The online gambling industry is booming and more and more people prefer online casinos over traditional ones. Virtual gambling is gaining popularity, which is why reputable online casinos and the biggest software providers are investing an unthinkable amount of cash to improve their services and stand out from the crowd in a tough competition. There are online casino reviews for UK gamblers to help you choose the best of the best casinos.
They introduce new technological innovations and optimize games for mobile devices so that every player can try their luck on the go.
But wait, what has happened in recent years and what is the evolution of mobile gambling? Why are casino providers focusing so much on mobile devices? How has the industry changed over the years? What might the future of mobile gaming look like?
The Growing Popularity of Mobile Casinos
Mobile gambling markets have skyrocketed recently due to rapid technological developments that allow people to gamble on their smartphones or tablets. This has led to significant growth in mobile gambling revenues, which have increased eightfold in the last five years.
The gambling industry is highly data-dependent. As a result, mobile gambling is becoming increasingly popular as it provides users with easy access to information.
Another factor behind this increase is people’s growing addiction to mobile devices and social media. They are spending more time on their smartphones or tablets, which makes it easier to access mobile gambling.
For example, reports show that people spent an average of 6 hours a day on their smartphones in 2021, up from 4.5 hours in 2017, and this kind of data is also one of the reasons why online casinos have become so popular.
The reports further state that the gambling industry will gain popularity due to its ability to reach more people. This is made possible by technology that allows users from all parts of the world to access gaming and betting websites.
People can now play from anywhere as they have access to their cell phones. On top of that, the continued growth of eSports and casino games is a factor that will contribute to the expansion of this market.
How Has Mobile Gambling Developed?
- 2004: Pub Fruity as the first mobile version of the slot machine was launched in 2004. The game was written in Java and, of course, did not work on all devices. Since cell phones at that time had limited technical capabilities, Pub Fruity could not convince with high-quality graphics. Moreover, people did not play for real money, but with virtual coins.
- 2007: Microgaming launched the first real money card game for cell phones. It was Baccarat, which was based on the Spin3 platform. Right after that, 3 Card Brag Poker and some slots were released.
- 2008: An app called Texas Hold’em appeared in the App Store, developed directly by Apple. Just five hours after its release, Texas Hold’em was on the list of top ten apps. With the development of the Android operating system and the enlargement of screens, mobile slots became more and more popular.
- 2016: There was a transition from Flash to HTML5 technology in gambling software programming. The graphics have become more vivid and clear. An important advantage of this technology is the ability to automatically adapt to the screen size of the device. And this is regardless of which browser is used.
With modern technologies, not only the quality of animations has changed for the better. The overall gameplay (with numerous side games and bonus features) has also become more interesting, diverse, and exciting.
Mobile Version: What is Available to Players?
It should be noted that mobile casinos are not inferior to their desktop versions in terms of technical features. The only difference that is immediately noticeable is only the size of the screen.
The gameplay, as well as the functionality of the casino site/app, are completely identical. Players are offered the same selection of games, only in a form optimized for mobile platforms.
In the mobile casino, users will find all popular payment methods, interesting bonus offers, and other benefits. When players register with a licensed provider, their personal and financial information remains strictly protected. Regardless of whether you have an Android, iOS, or Windows device, they can have instant access to popular casino games.
It is worth mentioning that there are two possible ways for mobile gaming:
- Apps, which is offered by the online casino
- Games directly in the browser
Why Casino & Software Providers Are Focusing on Mobile Devices
Throughout this entry, you’ll easily understand why software and casino providers are focusing so much on mobile devices. When we narrow it down just to software providers like NetEnt or Microgaming, it’s because their famous mobile slots are currently the crème de la crème in iGaming.
Over these last couple of years, the revenues have proven that mobile slots and other genres like mobile live casinos are dominating the industry. If you add the fact that players are looking forward to playing the most popular games like Gonzo’s Quest, Immortal Romance, Starburst, Book of Dead, or others on the go – then you might guess why mobile devices are the holy grail this year.
The Future of Mobile Casinos
According to H2 Gambling Capital and iGB, the gross gaming revenue (BSE) of the mobile segment has grown significantly since 2003. It is believed that mobile gaming already accounts for 42.6% of the total.
This figure has been rising steadily for more than five years. Many casino operators already report that over 60% of their revenue is generated from mobile players, especially in sports betting. Therefore, no one doubts that mobile gambling has a bright future.
Mobile Casinos: Conclusion
Mobile casino games have undergone impressive developments. Thanks to new technologies, nowadays every player can play popular slot machines from any software provider, roulette, poker, or blackjack anytime and anywhere and make real winnings.
All reputable online casinos also offer mobile versions. Software developers are working hard to improve both graphical and technical features. And the trend of the last few years is pretty clear: the casinos’ focus is on smartphones and tablets.
