What has drawn millions of people to choose to play at online casinos is the fact that these platforms tend to have more variety when it comes to games compared to physical casinos. That’s not so surprising, though, given that they have little to no physical limitations and that they can integrate the latest advances in gaming technology quicker than their land-based counterparts.
This flexibility is why many online casinos can provide players with various choices, ranging from traditional table games to new slot titles and even experimental games that haven’t been tested anywhere else. However, many have begun to wonder what drives the expansion of online casino game catalogues. Let’s see what it is below.
Game Variety Differs in Each Casino
Online casinos don’t all offer the same games as each other, which has made game variety differ even between these platforms. For example, as revealed by gambling expert Matt Bastock’s insider tips, casino sites registered in offshore jurisdictions like Malta and Curaçao usually have more games than many UKGC-licensed platforms.
According to Bastock, these platforms also often offer bigger bonuses and allow quicker withdrawals by incorporating various payment methods. This has made them very attractive to players who like to have more choice and convenience, but what has made this possible is the regulatory environment in which these platforms operate.
We say that because the licensing frameworks offshore casinos fall under allow them to use games from a wider range of game developers. Locally licensed online and physical casinos, on the other hand, face strict restrictions on which developers they can work with. Even then, they also don’t have total control over what kind of games they can choose from approved providers.
No Physical Space Limitations
Obviously, the biggest reason why online casinos are able to host more games than traditional casinos is that they aren’t constrained by physical space. This constraint is what has made the latter have to choose wisely which games to offer on their premises, as they work with a finite amount of floor space. For instance, if a slot machine isn’t attracting enough players, the casino may have to remove it to make space for another, more popular one.
Online casinos don’t have to make these choices. They are free to have hundreds, if not thousands, of games hosted at the same time, as they don’t need to take up that much physical space. That’s because these games are run from servers that don’t even have to be owned by the casino operator, who can have them stored on a virtual private server if they want.
Bringing this kind of scalability to the iGaming industry has meant that players never have to lose out on their favourite games if they don’t get enough traffic. For operators, it has meant that they can market games to specific niches of the market without worrying about sacrificing high-paying titles.
Constant Flow of New Releases
Another factor that has played a role in making online casinos have a wider variety of games is that there are always new titles being released by a growing pool of developers. Out of this pool, established software providers like Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Microgaming, and Playtech also aim to release new games at least once a month.
That’s not counting the various smaller studios that some platforms are now working with which have allowed them to present players with titles with experimental features and creative mechanics that can’t be found anywhere else. This constant flow of new games is what has drawn gamblers to playing online, as it keeps them engaged and curious as to what’s coming next.
Unfortunately, for physical casinos, matching this dynamic has proven to be hard. Since traditional establishments have to spend more on the logistics of getting new machines delivered, the best they’ve been able to do is update their options once or twice each year.
Easier Integration with Software Providers
Online casinos have benefited a lot from how easy it is to integrate their platforms with various game developers to expand their game libraries. The main way in which they’ve done this is through aggregation platforms that only need them to connect once and have access to games from a plethora of studios instead of having to manually connect each provider’s titles through confusing middleware.
Contrarily, brick-and-mortar casinos have to work with a small number of machine manufacturers that they have to contact individually. This is why many of these casinos have opted to sign exclusive deals with a few of these companies, as they’re also very expensive to install and update, which gives them little incentive to introduce new titles often.
As a result, these manufacturers don’t see as much competition from each other as is the norm among online casino game developers. However, it’s the very same competition that has driven innovation and diversity in iGaming, as providers are incentivised to experiment with different themes, mechanics, and volatility levels to stand out.
Tailored Player Experience
Online casino operators also use cutting-edge personalisation tools to help players take full advantage of the game variety they offer in a user-friendly way. They do this by allowing them to look for games by using search, sort, and filter features that enable players to find games based on developers, themes, popularity, and volatility levels in some instances.
There are even platforms that take this further by recommending games to players based on their previous gambling activity or preferences. By doing this, they’ve made it easier for patrons to find games that align with their tastes, which enhances their perception of variety on their platforms.
Many traditional establishments don’t even try to capitalise on this approach as they usually just present a one-size-fits-all layout. However, some have tried to recreate it, albeit to a lesser degree, by introducing themed areas or slot zones, but finding something new or offbeat in these areas will not be easy.
Conclusion
Ultimately, what has allowed online casinos to consistently offer a wider variety of games is unlimited digital space, regular content updates, and in some cases, favourable regulatory environments. This has meant that whether you’re playing on local or offshore platforms, you’ll always get a dynamic and more personalised experience that enhances your perception of variety both in reality and psychologically.
