Greg Mcfee 
Digital innovation has had a profound impact on modern life. The new technology has profoundly changed finance and communications. But what most of us are fascinated by is the effect digital innovation is having on entertainment. It seems like most of the popular mediums are changing for the better; and we have the latest technologies to thank.
The iGaming industry is an example of a market that would not exist without digital revolution. The internet is necessary for online casinos to run after all. Innovative technologies are also necessary to make the online gambling industry as appealing to the general public as possible. Adaptations of the most popular games would not be possible without innovation.
Blackjack in iGaming
The history of iGaming begins in the 20th century. But it wasn’t until the early years of the modern era that online casinos truly took off. The reason is that this was the time when operators began branching out of simple slot games and into more complex titles. Few will be surprised to hear that blackjack was among the more popular choices for gambling fans in the early 21st century. But the popularity of the game during this era could not compare to that of land-based casinos.
The gambling industry of the early century had a lot going against it. The internet was new and many were not ready for online transactions. Many were cautious of online scammers and swindlers. These kinds of issues were rampant at the time; especially with the lack of any real regulation. But the change soon came as the cyber age slowly encroached on modern society. Governments worldwide began regulating the online market and new tech made gambling on the internet simple and fun.
It was during this time that blackjack truly took off. The reason for its success was the introduction of livestreaming to the digital entertainment sector. It is no exaggeration to say that streaming services were able to propel online blackjack to a level that only slots enjoyed previously. The face-to-face interaction between the online dealer and player is a big reason for the game’s success. But the interaction between fellow gamblers certainly plays a role as well.
Security Measures Improve the Experience
Livestream services have greatly contributed to blackjack’s meteoric rise. The camaraderie that comes from online interaction truly elevates the player experience. But that fellowship is far from the only reason that blackjack has enjoyed such major success. We can say that the growing dedication to cybersecurity also plays a big role in online blackjack’s success. Protection online is a big part of the modern experience; especially considering the growing problem of cybercrime.
Gambling websites have done a pretty good job of implementing new and effective security measures. The Know Your Customer protocols have proven particularly useful in combating identity theft and spam. Blackjack pages now require fans to share identification with the website in order to verify their account. They’ve significantly reduced the amount of fake accounts by doing this. The most important part is that they’ve managed to cut down online scams like identity theft significantly since KYC became the norm.
A lot of online casinos are also using encryption to protect their users and data. Encryption has proven to be effective in fending off hacking attempts and similar external threats. The most common encryption tech used by online casinos for the past few years has been SSL. But in an era where smart tech has grown good enough to keep us connected to our pets; we wouldn’t be surprised if we see a new and improved encryption method in under a decade.
Blockchains and Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency has played a central role in the digital renaissance. The release of Bitcoin is the most important shift in tech in the new century. Satoshi Nakamoto took great inspiration from Friedrich Hayek for his invention. Likeminded people were very excited for Bitcoin’s release in the late 2000s. But the concept of crypto trading has become mainstream a decade later. Online blackjack platforms played a pretty important role in the new market becoming a staple of pop culture.
Casinos on the web were among the first legitimate markets to embrace crypto transactions. Blackjack players could make wagers using Bitcoin or Ethereum when playing online. Enabling crypto transactions brought a lot of traders into iGaming. But it also had the reverse effect; where many gamblers who might not have heard of Bitcoin were now deeply invested in the burgeoning market. One can’t talk about Bitcoin without bringing up the ledgers that they run on.
Blockchain tech is what makes cryptocurrency run. Without these ledgers the peer to peer system that Nakamoto came up with would not function as he intended. But a blockchain’s use goes far beyond just housing Bitcoin. Many have suggested that online casinos could be built entirely on a blockchain. Some savvy creators have even launched so-called crypto casinos; where players can enjoy anonymous and fast-paced gambling. There has even been some serious talk of a future world wide web that exists entirely across multiple blockchains.
The Future of Blackjack Online
Digital technology has not stopped evolving. It is only improving with each passing year in fact. That means that the future of online blackjack might look very different than what we can imagine today. Many believe that virtual reality will play a big role in its development. A fully digital casino where players can meet up using in-game avatars sounds fantastical now. But it may just be the norm for gamblers in a decade or two.
It would not be a major shock if the future of blackjack is deeply tied to blockchains. We talked before about plans to advance the world wide web to a point where it only exists across blockchain ledgers. That may be a lofty goal; but plenty of gambling enthusiasts have suggested a small scale version of that very idea. One big online casino spread across multiple ledgers might be an achievement that we see within the next decade.
