Is Console Game Gambling the Next Step for Online Casinos?

The online gambling industry is one of the fastest evolving in the world, and there are a lot of big players who are fueling innovation in the sector. Some of the most recent innovations include augmented and virtual reality casinos, as well as an increase in offerings for mobile-based games. However, there’s one frontier that it has been slow to penetrate yet: consoles. With the rise of online gaming in general, could console game gambling be the next step for online casinos?

Why Consoles Are Great for Online Gambling

Enjoying the latest online casino games through laptop, PC, and mobile remains the top and most popular way to gamble online. Traditional online casinos allow players to play without having to pay for the game itself, directly through their browser in some cases, and are just a convenient way to play casino games on the fly.

However, while online casinos have their benefits and have done a great job at improving gameplay and graphics, the reality is that they never were, and probably never will be able to compete with consoles. Console gaming offers a much more refined gaming experience, eye-popping graphics, great sound effects, and could actually do a much better job at replicating the casino experience. Consoles are also optimized for high-resolution screens, which allows players to play on virtually any type of display without sacrificing quality.

Consoles Can Beat Casinos in the Race to Gamification

One of the biggest trends in the world of online gambling right now is gamification. More software providers and casinos are trying to create casino games with elements that are closer to video gaming than gambling. These games are popular with gamers as they add an element of skill to casino games, and can also make for a more immersive experience.

While many providers do a great job of integrating gaming within casino games, this is what gaming consoles and video game developers do best. In most cases, we can expect console games to outperform online casino games. Still, there are some online casino game developers that might still be able to compete. ha

However, being able to play on your couch with some of your friends using a gaming pad instead of a keyword and mouse is something that will be hard to beat for many gamers. This could also be what brings gamblers who may have scoffed at the idea of playing online casinos before to the table. Click here for horse betting the best platform in Singapore.

This isn’t a New Phenomenon

Contrary to what many may think, gambling on online consoles is nothing new. As a matter of fact, the Nintendo company tried to bring gambling into American homes all the way back in 1991. Nintendo has always been at the cutting edge of technology, has always banked on innovation, and they even tried to build a partnership with the state of Minnesota that would allow players to play lottery games through a new modem Nintendo developed. 

The project was launched as a trial in 10,000 households, and not only did Nintendo provide free modems to all participants, but the state offered free NES consoles to those who didn’t have one already. For the sum of $10, people could get a cartridge that would allow them to play every lottery game for a month; even those with mega jackpots.

However, the project received a lot of backlash from various groups for using a console that was supposed to be targeted at kids as a tool for gambling. One general manager for a major gaming company even equated it to having a bookie coming into your kid’s bedroom. Needless to say, the project was axed, never to see the light of day again.

Video Gaming Still Has the Upper Hand

Popular online poker exec Kim Lund stated that the online casino industry is still facing some backlash and scrutiny from regulators. The video game industry, on the other hand, has found many ways to circumvent that. He also mentioned that while online casinos have been dabbling with gamification, it is still “surface-level fluff”, and that gaming companies were much more ready to embrace casino concepts than the other way around. One game, in particular, Coinmaster, is totally free and combines a village building game with coin machine prizes. The game also has a big interactive element that makes it rewarding without the need for cash games. 

There is no doubt that online gambling is in the crosshair of console gaming developers, and we can expect to see more gambling aspects being integrated into console games. The question is, who will be the first to introduce a full-fledged online casino game with actual rewards, and will the legal landscape allow for it?