Recent data from Statista predicts that the revenue generated by the casino and casino games market will reach $55.52 billion in 2025. The number of users is also expected to reach 142 million by 2030, as user penetration in online casinos grows. One of the core factors responsible for this recent growth in the casino industry is the quality of the casino experience that users enjoy on the various iGaming platforms. This article examines the crucial role software providers play in achieving this.
Why software providers matter?
Software providers have reached a major milestone in offering top-notch casino gaming experiences. Recent advancements have allowed for fairness in games by displaying relevant game statistics. These include the return to player (RTP) rate, volatility, which determines if a player gets smaller wins more frequently or bigger wins once in a while, and the hit frequency, which is how often a spin results in a win. Players now have more data to consider before choosing which game is right for them, allowing more control, which in turn contributes to a satisfying gaming experience.
Software providers also ensure they can provide the element of trust by submitting to gambling authorities for necessary audits. Gambling commissions examine each software provider, testing their games, anti-fraud measures and security protocols before licensing them to provide their services to the public. Recently, top online casinos have been enabling users from various countries to access their casino games by obtaining multiple licenses from various gambling authorities. Some online casinos obtain UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and Malta Gambling Authority (MGA) licenses to expand their customer base to several regions.
With advances in technology, casino gaming is also gradually changing. Software providers allow online casinos to add sports betting systems to their websites. They provide a white-label system customized for each brand, with necessary tools like accurate live match updates and seamless, interactive betting channels.
Here, we’ll explain the different stages in the evolution of casino games since the 2000s.
2000s
Starting in the 2000s, the first online casino gamers had access to casino games directly from various software providers’ websites. They had to download the software package, install it and connect to the provider’s servers to play casino games and earn cash rewards. In the 2000s, these casino games had only basic 2D graphics, and the game animations were quite slow. The software providers that led the race were Microgaming, NetEnt and Playtech.
2010s
By the 2010s, software providers had completely transformed online casinos from being just simple websites to more comprehensive and advanced platforms. At this point, iGaming providers used HTML 5 technology to make games that were faster and compatible not just for desktops but for mobile phones and other devices. For the first time ever, casino gamers could gamble online without downloading any software package.
Many inventions seen today also began in the 2010s, starting with the development of cinematic animations. Software providers like NetEnt and Betsoft were the first to introduce these animations, which made each casino gaming session thrilling and entertaining. The new graphics and sound effects led the way in providing a more immersive gaming experience for users. Before long, real-time live casinos were introduced, allowing players to watch and play table games like roulette in an actual physical casino displayed on digital screens from the comfort of their homes. Live casinos are one of the biggest innovations from software providers integrated into casino gaming. This was followed by live casino game shows like Crazy Time and Monopoly Live.
Software providers also worked on ensuring players across various countries can access casino games by introducing more payment methods. During the 2010s, e-wallet options like PayPal and Neteller were just developing, but iGaming providers were quick to adapt and integrate them as payment channels on casino websites. The new payment channels allow for better accessibility, as more users could switch from demo play to using real money to gamble.
2020s
As the 2020s began, the casino market had grown considerably, with several innovative features enhancing the online casino gaming experience for most players. Casinos powered by SkillOnNet and many other newer software providers delivered quality game graphics, allowing users to access more realistic gaming.
Software providers also expanded payment options beyond credit cards and e-wallets to cryptocurrencies. Using crypto casinos, users can explore casino games with a higher level of privacy. Beyond payment processing, software providers use crypto’s blockchain technology to develop a new set of casino games known as provably fair games. With the help of this technology, users can see the results of each provably fair game round, promoting fairness and transparency.
One of the key themes of the 2020s is the adoption of artificial intelligence in casino gaming. Casino software providers integrate AI and machine learning into websites to allow for automatic game recommendations based on users’ activity. In addition, iGaming providers program AI to detect possible gambling problems and recommend responsible gambling resources as needed.
Another avenue that software providers are improving to enhance users’ casino experience is customer service. While most casino websites retain human agents as the primary customer support staff, they now also use AI chatbots to provide quicker and additional round-the-clock assistance to users.
The next chapter
Currently, live casinos offer the closest experience to real-life gambling, but the use of augmented and virtual reality could pave the way for hyper-realistic casino gaming. In the meantime, software providers continue to produce more personalized games for users, as they collect data to understand what players enjoy most. These insights help create tailored bonuses and gameplay features that match different preferences. The next phase of casino games may not just be about luck or skill but about immersive worlds in which every player feels like part of the game itself.
