Online gambling has been growing ever since the turn of the century, which marked the worldwide use of the internet. Within this space, technology has opened up all sorts of possibilities when it comes to gaming and gambling, many of which couldn’t be fathomed even months before they arose.
The Australian casino industry is quickly becoming a world leader. Thanks to its strong and technical labor force, Australian casinos have spawned all kinds of creative experiences that use technology in interesting ways.
The Impact of Digital Competition
Perhaps the biggest impact that technology has had on Australian casinos is that it has facilitated fierce competition with global casinos. By having the entire market accessible via a URL, it’s no longer 2 local casinos co-existing in the same city, but now a frenzy of thousands competing for your attention. Casinos helped grow the internet outwards in its early days.
The result has been the introduction of bonuses and free spins as a way to lure in new customers. This is great for the customer, as they directly benefit from the cost-per-acquisition (money spent to acquire 1 customer) that casinos now factor into their business strategy.
Of course, it’s the undercurrent why there are now so many games too, as real money casinos in Australia want to have more offerings than the next. With a strong focus on diverse gaming options, these casinos cater to different player preferences, from slots to table games, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Additionally, the availability of various payment methods and secure transactions enhances the overall player experience in the real money casino landscape.
Virtual Reality Isn’t Going Away
Virtual Reality (VR) created a stir in 2012 with the release of the Oculus Rift. Although many people believed it may fade away as a gimmick, VR headsets continue to sell and many resources are poured into VR game development.
Helping experiment within this space are casinos, who are working on developing new ways to immerse bettors into a virtual casino setting. Currently, any Australian casino game can be played in a VR headset in the sense that it’s used as a display for a web browser or application. Increasingly, casinos are becoming aware of this use and are accommodating it.
However, true VR functionality is still being built. There are some VR poker rooms where you can see other avatars and their body language, along with hand gestures, to read and bluff. But we are yet to see full functioning casino floors, which will soon be available too, meaning online casinos can fill the one thing they lacked compared to their physical counterparts: A social atmosphere.
Mobile Phone Dominance
Currently, most casino games are designed with one device in mind, the smartphone. Smartphones are now the leading device in which all gaming is done, meaning more video games are played on iPhones and Samsungs than on Playstations and Xbox.
Gambling is no different, with it being the ideal way to make a sports bet or have a flutter on the slots. This is because the displays are now bright and HD enough to have a great viewing experience, yet it can be done from anywhere, anytime. This is why online poker is harder than ever, because people have more opportunities to practice, like on their train commute home.
Smartphone dominance has made it easier for Australian casinos because they now know where to focus their attention when it comes to what games to host. Vertical screens mirror that of a slot machine, while the phone can easily be turned landscape for table games.
In Australia, where the economy and disposable income are strong, it’s become a market where even the working class possesses a relatively new smartphone. This means that game design holds nothing back in terms of graphical ambition, with Australian casinos hosting some of the most demanding games around.
Some lesser-known benefits of playing on a smartphone include:
- Game selection is now better than if you played on a laptop or physical casino, which wasn’t always the case
- There are more bonuses and promotions tailored for mobile users
- The graphics on mobile are now typically better than a non-gaming PC (pixel density, screen brightness, graphics card)
- Secure transactions can be made with Google/Apple pay wallets and biometric or 2FA
- A player base means it’s now easier to find tables, rooms, and other players
Final Word
Australian casinos are a driver of tech innovation just as much as they are a beneficiary of it. From game development on various devices to broadening the internet itself, casino goers have never had so many options or free rewards.
