The Future Of Mobile Gambling in 2017: New Technology Awaits

We say this almost every year, but 2016 was the most advanced year in terms of online and mobile gambling technology. We saw the birth of Augmented Reality (AR) via Pokemon Go, and a new wave of Virtual Reality (VR) casinos on the horizon. What more will 2017 have in store?

Bigger, Better VR Casinos To Come

VR is sure to be the biggest hit of the coming year. Thanks to Oculus Rift, and a multitude of copycat developers that followed, virtual reality has grabbed the world by its coattails and spun it around in a seductive and mesmerizing tango of technological capabilities.

Microgaming, the oldest and most respected developer of real money online gaming software, debuted the first VR casino game earlier this year during the 2016 ICE Totally Gaming Expo. Microgaming’s VR Roulette was sheer brilliance – the bell of the ball – setting a new standard for all other software brands to model after.

It was a rather unique step for the decades old software firm, which has generally held back on pioneering new technologies since the turn of the millennium. However, being that Microgaming chose to introduce only a VR Roulette simulator, it leaves a great deal of room for expansion, and the race is on to see who will launch the first, all-encompassing VR casinos with the option to play for real money.

Is There a Future for AR Casinos?

The release of Pokemon Go created a stir felt round the globe. Suddenly, teenagers, young adults, and even a few seniors, were off their couches, dropping everything else (in some cases, even the important stuff!) to walk the streets in search of the rarest Pokemon. But could that same technology translate to AR casinos?

Pokemon Go relied on the extensive, globe-mapping efforts of Google Maps to constantly place and update virtual creatures on every street corner. It may not make sense for a software developer or casino operator to place virtual slot machines, blackjack tables and roulette wheels throughout every neighborhood.

However, in specific locations, it just might work. A casino hotel could place virtual AR casino games in their hotel rooms, lobby or even retail outlets. Visitors could play AR video poker while waiting in line at the casino’s in-house Starbucks.

Is it likely? No, probably not. But is it possible? Most definitely.

Advancements in Mobile and Tablet Gaming

This sector is sure to receive a few more advancements in 2017. We’ve already seen a plethora of downloadable casino apps introduced, as well as the integration of HTML5 to disband the need for downloading apps at all. Mobile casinos are already the latest and greatest thing, and an expansion of that technology is inevitable.

The most likely advancement will come by way of further VR casino integration. All of those big software brands out there will be looking to develop mobile gambling apps that are compatible with VR headsets, whether they provide a genuine virtual reality experience or not.

By genuine, I mean the difference between physically moving your hand forward to place chips on a VR roulette table (i.e. Microgaming’s VR Roulette), as opposed to using a basic video game controller while simply watching the action unfold before your eyes, (quite literally, right before your eyes!) Thus is the major difference between superior VR headsets like Oculus Rift, and the more recent $40-$80 models that are currently listed as best-sellers on sites like Amazon.

Mini-Mini-Baccarat Anyone?

Last but not least, let’s not forget that, as mobile technology continues to grow, it also continues to get smaller. Smartwatches were a big deal in 2015, and as always, a few online gaming programmers went to work developing miniature casino games to run on them.

But are games like Mini-Mini-Baccarat really destined for the future in 2017? Probably not. I could see a few people wiling away the hours tap-tap-taping to wager on their watches, but I don’t see that particular market taking off. Not when there’s so much more to look forward to in the world of mobile gambling in 2017.