Worldwide, hundreds of millions of players regularly enjoy casino games. The US and China take the cake in terms of profits from the industry, but other countries like Japan, Germany, South Korea, the UK, and France also have booming iGaming economies. Some figures from Statista estimate that upwards of two billion people like to play casino games recreationally, which accounts for one-fourth of the world's population.

Clearly, casino gaming is here to stay. In fact, games like blackjack and roulette are already celebrating their multi-centennials. And yet, players are still highly interested in these titles. Today, the vast majority of players stick to virtual formats. Not only are they more convenient, but they also include welcome deals. Players looking for the best $200 no deposit bonus code in 2024, for example, don't need to look very hard to find a great offer.

That being said, each casino brand is always looking to offer the next 'big thing' to attract new players. Looking ahead, what sorts of changes can we expect to see in the iGaming industry? And which will take hold first?

Further into the Future: Growth Within VR & AR

Certain casino brands have already launched VR projects to varied success. Clearly, this idea has juice—but there are quite a few obstacles to be tackled before the average gamer is spinning a roulette wheel using a VR headset.

First and foremost, VR technology remains out of reach for many casino players. The average slots or blackjack fan probably doesn't know a lot about technology and video game hardware like VR headsets. On top of that, it's a difficult sell in terms of pricing. VR headsets are advancing more each year—but they remain costly.

VR casinos aren't out of the question—they simply need a bit more time to become mainstream. Accessibility comes down to headsets, not a casino's willingness to set up a VR platform. This opens up an interesting possibility for AR. Now that Apple Vision headsets are making their way into the general public, casinos might have more luck launching AR-ready casinos. It's also possible that AR-powered casinos might not need to run on headsets at all, but could be adapted for mobile users similar to Pokémon GO.

The Crypto Question

Before we move away from the discussion of headsets, let's talk about setting up casinos in a crypto-centric metaverse. Using VR technology, casinos could also launch on blockchain platforms. To differentiate, a VR casino could run on any type of technology, while a VR crypto casino would be run on the blockchain and would use crypto and NFTs. 

Just like with VR casinos, crypto casinos already exist—and, once again, like VR casinos, they haven't exactly taken off. But the possibility of DeFi casinos within the space of VR is a hot topic. Many analysts feel that the iGaming industry could benefit massively from adopting blockchain, as this would provide a foolproof ledger detailing all financial interactions. In short, it's good for players, casinos, and regulators. 

However, the same obstacles exist as with launching a VR casino. Do players have access to VR headsets? Do they know how this kind of tech works? And, on top of that, do they have access to cryptocurrency and an interest in gaming with it? So far, the jury is out.

The Truly Social Casino

Social casinos are platforms that allow users to game without money. Most use tokens for bets and payouts, which can sometimes be 'cashed out' as vouchers. The goal is to allow players to access their favorite games without needing to put their own funds on the table. So far, they've proved to be a massive hit.

Going forward, it's likely that casinos will start to focus more deeply on the social experience on these platforms. Though dubbed 'social casinos', this term currently only really applies to the fact that players can see leaderboards and can interact in very limited ways. But this is likely to evolve as more casino players seek out communities of like minded gamers. After all, casinos have been sidelined in many markets, which means plenty of players are eager to be with fellow slots, blackjack or roulette fans.