The online casino niche has evolved considerably in recent times, both in terms of its market share in the UK and the evolving technology that underpins it.
In terms of the former, online gameplay now accounts for a whopping 35% of the UK’s total gambling market, with this number likely to grow further in the near-term. Beyond this, players need no long download software in order to access their favourite online casinos, as they can instead enjoy their favourite titles through flash technology.
Modern-day players can also identify the best online casinos through independent comparison websites such as www.scams.info, helping them to enjoy a significantly safer and more rewarding experience.
This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of technological advancement, however, with the hardware used to play casino games also set to evolve exponentially in the future. In this post, we’ll explore this further while asking what you’ll need to enjoy the casino games of tomorrow.
The Basic Hardware that you Need Right Now?
Even in the current market, players need specific hardware to enjoy the best casino games. Aside from a tablet, smartphone or laptop, for example, you’ll also require a suitable operating system and the necessary storage space to run your preferred titles seamlessly
The specification of the hardware that you need will depend on the device that you use. If you play on a PC or laptop, for example, a decent benchmark for your choice of operating system is a 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 processor or equivalent.
While standard graphics cards should suffice for casino games, your PC or laptop should feature at least 1GB of internal RAM alongside this. This minimise the risk that your chosen games will experience disruption or buffering, which is crucial when participating in real-time tournament play.
In fact, competitive players who want to pursue gains through live casino channels should invest in devices with an advanced spec and operating system, while also purchasing additional storage when required.
From a mobile perspective, it’s always wise to ensure that you have installed the very latest iteration of iOs or Android operating system. These products are typically standardised, so as long as you have a relatively modern iteration installed you should be able to play even most graphically advanced of games.
Similarly, try to set aside around 100MB of internal storage as a minimum prior to accessing your preferred casino platform. If you’re struggling to realise this through your handset, you may want to invest in a supplementary SD memory card, as this can offer up 32GB in additional memory.
The Rise of VR – How will Hardware Requirements Change?
Back in the spring of 2017, NetEnt announced that they were developing the world’s first virtual reality (VR) slot game for its casino library. While we’re still waiting for this title to be released, it will blaze a significant trail for others to follow and could usher in the age of VR gambling.
Once VR slots and casino games begin to dominate the sector, you’ll need to upgrade your available hardware while adding new accessories to your inventory. PC gamblers will need to invest in some dedicated hardware, including a device that is designed to meet the requirements of VR headsets such as HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
Typically, this means buying PCs with Windows 7 source pack 1 or newer and an Intel Core i5 4590 processor. Similarly, you’ll need up to 8gb of RAM and an advanced graphics card such as the Geoforce 970. The key is to select a gaming device that is compatible with your chosen headset, by paying close attention to the specification and requirements.
Once again, the standardised nature of mobile products makes the choice of hardware a little easier, particularly as a number of dedicated headsets and goggles have been designed for specific handsets.
If you own a Samsung Galaxy S6 handset or above (along with an updated operating system version), for example, the Samsung Gear VR is the ideal product selection. Not only has this accessory been designed to suit the specifications of the latest Android handsets, but it’s also perfectly placed to optimise gaming experiences such as Minecraft and Land’s End.
If you’re in the market for a cheaper and more accessible VR experience through your mobile, you could invest in affordable goggles manufactured by Merge VR. These typically cost less than £150, while also being compatible with all Android smartphones that adhere to the latest OS specifications.
The Last Word
As you can see, the expected proliferation of VR casinos and gambling experiences will alter the hardware requirements facing players, from the core devices that they use to the new accessories that they need to invest in.
Even now, players need to consider their hardware requirements when playing casino games, particularly given the introduction of live casino gameplay and increasingly sophisticated titles.
Regardless, you’ll need to ensure that your device is compatible with your chosen accessories, while also accessing specifications that allow for a seamless and uninterrupted experience.
