Introduction
You’d have to spend a long time researching to find any sectors unaffected by the Internet. Its astonishing, disruptive influence on society started in the early 1990s. Although there were plenty of doubters in the early days who would laugh at the idea that mass adoption and widespread smartphone use would soon become a reality, those people and their misguided opinions have been relegated to the footnotes of history.
Gaming is one of many industries shaken up violently by the internet, and much of the industry’s recent success stems from the foundations of companies that noticed this trend developing several decades ago. There are too many changes to list, but today, our focus centers on what industries have changed the most and some of the developments and advances spearheaded by the internet.
#1 – Gambling Online
Many gambling companies were aware of the potential that existed for those who could develop a digital casino and market it successfully to international bettors. The first online casino ever launched celebrates its 30th anniversary next year. Although many have surpassed it in size and profit, 1994 remains one of the most crucial dates in the timeline of casino gaming for this reason. There are thousands of avenues for those looking to gamble online, whether you play casino games on a mobile app or seek out the thousands of slot machine sites available with a few swipes of your phone.
Poker has become almost an entirely new game due to the internet. Although the land-based version is still popular, the online version relies more on understanding hands than understanding how your opponent operates. Undeniably, some of the best online table games and casino games are pretty faithful recreations of in-person games. Roulette and blackjack are other table games that have flourished due to the smartphone-centric society in which we now live and the internet creating dimensions of new games and gaming designs that people can research and play more conveniently from home because of the interconnectivity of the internet.
#2 – Playing Against People Worldwide
Twenty years ago, those who made money in the gaming sector were designers or advertisers and almost exclusively worked for the giant, household names in the industry like Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo. During the early noughties and mid-2000s, there was a collective movement within gaming to develop online platforms where home console gamers could play against people worldwide.
This was before internet access increased considerably, so the logistical issues were plentiful, and there were various significant obstacles the sector had to overcome to make this dream possible. However, XBOX Live and PlayStation Plus launched to fanfare just a few years later, immediately generating colossal interest. Within a few years, they’d expanded to mobile apps.
#3 – Professional eSports
It was the dawn of a new age once online console gaming competition started to heat up, and as competitive games witnessed the formation of worldwide rankings, the idea of bringing the top players together for specific games and offering prize pools for those who came out on top was the next logical business move.
The internet galvanized this sector, resulting in millions of people watching online and communities driving organic markets for their favorite games via social media – all of which would have been impossible without the internet, leading to astonishing prize pools. However, these seven-figure prize pools will continue to climb higher as interest and investment in the sector also continue to soar.
It’s not just pro gamers who have made money, but event organizers, social media managers, marketers, and advertisers. Some of the biggest tournaments have presenters, which is another well-paid, exciting new entertainment profession that has only been made possible because of the Internet.
The Future Relationship Between Gaming and the Internet
For many ambitious professionals in the professional video gaming sector, the future looks positive. Still, as real-money gaming continues to grow, so does the potential for game developers and iGaming platforms to run afoul of intellectual property, privacy, and advertising regulations. An attorney specializing in real-money gaming can ensure businesses incorporating wagering games into their business models protect themselves against liability.
As the internet penetrates the gaming industry deeper, it’s creating more jobs and profit, increasing ingenuity. It’s symptomatic of our society, where mobile phones and the internet occupy vast portions of our day. Tens of millions of people spend hours per day scrolling through social media or playing games on their phones or consoles.
Given that there’s still so much of an appetite for online gaming and so many people consistently seeking out the latest iPhone, there are plenty of good omens to weigh up. Thanks to its tech and mobile device innovations, Apple is now a $3 trillion company. While some analysts think the market could cool off and potentially plateau, there are still billions of dollars of potential profit in gaming. This profit and a constant passion for innovation fuel continual and persistent interest in the gaming sector, so gaming and the internet will continue to co-exist, with each industry playing an integral role in the existence and success of the other.