Almost every digital device in our lives collects data. Mobile phones record your location, what you use them for, and personal information. Smartphones can track your heartbeat, every step you make, and calories you burn when you exercise. Your e-book reader, smart fridge, lights, and televisions can also gather information that could be used to improve your experience.
Unsurprisingly, the iGaming industry is tapping on the Internet of Things (IoT) to increase growth and engagement with their games, more so, video slots. Sure, they have no problem with you using a desktop machine to bet. But they are now also making their games available to everyday devices.
Mobile Slots
Mobile slots are byproducts of the Internet of Things. They are only possible because IoT made it possible for smartphones to support the Internet. What's more, these devices can also run powerful processing software, ensuring people can comfortably play high-quality games.
Mobile gaming didn’t happen overnight, though. It has been a work in progress that’s not yet finished. But thanks to the continued improvement of technology, especially IoT, developers keep introducing better slots.
Today's mobile slots, for example, support HD and full HD resolutions. They have multiple configurations and can be played through apps and mobile browsers. All these advancements have made gaming experiences more delightful.
Social Friendly Games
Gone are the days when one-man bandits focused on gambling alone. Thanks to IoT, new online slots are designed with the gaming community in mind. That means they have features and gameplay meant to impress so many people that a community can be built around one slot.
Take Mega Moolah as an example. The game features a progressive jackpot with grand prizes as high as $15 million. It can be played on desktop machines, smartphones, iPads, and tablet devices.
The game's jackpot attracts tens of thousands of players yearly. Most of them play it across multiple devices. And that means fans can compete or challenge the prize of the same slot regardless of which device everyone is using.
Mega Moolah’s ability to bring friends together through multiple devices leads to more immersive experiences. It helps people gain sentimental value in slots—something unimaginable two decades ago.
Virtualizing Slots
One of the best impacts of IoT in the online casino industry is the virtualization of slots. You can mount a VR headset and experience Miss Midas, Gonzo's Quest, or Thunderstruck II slots in a tremendously immersive way.
When playing Starburst, VR can immerse you into a world full of stars and glossy diamonds. You can interact with Vikings in Thunderstruck II, or find treasures with Gonzo as if you were next to him.
Similar to social slots, no one would have imagined VR slots would be a possibility fifteen years ago. Slots were incredibly basic back then, and some didn't even respond to player interactions appropriately.
Bringing Players and Casinos Together
Another benefit of the Internet of Things is that it helped bridge the gap between casinos and players. For starters, it made instant communications through chatbots possible. And in doing so, casinos can receive immediate feedback about their slots and react accordingly.
If there's a glitch, all a player needs to do is to contact the casino and the flaw is fixed instantly. On the flip side, they can point out other issues in the slot that needs improvements. Then casino can then contact their software provider to make necessary changes.
In many ways, IoT has also helped players understand slots and casinos on a broader scale. If you want to join a great casino, there are websites where you can find more information about the best online slots sites. You can read their reviews and evaluate their mobile responsiveness. Then you can decide whether they are worth joining to play your favorite slots or not.
Smartwatch Slots
Smartwatches do a lot of things these days. They tell you the time, help you tweet, and can record your stats when you exercise. Now you can also use your Google Glass or Apple (News - Alert) Watch to play a handful of video slots.
Of course, smartwatch slots wouldn't be possible without the contribution of the Internet of Things. In fact, IoT is the primary reason you can pull out your watch and bet on slots. Without it, developers would probably not find it necessary to make these games.
Unfortunately, smartwatch slots are at an early stage of development. Similar to VR games, only a few of them exist. You also can't play these games on all smartwatches. Only a small portion of watches have the processing power and operating systems required to run slots.
If you have a top-notch smartwatch, however, consider playing these games. Your device’s screen might be small. But you will be one of the first people in the world to experience gaming on a watch. And who knows? You could end up winning some decent money.
Automating Games
Internet of Things works alongside machine learning and Artificial Intelligence to make video slots simpler and automated. As a result, you don’t need to configure your best manually anymore.
Instead, all you need is to select how much you want to bet. Then you can adjust wagers per spin and use an autoplay function to do the rest. In turn, you can save time and enjoy watching the symbols on reels spin without much involvement.
With the latest slots, IoT is much more involved. Not only has it helped automate games, but it also ensures you help save your gameplay. That way, you can log out of your account and continue where you stopped.
Crucially, it helps link your accounts across multiple devices. That way, casinos can track your likes and dislikes. And in turn, they can personalize your experience.
Summary
The Internet of Things (IoT) has had an immense impact on online slots for the last decade. First off, it helped usher mobile gaming. Then it enabled support for slots on smartwatches. However, its biggest impact lies in the ability to improve gaming experiences. Through IoT, casinos have learned what players hate and like and tailor their slots to suit each person.
