There can be no doubt that playing your favorite online game at a casino is a great way to have fun. But have you ever wondered just how online casino games work? What types of technology have made it possible to visit a virtual casino for online betting? And what about other forms of online gambling?Â
We answer these and other related questions by decoding how online casinos and other forms of online gambling work.Â
The Technology Behind Online Casinos and Online Gambling
Without modern digital technologies, there simply wouldn’t be any online casinos or other online gambling services. Here’s a quick look into the different technologies that have made the modern gambling experience what it is.
The Internet
The simple truth is that you wouldn’t be here reading about online gambling if it weren’t for the Internet. The decision taken in 1994 to make this global network of computers and its supporting technology publicly accessible changed the future of humanity in fundamental ways.
Broadband Connections
While the internet may be the technology that got it all started, we’d still be primarily browsing websites consisting of text if it weren’t for the development of various wired and wireless broadband technologies.Â
The ever-increasing bandwidth and responsiveness of internet connections took the web to a whole new level by providing people with the kind of multimedia experience that the first generation of internet users would have considered impossible. These faster internet connections also opened up a whole new world of gaming development for those who recognized the full potential of the internet.
Mobile Technology
While the internet and broadband constitute the fundamentals of online gambling, the icing on the cake was developments in the physical hardware that enabled people to unplug from desktop computers. Sure, while some people still enjoy sitting at their desks and playing online poker or calculating the odds for their next big sports bet, others like to sit back and relax on a couch with a tablet playing online blackjack or spinning the reels of their favorite jackpot slot while sitting on the subway or riding the bus. Unplugged gaming has freed gamblers and allowed them to play from wherever they want as long as their gaming is supported by an internet connection.
Cryptocurrency
A modern technology that has undoubtedly made a significant, if problematic, contribution to the online gaming experience, is the blockchain, more specifically, cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies, or digital currencies, are indeed very promising. If you like to gamble online, it promises a way to free you and all other gamblers from many of the frustrations of traditional banking systems, including things such as delays when making deposits and withdrawals, as well as increased privacy for those who’d like to be more secure and discreet.
Although the benefits of embracing crypto are clear, they have yet to find their place in government-approved financial systems before they will completely replace mainstream currencies. For now, this means that it’s still best to gamble using an online service that offers you the protection of traditional payment and withdrawal methods.
Virtual Reality
Another technology that rose to prominence in the mid-2010s was VR. Oculus released its first-ever mainstream VR device and soon, everyone was talking about how VR was the next big thing. It’s been a few years since the release of their groundbreaking device and it’s safe to say that VR headsets have simply not changed the world the way the smartphone has.
That said, there’s still significant interest in this technological development: the world may yet see a headset that once again ignites interest from the general public the way AI has.
Various technologies which have made online gambling possible. Next up, learn how different elements work together when you gamble online.
How Do Online Casinos Work?
If you’re new to the world of online casinos, there are two main ways in which you can start playing your favorite games of chance online. You can use a web browser on your mobile phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer to visit an online casino the way you would any other website — simply put in the website address to navigate to the site. Alternatively, you can use a dedicated mobile app, if available. These apps are designed specifically for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets and to be suitable for their smaller screens.
Once you’ve made your way to the online casino of your choice using a browser or app, you’ll need to register for the service. If you’re playing through a legitimate service provider, you’ll need to provide your basic information in addition to various documents in order to verify your identity. This is known as KYC, or Know Your Customer, and is an important step online casinos need to take to ensure that both the online casino and the customer using their service are protected.Â
Once you’ve registered, simply make a deposit using a credit or debit card or any other supported method of payment. You can then use these funds to play your favorite jackpot slots or other casino games.
How Do Online Casino Games Work?
Look at the two main categories of online casino games, namely, digital casino games and live dealer casino games.
In order to make bets in both these types of online casino games, all you need to do is make a deposit once you’ve registered and then place your bet. Depending on the type of game you play, the interface may differ, but for most digital casino games, it’s easy to pick up how these user interfaces work.
How Digital Casino Games Work
A fundamental part of online casino table games or, for that matter, any online game of chance, is a piece of software known as a random number generator, or RNG, which essentially simulates the way chance works in the real world. There are different types of digital RNG systems, but the most common are software algorithms that constantly generate random numbers. These random numbers are then used by different digital casino games to produce random results. RNGs can be used to generate a certain combination of symbols in an online slot or the pocket in which the roulette ball lands. They can even be used to determine the cards that appear on the table in a game of virtual blackjack.Â
Those who worry that a casino or player could somehow manipulate these results can take comfort in the fact that these algorithms are constantly running, even when nobody is playing the game, which means it’s impossible to affect the results generated. In addition to this, these systems are audited by third parties to ensure that results are truly random and fair.
