A Brief History
In the early 21st century, Internet gambling grew rapidly in popularity worldwide Global Internet gambling reaching US $34 billion in 2011. Playing in a brick and mortar casino may be fun for those who like to fully indulge in the undertones of slot machines, but they also tend to limit your options. Forget that trip to Las Vegas and get your laptop handy because online gambling is all the rage right now.
Other than saving you the cash you’d spend on your trip to the casino, the overall costs of placing bets and buying chips is a lot more affordable online, and it is not any less lucrative. If you’re wondering about what’s currently trending in the ever-evolving world of online gambling, keep reading and find out.
Digging Deeper
Mobile apps
Your favorite games are now quite literally in the palm of your hand. If you are still wondering why the online gambling world has taken over casinos, it is because you can pretty much play some games when you are stuck in traffic and make yourself some cash while you’re at it.
Those who have not yet tried playing casino games online might think that the platforms sport some 2D retro-style graphics, but you’d be surprised how sleek realistic even the most rudimentary apps look.
All-encompassing websites
While winning cash through your phone sounds like fun, many people in countries like Indonesia still prefer desktop websites to play slot online, primarily because they tend to offer so much more variety when it comes to the kind of games they can play and bets they can place. You don’t need to commute all the way to a horse race arena to place a bet; you can now do it from the comfort of your home with the click of a button.
Virtual Reality Casinos
What’s a better way to indulge in Casino life than to stay at home and put on your Oculus Rift gear?
Although many of those Casino worlds are still in development, they are definitely growing at a quick pace and becoming more popular amongst younger individuals. They might be fun to check out every now and again, but they’re not nearly as in-demand as gambling websites and apps.
Cryptocurrency
Because enough people have been scammed into giving up their bank information to untrusted sources, cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly popular in the gambling world. Currency like Bitcoin, Monero, and Litecoin are taking over, and fewer businesses now deal with traditional cash.
Live competition
On many desktop websites and mobile apps, there is an option to compete against players like yourself in real-time via live stream, so you get to feel like you are playing from an actual casino.
Some apps and websites specialize in a single game that you can play live, like poker, while many others have an entire section dedicated to live gaming, offering a range of gambling games to choose from.
A wider acceptance of gambling
This is perhaps the biggest gambling trend this year. While gambling has been restricted in many countries for so many years, online casinos and betting platforms have finally been licensed, ending the taboo associated with the activity.
Cancel your trip to Reno and enjoy live poker from the comfort of your home. If you have been looking to experience casino life and do not have the money to travel, now is the time to finally explore the gambling world.
Question for students (and subscribers): Do you think online gambling is as enjoyable as going to a physical casino? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by liking us on Facebook and becoming one of our patrons!
Your readership is much appreciated!
Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Durham, Steve and Kathryn Hashimoto, Ph.D. The History of Gambling in America. Pearson, 2019.
The featured image in this article, a photograph by Pexels, is licensed under the Pixabay License.
EDITORIAL NOTE: The views expressed in this article are those of its author. Neither Dr. Zar nor History and Headlines use or endorse cryptocurrencies.