The online gambling industry has always been at the forefront of adopting and integrating cutting-edge technology developments. The shift from land-based games of chance to online casino games one can play from the comfort of one’s own home might be par for the course today. Still, in the 1990s, it was a revolutionary concept, given that many people believed the internet to be a near-mystical concept and home computers an extravagance.

Fast-forward to today and an unstable update from global cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike nearly brought the world to a standstill as it shut down Windows 10 computers and servers that used its security software. This shows that, as a global society, we are beyond the point where we could ever roll back the clock and live without digital tools—for work and entertainment.

Early Online Casino Gambling

In the nineties, casino games were simple affairs that focused predominantly on card games as they were easy to display given the limited ability to code movement and changes. However, learning from free computer games like Solitaire, where cards were shown face down or face up, with a simple interchange between the two when the player clicked on a card, casino developers like Microgaming began building games like blackjack.

However, rather than playing for fun tokens with predetermined patterns, these online blackjack games were run on a virtual random number generator (RNG) to ensure fair outcomes. They also allowed gamblers to deposit real money in exchange for digital casino chips. Incredulously, these credits could be cashed in, and winnings became real profits.

Keep in mind that all of this was taking place over a 56Kbp dial-up internet connection and on a computer that boasted specs like a 200mhz processor, up to 64 MB of RAM, a maximum hard drive of 4GB, and, if you were wealthy enough, a 17” SVGA CRT-style monitor with 24 colours in its palette.

In context, most high school students’ calculators have more processing power than these computers; you would need 16 times the hard drive space to install Windows 11, and today’s 4K monitors use a palette of approximately 16.7 million colours.

The Mobile Technology Whirlwind

From the 2000s onwards, however, the internet and computing technology developed at a breakneck speed, bringing us to the point of high-bandwidth internet connectivity and the incredible clarity of LED displays, which power out ride-or-die companions, the mobile devices.

One of the most significant advancements in the race for technological advancement was the invention of the mobile device. Far from the suitcase-sized mobile phones, the wealthy lugged around in their cars, the everyday man’s smartphone allowed customers to make calls, receive text messages, do their online banking, buy movie tickets, and ultimately become the perfect pocket-sized personal assistant.

It also rang in a new era for online casinos, as casino software developers shifted their mindsets from computer games to gambling as a hobby and devices simply as the medium for players to engage with their offerings.

With the codebase disparity between pc and mobile, developers began building standalone mobile casino apps. This allowed early mobile adopters to install the casino software on their devices to “play on the go.”

However, there were challenges, the most notable being that these mobile casinos were seen as standalone products. This meant players needed separate gaming accounts, had access to fewer casino games, and were offered different welcome bonuses and promotions.

The advent of HTML5 resolved this snag. Players can now play on a single gambling account regardless of which device they’re on, and all gaming takes place in-browser, negating the need to install additional mobile online software.

Along Came the Blockchain

Once mobile casino gambling was locked down, the sector fell into a bit of a lull, with the only real advancements coming from within the industry. Microgaming launched the first-ever online casino free spins player bonus, which shifted promotions and incentives away from cash and helped boost online slots into the industry giant it is today. Bonus codes allowed players to claim multiple offers without a support agent’s intervention, and most notably, live dealer casino gaming is a vast topic worthy of its own article.

Then came the launch of the blockchain, and years later, the technology and financial feeding frenzy sparked by the skyrocketing value of Bitcoin. With the allure of new technology, its enhanced anonymity, near-instant cross-border transactions, and incredible value proposition Bitcoin and the blockchain became the perfect partners for the next shift in the online gambling industry.

From the criminal currency of choice for use on the Silk Road online black market to mainstream investment options via BTC spot exchange-traded funds, the evolution of the public opinion of cryptocurrencies is nothing short of miraculous.

It also spawned a new online casino segment which offers cryptocurrency transacting, birthed the exciting crash games category, and allowed gambling providers to decide if they want to bow their knee to all licensing jurisdictions or continue to offer their services when and where they choose to.

Striving for Accessible Technology

One of the realities of technological advancements is the need to make as much of it as possible part of our daily lives. In the early days of the online gambling industry, this meant moving from home computers to mobile devices.

In 2014, mobile tech developers like Apple and Samsung showcased their early attempts to bring smartphone technology to wearable devices, which in this case meant the launch of a smartwatch. These watches were trying to get mobile phone technology to the user’s wrist, which means offering calls, text messaging, and email access.

Naturally, Microgaming jumped at the chance to be the first to deliver a mobile casino game. While it worked, the technology needed more time to offer players the smooth gameplay and easy engagement they were used to, and the project was tabled until the tech could catch up.

Today, smartwatches are relatively commonplace, with all major mobile brands offering their customers a range of styles, sizes, and specs.

Cracking the Wearable Crypto Tech Code

The one segment that has been toying with wearable technology for a while has been the crypto market. There are two ways to hold one’s Bitcoin, altcoins and meme coins. The first and most common are hot wallets and online ledgers where you log in from a mobile or pc and transact online. The second is cold wallets; you can think of these as solid-state drives (SSD), which come loaded with a program that allows you to store your crypto assets offline.

In pursuit of the dream of making crypto accessibility as simple and user-friendly as possible, Tangem, a Swiss high-tech company, launched an exciting new wearable wallet called ‘Ring’.

The Ring is the first product to create an attractive wearable item with crypto wallet technology. The sleek black ring boasts a non-allergenic zirconia finish, which can handle extreme heat variance and is resistant to scratches, dust, and water.

The awe-inspiring part is the integrated technology. The wearable wallet boasts NFC (near-field communication) connectivity, allowing it to speak with mobile phones and pay points. It is secured by an EAL6+ CC-certified chip that uses Samsung Semiconductors to defend against attempts to access the wallet.

When you access the wallet, the built-in chip generates a unique private key, stored on your ring and two Tangem cards—nowhere else. This lets you transact with crypto with a literal wave of your hand.

The Future of Crypto Gambling is Bright

With ongoing developments in functional virtual reality headwear, augmented reality eyewear, crypto access safely secured on our fingers, and high-speed internet connections around the world, it feels like we are on the cusp of an exciting new shift in how we engage with games of chance, interact with casino dealers and view the entire online gambling experience.

For more on how we think some of the current technology could be applied to future casino experiences, read our thoughts on how close we are to having holodeck gambling at home. If you are new to cryptocurrencies and want to know more about Bitcoin casino gambling, we have a handy guide to what makes a good Bitcoin casino.