Looking for a new challenge after playing eSports for a while? Or maybe you’re a newbie to the genre, and you’re wondering what else is out there that can offer a level of competition during online play. No matter what your background or experience level in eSports, iGaming might just be the next genre to dive into.
What is iGaming?
Given that the genre has been on the rise since the early 2010s, you may well have come across the term ‘iGaming’ before. It’s actually an umbrella term that encompasses online casino and poker games, as well as sports betting and lotteries. More recently, iGaming has come to include play-to-earn activities as well as some blockchain games. For the purposes of getting started with the genre, however, we’ll stick with the two main verticals of casino and poker.
Quite simply, online casino and poker games are digitized versions of the classic games that people have been playing in gaming rooms for centuries. The online casino vertical includes the likes of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, and slots. Online poker, meanwhile, includes – well, poker!
One of the most innovative things about iGaming experiences in these two verticals is that they’re based on the classic rulesets that underpin each and every one of these games, just updated for a modern gaming audience. In fact, “just” doesn’t give this innovative genre justice. Online casino and poker games incorporate advanced technology to create immersive experiences, while the live dealer games that are broadcast via platforms are sometimes even filmed with cinematic cameras.
How to Find Games
Gaming is inherently trend-driven, and there are plenty of potential new eSports titles being released on a regular basis. While you can afford to take a few risks with trying out a new eSports game, especially if it’s from an indie developer or a new studio, the same can’t be said for iGaming.
Unlike eSports, iGaming is a real-money-based activity, so it’s crucial that you only play games on licensed, reputable platforms. A useful way of finding new games to try is to check out industry reviews. Online publications dedicated to the iGaming market regularly post reviews of platforms and individual games – such as this review for the LuckyLand free slot offer – where you can read about key features as well as both the pros and the cons.
Since there is so much variety out there, from virtual reality poker to lightning roulette, it’s also a good idea to stick with one game until you’ve developed a good sense of how to play. Just as you would with eSports, it’s generally better to specialize and hone your skillset in your vertical of choice before moving on to another one.
Are There Opportunities to Compete?
If you’ve already got some experience playing competitive video games, whether at an amateur or pro level, you’ll no doubt be wondering if you can achieve the same in the iGaming genre. The good news is that, yes, there certainly are opportunities to compete. However, you won’t find them across every genre.
Generally speaking, the key iGaming vertical in which you can take part in tournaments is poker. That’s because poker is a mindsport and a multiplayer game, whereas casino games are typically played solo against the dealer.
You’ll find tournaments and competitive opportunities available to poker beginners as well as more experienced players right the way through to elite pros. Most reputable platforms will offer periodic online championships, and they can often be a great place to start.