The Evolution of Gaming Software: From Early Days to Modern Technologies by WiredKing

 

According to H2 Gambling Capital’s report, betting forms around 49% of the entire gambling market. Previously, betting required people to visit a place assigned for gambling activities. Casinos in cities were also popular among gamblers. But, with the introduction of gambling laws and regulations, the convenience of gambling online is extended to the betting enthusiasts. Online casino industry occupies roughly 28% of the total gambling market, which shows the kind of potential this industry has. The technological interventions have changed the landscape of the casino industry, and today, the players can have in-casino experience at home, using the device of their choices. Let’s trace the evolution of technology in this post.

Early days: How the technology improved casino experience

The gambling opportunities were quite limited at the start. Chinese players introduced the dice game to the world. Dice and tiles are considered the oldest gambling games. These games were played in open and in a very informal environment. With the introduction of a regulatory framework, the concept of casino came into existence and the world saw the first casino opened in 1638 in Venice, Italy. In this casino, the games like Blackjack, Baccarat and Roulette were introduced. 

The casinos got the taste of the first technological intervention in the form of slot games. A car mechanic, Charles Frey, developed the first slot machine. The technological core of this machine was a random number generator or RNG. This technology is the oldest and still in use and is employed to ensure that all casino games are designed fairly and have low house advantage. Thus, Random Number Generator is the first technological breakthrough that opened ways to other improvements which the world sees in the present time.

The slot gained the shape of a video slot at the start of the 20th and 21^st centuries. In the video slot, there was embedded a computerized device which collected the bet and displayed the outcome of the bet. This video slot attracted people and gamblers looking for easy money spent hours at slots which are still a regular feature at city casinos.

Introduction of online gambling

Microgaming was the first company to introduce an online gambling platform. It made use of graphics, and basic themes to offer online gambling service. This online casino is still in operation and makes use of more advanced technological solutions which make the whole experience quite close to the one available in real casinos.

The current breed of online  gambling games is the work of casino software developer companies. These companies employ Game Software that features immersive graphics and audio, and gameplay mechanics. The players are given a simple interface with an e-commerce facility to place a bet and play the game. However, these games lacked seamlessness due to poor browser performance and other technological glitches.

Smoothening of experience with advanced technology

The casino games are now available on mobile phones and tablets too. These games run smoothly on devices of various types due to responsive coding technology. The casino software provider employed responsive coding and application development to make the online casinos compatible with tablets, mobile phones, and laptops too. These days, the technology stack comprise of the following:

·       Node.js or Firebase: These are a part of backend technologies. These technologies power up the server-side of the casino app. The main function is to provide buffer-free, smooth gameplay. Also, the security of transactions is ensured.

·       Flutter: If we are able to enjoy expressive and intuitive UI, it is due to the use of Flutter. It is a framework that is known for delivering fast performance to apps. The users don’t feel any lag while interacting with the interface, thus, they get a seamless experience at online gambling.

·       MySQL and MongoDB: An online casino is required to store various types of information. This information has to be stored in a leak-proof environment as well. The databases like MySQL and MongoDB are used for storing information pertaining to players and to maintain transactional logs.

·       SSL certificates: These are essential for ensuring the security of transactions. The advanced encryption techniques are employed to store player data and to protect financial transactions.

·       Game engines: Flutter is enriched with game engines via plugins. The game engines empower the devices so that the graphics and gameplay mechanics run smoothly.

Introducing AR/VR and AI for more real experience

The providers emphasize on delivering authentic casino experience to gamblers so as to cut the competition. They can achieve such an environment with the help of virtual reality and augmented reality tools. The VR tools help transport the players to a casino environment. The players can interact with other players and engage in more realistic settings. The introduction of machine learning in online casino development has made it possible to achieve human-like interactions and make interfaces more intuitive. With the facility like peeking into the cards during a poker game, superimposition of betting odds during a live game, and with various tactile experiences embedded in slot games, the AI and VR tools create close to in-casino experience for the gamblers.

Creation of live dealer rooms

With the help of machine learning, VR/AR and AI, the casino software developer companies have managed to introduce the concept of live dealer games. The video streaming technology and HD video quality that run seamlessly due to the presence of 5G and 4G networks have helped create live dealer virtual rooms. These technologies make the environment more interactive while allowing the players to interact and play socially.

In addition to above, use of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is transforming the transaction environment by enabling fast, secure and anonymous transactions. Thus, the settlements take place fast and players enjoy betting online more than ever.

To sum up,

The casino industry has gone through massive transformation since the inception of gambling. The responsive coding and game engines have brought the casinos to the players’ fingertips through phones and tablets. Virtual casino environments are made more tangible with the help of VR/AR and AI. The transactions are also made extra fast and safe with the use of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. As a casino software developer, when you have understood the client requirement correctly, the next step is resource planning. Choosing the right tech stack is part of this planning.