so on. 

Conclusion

The advantages of modern technologies are too apparent to ignore. In the online gambling industry, the changes that come with innovations bring benefits for both stakeholders and players. With them, issues like safety and processing speed in iGaming solutions are becoming less critical, while overall joy and excitement increase.