In the last 10 years, the iGaming industry has grown rapidly. While this has partly been down to the many benefits it offers, it has also not rested on its laurels. A competitive market has meant boundaries have been pushed, with new and innovative ways to provide entertainment. But what have been the tech developments that have allowed this to happen?
Pseudo Random Number Generator
A pseudo-random number generator is an algorithm used to generate a series of almost random numbers. These get labelled as seemingly random, as their values are determined by an initial seed generator. However, it is these algorithms that allow us to play online casino games, as they create random number sequences quickly and are easy to reproduce.
These can be found in multiple applications. One example of many is online bingo. In a physical hall, games get played using 75 or 90 balls placed in a machine, which are removed at random. This is not possible when playing on a computer screen, so the numbers get generated using a pseudo-random number generator. When they appear, players then remove them from their bingo ticket until they win a prize.
The first random number generator was added to a computer in 1951. It could generate 20 random bits using electrical noise and had been invented by Alan Turing. Part of its problem was that it could never run consistently and thus could not be tested, so a pseudo generator was developed instead. In online casino games, these functions are still tested by independent bodies today.
Online Payment Processing
In all eCommerce and financial sectors, the development of online payment processing has been essential. It could be one of the most overlooked factors in the development of modern business. This has its roots back in 1959 when the first plastic credit card was created. They paved the way for fast, easy processing without the use of cash.
The first financial institution that allowed online transactions was the Standford Federal Credit Union. They opened an online payment system for customers in 1994, just as commercial internet was starting to develop. However, many companies that caught on afterwards specialised in providing alternatives, like digital cash and tokens.
It would be towards the end of the decade with the rise of PayPal that the processors we know today emerged. They provided easy ways to move cash around the web and increased security around doing so. Today, these processors and the software they pioneered have allowed payment to be taken in many different ways, even including methods such as cryptocurrency.
Live Streaming
Poker-Matic was the first electronic poker game, produced by Dale Electronics in the seventies. This heralded a long era of casino games, backed by PRNG, that would turn into electronic versions. People could now play casino games without the help of a dealer, and win large amounts of money on them. However, because they could, did not mean they always wanted to.
Part of the casino’s allure is the interaction, and live streaming is a way that electronic and online casinos could add that human element. Using webcams and integrated software, dealers play in real-time with gamblers. They deal with them, shuffle cards, and speak, while the players sit behind their devices and enjoy the gaming.
Live streaming has also gone beyond just hosting well-known games. Using the technology, the boundaries are being pushed into hybrid slot, casino and game show style entertainment the likes of which would not have been possible before.
