Believe it or not, there was a time when phones were only used for phone calls and text messages. Long before the internet was something we could access on our smartphones, online gaming companies were laying the foundations and changing the whole fabric of the gaming industry. 

Developers now have one eye on the development of online ideas. As home video consoles began to lose their monopoly on the sector and smartphones have started to transform the market over the last decade, the amount of time we spend online and the reasons behind it have adapted to the new digital landscape. 

Breaking Down the Barriers

Online gaming has ushered in a mountain of new ideas and innovations since the early part of this century. However, one of the main components that has contributed to this exponential growth has been the ability to break down walls and turn localised gaming markets into much broader international markets, where people share ideas and content that everyone can access.

According to casino gaming experts, there are a number of different variables that define the top casinos in South Africa. Some experts believe that customer service and game selection are paramount. For others, the importance of security and licensing should take precedence; however, what underlies this success is the visibility that the industry now has within the broader gaming community. 

There was a time when casinos were on the backbenches of online gaming. While they initially showed promise, issues with mass adoption arose due to limited internet access. However, because it was more expensive, and those who did have access in the 90s can attest to just how slow it was, it took time for online gaming attitudes to shift. 

We weren’t living in a world with the fibre broadband and superfast connections we see today, which are imperative to the functionality of our economy and society. However, slowly but surely, more gaming companies moved online, harnessing the internet’s potential, and as people became more digitally literate, millions started to seek out online gaming. All these factors contributed to more people seeking out online platforms for other activities, not just gaming. 

Responsible Gambling

Online gambling has transformed the tools and monitoring of problem gamblers. Although this can take various forms, given that all gamblers have a different budget that they can work with, the red flags remain the same. 

If you are gambling too much, spending more time and money than initially planned or it is starting to have a negative impact on your close relationships, then it is crucial to stop betting, self-exclude and seek out assistance from a problem gambling charity or support group such as Gamblers Anonymous. 

Smartphones: Everything in the Palm of our Hand

From a gaming point of view, one of the most significant moments in the last two decades was console gaming moving online. It blew open the doors of possibility, allowing players to face off against people from all over the world. 

While this may now sound run-of-the-mill given that you can turn on a game console without any issues in the modern day, it was a goal that Sony and Microsoft had both raced toward for years. 

It showed that gaming wasn’t confined to arcades or expensive video game consoles played in solitude; they can operate as springboards to create social events, stimulate competition and inject a new lease of life into the gaming industry.

If we zoom out from the gaming industry, smartphones have become the one-stop shop for us. We can do everything on them, whether we are checking out the top restaurants in Joburg, doing our daily banking and paying our bills, or sending a funny meme to our friends — we can do everything online. 

The factors that led to the exponential growth of the online gaming world in the 90s are now becoming invaluable in daily life. Smartphones are cheaper, the internet connections are more reliable and the watertight security means that hundreds of millions of people now see the internet as the new fabric of our world, rather than just a quirky new way to play games. The changes are remarkable, and they have happened quickly.

Looking to the Future

Experts are becoming increasingly torn about whether the presence of online media and ultra-easy access to our smartphones will continue to be a central part of our society. As more of us explore the idea of a digital detox, given that some people spend 12 hours a day on their phones, it’s crucial to find that balance. 

While our phones are a priceless asset in our lives, we must also be wary of being pulled in completely. We have a world at our fingertips, but this doesn’t mean we need to immerse ourselves in it while shutting out the social elements. 

Security systems like biometric ID and two-factor authentication are making it close to impossible for people to completely remove themselves from the digital world, and there’s a growing push toward AI and immersive experiences. So, while phones can be used for fun, it’s also essential to educate yourself about them. 

Gaming is the same. It can be fun to play a few games online or use online gaming to stay connected to our friends or like-minded communities. However, as is the case with anything in life, moderation is essential too.