Gambling in the United States, and globally, has undergone major changes in 2020. The isolation resulting from the coronavirus has created thousands of new online players. This influx of gamblers to online sites has, directly and indirectly, contributed to several changes in the gaming industry.

Growth of Online Gaming/Decline at Brick and Mortar Casinos

These go hand-in-hand, primarily as a result of COVID-19. The brick and mortar casinos in the US were forced to close for several months due to COVID-19 and their reopening left them nowhere near capacity. Public concerns about air travel have contributed to reduced play at these casinos, particularly those in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Another issue for Las Vegas is the loss of business from China because of the travel ban and subsequent publicity about COVID-19.

Brick and mortar casinos owned by Native American tribes have fared somewhat better because they are generally within driving distance of major US cities. However, these casinos, like those in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, have had to deal with COVID-19 outbreaks among their employees.

Taken together, the problems facing brick and mortar casinos are massive. The fact online casinos can be used from anywhere with a computer, tablet, or smartphone has greatly contributed to online casino growth.

Evolving Growth of Online Casinos

Online casinos are actively working to keep their new and existing gamblers happy. These casinos have taken a number of steps to improve the online gaming experience.

More Live Dealer Games – The increase in live dealers is making the online experience better for gamblers who want to play table games, such as blackjack. Previously, online games used random number generators to deal with cards. Players saw this as a potential for fraud. The use of live streaming with human dealers eliminated that concern and gives gamblers the casino experience in their own homes.

Virtual Reality – Online casinos can now, virtually, have poker players in the same room. This is the same technology that’s used in online video gaming. Online casinos have just scratched the surface of VR usage and see it as an important component in future growth.

Upgraded Slots – Newer slots are being introduced that require a skill element. These are designed to bring younger gamblers into online casinos and to hold their attention for a longer period of time. These slots are built with features similar to those found in video games and gaming consoles.

Free to Play Games

Several online casinos are offering free games in order to get customers through their “door.” Free to Play games derive revenue by getting players to purchase upgrades to their free games and by buying virtual offerings associated with their games. This is seen by both casinos and players as a form of entertainment.

Cryptocurrency

This has had a major impact in the online casino business. Many online platforms now accept cryptocurrency because it provides anonymity and is untraceable. This has become important to online gamblers who are concerned about ID theft. The use of cryptocurrency is not tied to personal information, meaning gamblers are free to play without concerns about being hacked. These attributes of cryptocurrency also mean online casinos have access to gamblers in formerly restricted countries, such as Taiwan.

Gamblers are still able to play and pay using traditional methods. The advantages of cryptocurrency are expected to push these traditional methods into the background in the coming years.