The 21st century has seen an explosion of technology and ever-increasing connectivity that has dramatically changed how we spend our time. More people have shifted their leisure activities, and indeed, gaming and gambling, online.
From the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), the gaming experience is adapting fast and furiously.
Shift from bricks and mortar casinos to online
As much of our lives are lived online, traditional casinos have filled a niche in the gambling market. In pre-online times, casinos were not necessarily within easy reach for many people and gaming activities were generally more restricted in number and in operating hours.
However, as internet connection expanded to almost every household in the UK, coupled with the rise of safe and secure online payment systems, people can now gamble from the comfort of their own homes.
It used to be old-school
But it wasn’t always this way. Going back to the early 20th century, the first mechanical slot machines, known as Liberty Bells, were invented in San Francisco, USA. These machines were a staple in cigar shops and barber shops and at that time, provided a novel way to gamble. Known as “fruit machines” in the UK, these slots rose to tremendous popularity and can still be found in some pubs and casinos.
However, today, consumer preferences and an enormous expanse of gaming choice has seen gaming providers launch top-quality games. But, even with a myriad of online casino games with ultra-sleek gameplay to choose from, people still love the old-school games, such as slots.
What’s with the slots?
There are literally hundreds of different slot games available from top gaming companies such as NetEnt and Microgaming. However, ask many people how what they think of when picture a slot game, and they will usually picture fruit. These fruit slots seem to have a special, almost nostalgic place in people’s hearts, many of which can be found and recommended on Fruity Slots. Yet what is it about these games that keeps people coming back for more?
These timeless classics are very to easy to play, have super colourful gameplay and catchy tunes. The iconic colourful fruit symbols such as orange, lemon and watermelon add to the old-school vibe. But don’t be fooled, many slots now feature a modern twist, with incredible storytelling and graphics to boot.
Something for sports fans
For the sports fans out there, immersive and real-time sportsbooks have revolutionised sports gambling. With 5G providing almost instantaneous internet, waging bets on sporting competitions has never been so seamless.
There is now a vast array of sports to wager on from football, golf, boxing and rugby to name but a few. Many of the games are live-streamed so that you can enjoy the game with your friends while placing a bet.
Traditional sportsbooks were found on many high streets to online spaces where pundits can place bets without stepping a foot out of their homes. But now thanks to top sites such as bet365, William Hill and Paddy Power, it is easy to access top-quality sportsbooks online.
Continuos change
Aside from the unprecedented accessibility in terms of not having to travel to online casinos, there are other benefits that are worth touching upon. Increased customer service with AI real-time chatbots provides an added convenience to the experience. In addition, online casinos have made sure that their platforms can be reached on mobile devices, reaching more people than ever before.
It is hard to imagine how it was before these technological advances changed the casino experience. While we may still retain a soft spot for our old-school favourites, is safe to say that we can expect continuous and exciting innovations to the gaming industry.