How Live Dealer Casino Games Work
The other type of casino game that’s been growing in popularity is live dealer casino games, which are hosted in special studios and look like real casinos because there are dealers overseeing the game, which means there’s no need to worry about any possible software glitches or other issues that may affect the game results. It’s almost exactly like sitting at a casino table game, except you get to watch via livestream through your computer or mobile device.
How Do Online Sportsbooks Work?
If you’re more of a sports betting fan, the process of joining a digital sportsbook is the same as with an online casino. Simply navigate to the online sportsbook using a web browser or app and complete the registration process. Once you’ve signed up, make a deposit and start gambling.
Online sportsbooks offer an incredible variety of sports for you to bet on, including baseball, basketball, football, hockey, MMA, tennis and many other thrilling sports. There are also many different types of wagers, such as spread, moneyline, over/under, total and parlay bets. Once you’ve placed your wager, it’s simply a case of waiting for the outcome of the race or match; if you win, you’ll receive a payout based on the odds of the wager.
See what benefits online gambling offers over in-person gambling.
Why Choose Online Gambling Over In-Person Gambling at a Traditional Casino?
You may be wondering why anyone would want to choose a virtual gambling experience over one at a physical location.Â
There are numerous benefits to online gambling, including:
- Greater convenience, since you can play from any supported device with an internet connection.
- The promotions and bonuses offered by many online casinos and sportsbooks.
- A greater variety of games for you to play and, in many cases, a more extensive sportsbook.
- No need to queue for any services on offer.
- You don’t have to get dressed up to visit an online casino or sportsbook.
How To Pick the Right Online Gambling Service?
If you’re ready to participate in the thrills of online gambling, it’s important to know where to start in order to avoid signing up for a fly-by-night or scam service.Â
Here are some things to look for when picking an online casino or other online gambling service.
Check if the Gambling Service Is Licensed To Operate in Your Region
Most countries have governing bodies that oversee the legal operation of online gambling services, so any legitimate gambling service will need to be registered with these organizations. If you play using a service that is not licensed in your area, you have no way to hold the service accountable if a problem arises.
The Service Uses Online Encryption To Protect Your Data
The most basic level of protection any trustworthy online gambling service will use is HTTPS. This is the standard for online protection which is used to ensure all the data that is sent between you and the provider is encrypted. If you gamble online and the site doesn’t use HTTPS, it’s entirely possible for a hacker or another malicious actor to intercept your traffic and steal or manipulate your data.
Research Their Online Reputation
It’s important to find out what other people’s experiences have been with a service provider, regardless of whether they were gambling or not. Thankfully it’s relatively easy to obtain online reviews or social media posts to find out what other people think about a service. Sites such as Facebook, Google, Reddit and other dedicated review platforms will likely have information on whether a service is good or bad. Just be sure to keep an eye out for reviews that seem fake or suspicious.
See What Payment Options They Offer
Another way to verify the legitimacy of an online gambling service is to see what payment services you can use to make deposits. Most financial services will take steps to ensure that their clients are above board in order to avoid being caught up in illegal acts. So, if an online gambling platform offers credit card payment options as well as payments through other services such as PayPal, Skrill or other well-recognizable financial service providers, they’re likely a trustworthy service. If a site only offers deposits through cryptocurrency, be very careful because it may well be a scam site that will simply take your crypto and run.
Get in Touch With Their Customer Support
It may seem strange to contact customer support for a service you haven’t yet signed up for, but by asking them some questions about their service, you’ll not only get an idea of their response times but also be able to decide if the information they provide is correct and helpful. Be sure to test the service out on multiple communication channels, such as email, live chat and social media, so that you can get a better sense of their professionalism.Â
Play the Best Jackpot Slots and More at BetMGM
Now that you have a better understanding of online casinos and online gambling, it’s time to have some fun at BetMGM. When you play at the casino online, you can enjoy an incredible range of virtual casino games, including table games, variety games, virtual sports and the best online slots, all for real money. When you visit BetMGM, you’ll even find your favorite live dealer casino game as well as a fantastic online poker service that will let you put your poker skills to the test.
And just in case you like to mix things up a bit, the online sportsbook has great sports betting action. Register at BetMGM to join in all the online gambling fun.
