Online gaming has evolved considerably during the last 30 years, advancing from fixed point private network matches that were common during the early 1990s to the sprawling multiplayer experiences available today across a variety of platforms and devices.

The main driver for this change has been new technology. It is now possible for someone to log onto an NJ Online Casino and play a variety of card games, table games, and slots using a smartphone. Even 15 years ago, this luxury was not possible as online experiences were centered around desktop PCs and fixed broadband connections.

Online gaming is more accessible than ever before for this reason. A player can download an app from the app store and access multiplayer action games on the go via 4G and 5G cellular network technology. The superfast speeds ensure smooth gaming and low latency even when someone is facing off against a lobby of up to 100 real players in games like PUBG Mobile. 

The affordability of the internet, smartphones, and games have also opened up online gaming to a broader audience during the last few years. It is now possible for people all over the world to purchase a budget Android device, for example, and log into a casino and enjoy a wide range of experiences. That was not the case 20 or 30 years ago when the tech was not as mature and was very expensive for the average user. 

The cost of entry has also decreased recently due to a rise in free-to-play games. These experiences allow players to download a game without paying a single cent and to access its core features. While there are microtransactions and other forms of paid downloadable content available, it is now possible for someone to download a game in a few minutes and to start playing immediately.

The rise in online gaming has boosted the sector significantly. The industry was worth almost $135bn in 2018.A figure that is set to rise to more than $180bn by next year according to a forecast by Newzoo. Mobile gaming now accounts for the vast majority of that figure, highlighting how accessibility has increased the number of people playing online. 

The US is one of the principal regions for online gaming, but others are catching up. China and Latin America are among the fastest-growingareas, and online gaming is taking hold in other countries,including India. 

One of the reasons for that, as noted earlier, is the emergence of the smartphone as a multi-purpose gaming device. Cell phones no longer just make calls and texts; they act as professional pocket cameras, music players, and gaming hubs complete with high resolution, OLED displays. Online gaming is more accessible than ever before because people can jump into casino games right away and continue playing on any one of the devices they have at home, be it a PC, laptop or tablet.

Online gaming is going to become even more accessible during the next decade as a new wave of tech and devices opens up experiences to more people wherever they are in the world.