By Paul J. Durante.
Blackjack is one of the oldest and most celebrated casino games in the world. Easy to learn, difficult to master, people love the game because unlike so many of its other casino counterparts, it actually does involve a high level of skill.
Since it was first invented hundreds of years ago, gambling has changed a lot. Casinos are now big, sparkling, luxury venues. Games can be played virtually just as easily as they can be in person.
But while the experiential aspects of blackjack develop, the game remains the same. How will mobile blackjack apps change things?
Different Types of Experiences
There are two primary categories of experience on mobile blackjack applications. Automated—in which the “dealer” is basically an algorithm designed to make specific moves that correspond with whatever is going on in the game, and live dealer games.
With live dealer games, there is an actual person flipping the cards. They are filmed in a studio somewhere. That film gets broadcast to whoever is playing the game.
In practice, these experiences are exactly the same. It’s important to understand that blackjack dealers are always using an algorithm. There are rules they have to follow.
The person with the deck doesn’t actually make any choices.
So, while the presence of live dealers in a virtual game can add a layer of excitement to the experience, it doesn’t change your chances of winning. Many real money casino apps will feature both options.
Faster Transactions
One of the big pain points with online gaming in the past has been that it is really difficult to withdraw money from your account in a timely manner. There’s information that gets verified behind the scenes, and that process takes time.
Sometimes, that process becomes prolonged when banks realize the transaction is for an online casino.
Virtual gaming platforms now have several ways to remove friction from the experience. Allowing customers to use virtual wallets is one great method. This includes apps like PayPal.
Virtual wallets make for speedier transactions because much of the required information is already verified.
Crypto casinos are another option. They very literally remove banks from the equation altogether.
These apps do require a few more steps from players. If you want to play blackjack at a crypto casino, you will need to convert some of your money into cryptocurrency. This will involve making a brokerage account. Fortunately, apps like Robinhood now allow for pretty easy crypto transactions.
You’ll then need a virtual wallet that can transact using crypto. Once those steps are taken care of, the process is very smooth. In addition to being easy, cryptocurrency transactions are also generally more secure.
More Personalization
Mobile casino gaming as a whole will most likely become more personalized in the next few years. All applications will, really. This is thanks to the almost universal integration of AI features.
Some casinos may use artificial intelligence applications to provide concierge-style service to customers. That might mean recommending certain games, pointing out offers, or reaching out with small gifts and bonuses.
Other brands might use AI to automate more customer experience tasks, freeing their CX department to take on more of the concierge-style service.
Either way, people using online casino apps should expect a smoother, more personalized playing experience.
New Hardware
Historically, virtual casino games have taken place on phones, computers, or tablets. While these technologies are both reliable and convenient, they don’t fully reflect the range of device options available to the modern gamer.
For example, smartwatches. Almost half a billion people worldwide wear them. They are easy to use, always within reach, and very convenient for application access.
While the size of the screen and the position of the device have not historically lent themselves to convenience for playing games long-term, there is room for online casinos to take advantage of the format.
Blackjack could be a little awkward for smartwatch gaming, but simpler games, like slots, might be a natural fit.
Virtual reality online casinos, meanwhile, are already taking off. The headsets required to take advantage of this playing style are not as widely available as smartwatches, but they are growing in prominence.
Casino play is an ideal application for virtual reality. Ask any video game aficionado what they think of VR and they will tell you that, while the technology is promising it doesn’t quite have the power to bring Triple-A titles to life.
With simpler games, however, it can provide an immersive experience that blends the convenience of mobile casino play with the excitement of being in a physical venue.
Ultimately, these are operative terms that you can expect to play a prominent role in the future of online casinos in the years to come. Convenience. Friction-less play. More personalization. Better overall experiences.
IMAGE CREDIT: Flickr.com