Predicting technology trends is not always an easy task. Mostly it is rumours and snippets of information about what might be, while there are also companies that are already giving away spoilers of what’s coming in order to build up hype. Artificial Intelligence is slow to break into mainstream retail online and offline, but we always hear of what it can and will do. Virtual Reality (VR) has also been slow to move forward, but finally we are seeing tangible hints of what is to come. While the most obvious trending tech news to look out for in 2022 are out there in plain daylight–cryptocurrency, iGaming, and the rise in blockchain software solutions.
Trends in iGaming Technology
In 2022, new trends in the iGaming industry are gearing towards the progressive jackpot side of the market. Gaming companies are using new tech that allows casinos or casino platform aggregators to plug in jackpots into their game titles. What’s more is the same tech pools these slots together, so there are multiple games attached to and contributing to the same progressive jackpots. It’s pretty impressive.
Now most people that understand progressive jackpots think video slots, but these high paying jackpots are now spreading across live casino table games, online bingo, and scratch cards. Pragmatic Play bingo jackpot has paid out $50,000 in the past, and most notably looking at these best bingo sites and developers, we can see they are growing in popularity thanks to progressive jackpots.
That said, there is still a way to go for table game and bingo jackpots to catch up with the dizzy heights of jackpots from video slots using pooled technology. Take Microgaming’s Mega Moolah network, which paid out a mega €19.4 million Euro win on its Absolootly Mad jackpot slot in 2021.
Virtual Reality Tech
Although 2022 is not likely the year for VR to make a bold move into mainstream commercialisation, it should see the most sales compared to any other year. With devices like the Oculus and VR headsets for games consoles becoming more popular, we can expect to hear more about virtual reality encounters. On top of this, VR is popular in sports markets now. Cyclists, runners, rowing enthusiasts, simply those that like to work out in the gym, can make exercise routines more entertaining via VR.
For example, mountain bikers can hook up their actual bike to a machine with 20% incline and decline as well as sideway motions using a surfboard-like contraption, then put on the VR headset and cycle almost any mountain bike track in the world.
Further Investment in Cryptocurrency
Going into 2022, cryptocurrencies have been up and down. The leader in crypto, Bitcoin, is still not sure whether it wants to hit what many say is the inevitable $100k mark. If you have been reading expert opinions on Bitcoin, apparently it will not be long before it hits that milestone, and 2022 is the year to do it. Some are even predicting $200k in 2022, while that figure may come in another year. And it’s not only Bitcoin you need to keep your eye on these days as there are plenty of cryptocurrencies suddenly doubling in value.
However, BTC is the leader in the pack and a rise in price to $100k in 2022 will then see a surge in investment. And with the stability of cryptos and unstoppable rise, we will see more financial/payment solutions designed especially for cryptocurrencies.
Increase in Awareness of Blockchain Tech Solutions
If you don’t work in the world of tech, or you are not a techy, then you probably won’t see or hear about new blockchain tech solutions. When you use internet banking, you are using a software solution. When you use an eComm store, book a holiday on Agoda or Booking.com, or use a mobile app on your smartphone, these are all software solutions. Most of us don’t really worry about the tech behind the solutions we use and only accessibility, ease-of-use, and performance matter to us.
Well, without you even knowing, more apps you use will become blockchain based over the course of 2022–in fact, research shows that blockchain solutions will grow 75% in 2022. For you as a consumer, this means cheaper prices because these solutions cost less, use less storage space, and often use much less power. There is a rumour that this year might be the year for the first smartphone running on a blockchain ecosystem to be released into the commercial marketplace.
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