Reviewing the Ever-Evolving US Online Casino Sector
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Like so many other forms of entertainment, gambling has been an integral part of human culture. In the United States, the activity has changed a lot and most of these changes are good. Despite all the setbacks that the sector has had to deal with, it is still thriving in the country.
Online gambling, which is among the most successful ways for people to keep gambling is still a very big deal. iGaming stands out, particularly because it highlights the dynamism of the industry. At some point, the internet was considered to be the biggest leap forward for gambling businesses. It was, at least till recently when it is now just a basic component of the iGaming experience.
Today US casinos are taking things a notch higher by continuing the sector’s legacy of being a first adopter of new technologies. As always, some have caught on or at least have the potential to. Others are just fun experiments that are still significant as they will play a role in pushing the industry forward.
Mobile Gaming
A lot has happened between now and the late noughties. Technology has evolved immensely but not many are quite as notable as mobile technology. Smartphones and tablets have revolutionized several industries one of them being the online gambling sector. In 2020, Android-powered devices and Apple’s iPhones and iPads dominate the world of mobile computing. The current generation of casinos has worked hard to optimize their offerings for these devices.
Smartphones and tablets keep getting powerful every year. Online gamblers are thus assured of gambling experiences that are nothing short of exceptional. The convenience of playing from anywhere at any time aside, it is safe to say that some of these mobile devices offer far better gaming experiences than laptops or even desktops. Does it get much better than that?
Enter Crypto and Blockchain
Both almost always go together and they have been delivering on their promises in so many ways. While they have been around for over a decade, they have become global phenomena in recent years and are inching closer to mainstream use across more spaces. For the online casino industry, blockchain has offered a solution to a long-standing issue of trustworthiness. Provably fair gaming is now a reality thanks to this technology.
Cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, have proven that they have the potential to replace all other online casino payment methods. Not only are they safe, fast and reliable but they also charge extremely low transaction fees. As if that is not enough, they are can also offer an unmatched level of anonymity which might be pleasing to some online gamers.
Improved Payment Processing
While crypto tends to overshadow most conversations relating to online casino payments, the competing payment methods have also improved. Over the past decade, we have not only seen the arrival of better payment methods but also a massive push for optimizing existing ones. E-wallets such as PayPal, Payoneer, Neteller and Skrill among others have gotten better at working with online casinos. Most of them are here to stay as they have lots of users. Hopefully, they continue getting better for use in the gaming industry.
The Legal Landscape
The complicated relationship that the United States has with gambling has always been baffling. It took years for the federal government to soften its stance on online gambling. Once it did, the state authorities took over. While some states have had online gambling for years, many of them chose not to regulate it.
Thanks to the existence of offshore online gambling sites, the activity went on regardless. As such, it is not surprising to see some of the states warm up to sports betting. Laws are being crafted to allow US residents to enjoy locally-regulated iGaming services. These legal developments are key to further growth and prosperity of the online gambling industry.
Consumer Protection Becomes a Key Priority
Gambling-related harm has plagued the industry since time immemorial. It is not exactly an easy problem to remedy. In addition to the laws that are making safer online gambling services a reality, extra regulatory measures are becoming a big part of the conversation. Protecting the consumers of these iGaming services is very important for the community, the government and even the operators themselves.
Mechanisms such as self-exclusion and other resources give us a lot of hope for the future of online gambling.
Emerging Trends Taking Center Stage
Speaking of the future of gambling, we cannot forget to mention how emerging trends are going to play a role. Newer verticals such as esports betting are very promising. Moreover, technologies such as artificial intelligence are already finding use cases in the iGaming industry. Similarly, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are already being applied to deliver mind-blowing online casino experiences. That is, of course, the bleeding edge stuff that will take some time to refine. We cannot wait for that future to arrive.
