The global multibillion-dollar iGaming sector has helped to completely revolutionise the digital entertainment industry in more ways than one, so let’s dive straight in and take a closer look at how iGaming has reshaped entertainment and how we use our favourite devices to consume and interact with the games we play in the digital realm.
What is iGaming?
iGaming is an umbrella term mainly used to describe a range of fully licensed and regulated (legally permitted) real-money betting sites, the most popular of which are online casinos and sportsbooks (aka bookmakers, bookies, or online sports betting sites). Others include dedicated bingo and lottery sites and poker sites.
However, iGaming is also used to describe professional video sports events, otherwise known as esports (electronic sports) competitions, and various other forms of digital content that can be played on countless other platforms, such as Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, and many others.
How has iGaming impacted the entertainment industry?
Thanks to numerous key technological innovations, the iGaming sector has significantly impacted the entertainment industry in various ways, mainly by creating more socially interactive, immersive and engaging experiences.
It has influenced consumer behaviours and how we digest entertainment, with many people shifting away from the traditional gaming experience and engaging in new leisure activities on their mobile devices. In other words, iGaming has redefined entertainment for modern audiences.
The iGaming industry has also created new employment opportunities. For many people, gaming has even become a second-screen activity, meaning that people now enjoy playing games on mobile even while watching television.
iGaming has had a significant social and cultural impact and is seen as a source of escapism, light entertainment, and joy.
Tighter regulations and more of a commitment towards responsible gambling on today’s safest real-money betting sites, like those currently featured on this page at johnslots.com/en/casino/, have meant that people who play on these sites are in much better control of their spending and can remain well within their initial budgets, as all of these casinos have been rated by trusted industry professionals.
Which key technologies have helped push the boundaries of what is possible in iGaming?
As mentioned, technology has played a crucial role in taking the iGaming sector to new heights. Here are some of the key technologies that have had the biggest impact on revolutionising the digital entertainment sector on today’s safest iGaming sites:
Some iGaming operators have even started accepting cryptocurrency payments facilitated by highly encrypted blockchain technology, which has made payments even more secure and private, safeguarding the very essence of online freedom and anonymity.
Many iGaming sites have also started offering a range of ‘provably fair’ games, also known as crypto games, where players can test the true randomness of the outcomes themselves, which enhances transparency and fosters a sense of trust in the industry as a whole.
Finally, the devices that we use to play our favourite games have also come a long way over the past decade. Smartphones, desktop computers, tablets, and laptops are more powerful and capable than ever, which has taken the iGaming experience to the next level.
People across the world can enjoy playing some of the gaming industry’s most iconic, high-end, graphically demanding, triple-A blockbuster video games, such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077.
Conclusion
Experts who follow the iGaming industry closely firmly believe that over the coming years, there will be mass adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and virtual reality (VR) that will take this digital entertainment sector to even more extraordinary new levels of sophistication and enjoyment.
They also suggest that even safer gambling tools and a commitment to preventing minors from accessing adult material (eg PEGI 18-rated games or the games you can play in real-money mode on casino sites) will significantly improve current protection levels.
Other emerging technologies will also create more immersive and engaging iGaming experiences and combined, will go on to reshape the broader cultural landscape in ways that we cannot yet imagine. There’s no denying that digital entertainment is transforming leisure activities across the globe and that it will continue to reshape the wider entertainment industry for many years to come.
