Any Sega fan knows just how much video gaming has evolved over time. If you compare early releases (such as 1988’s Altered Beast) to more recent offerings such as Valkyria Chronicles 4, this is easy to see. The evolution within video gaming has also brought a major advance in the machines we play Sega games on – the PS4 or Xbox One, for example, are light-years ahead of the Mega Drive!
Just as video gaming in particular has evolved over time, the whole gaming industry has changed too. This has seen more niches grow within gaming, with esports and mobile gaming being good examples. Another niche within modern gaming that has also taken off in the last few years is online casino gaming. As with video gaming, online casino gaming has also been on a journey of its own lately.
But just how has this part of gaming changed since its inception?
Improved online casino bonuses
When it comes to evolution within iGaming, you have to look at the improvements made around promotions and bonuses. These bonuses were not always offered by all online casinos when they first started appearing – but this has all changed now. You will struggle to find an iGaming platform that doesn’t hand out the best casino deals to customers now and which doesn’t have a raft of regular promotions for existing players.
In addition, there has been real evolution in terms of the range and number of promotions on offer. Modern platforms, for example, typically come with VIP Programs, cashback schemes, risk-free bets, no deposit bonuses, matched deposit bonuses and more. This is a big step up from iGaming’s early days, when this wasn’t always true.
Evolution in online casino sites themselves
The size of the global online gambling market makes it clear not only how successful it is but also where it could head next. Since online casino gaming started out, it is also clear to see how the platforms themselves have improved. Modern iGaming sites just look so much better than those from the past, and have a much more professional feel. This, of course, is as a result of more sophisticated tech and software being available now to build online casinos with.
Even with this in mind, though, the evolution in the latest online casinos compared to the earliest ones is stark. Not only do modern casinos make much better use of fonts and colors but they also feature comprehensive FAQ sections, live chat customer support and a much greater focus on individual branding.
In terms of changes brought to iGaming by the casinos themselves, you also have to look at the sheer number of places there are to game online. This has seen a massive increase in the last decade and has helped the online casino sector expand as a result.
Evolution for online casino games
You also have to look at the transformation in terms of the quality and number of games available at the best online casinos. Top iGaming platforms now not only have a huge choice of games from world-class studios across various categories, but also games that offer a lot more to players than in the past.
If you were to compare an older online slot such as Stardust to something more recent, like Gorilla Mayhem, from August 2022, the enormous gulf in terms of graphics, bonus rounds, features and sound FX becomes apparent. Advances in casino games themselves have undoubtedly led to a positive transformation in iGaming over time. This is something mirrored in video gaming, where newer games like Shenmue I & II on the PS4 are streets ahead of older PS1 games.
Move towards more responsible gaming
One very noticeable evolution around iGaming in recent years has been the focus placed on responsible gaming within the industry. This has seen online casino brands making extra tools for safe gaming available for players to use on their platforms. In addition, most top brands now also put information on responsible gambling front and center on their platforms.
This is a marked change from previous years, when staying safe while gaming was not something online casino gaming publicly focused on so much. Modern times have seen this change, though, and responsible gaming has become a key part of the industry.
What next for online casino gaming?
The only way for any sector or company to survive in the long term is to evolve. Sega, for example, has only been successful over many years due to its ability to change with the times. This ability to evolve is also key for iGaming’s future and this is a sector that has certainly transformed in a positive way over the last decade. With new advances like VR casinos and the Metaverse on the way, we can be sure of significant evolution as time passes.
