A platform is a system. It is a computer system where software can work. For example, mobile is a platform—it refers to smartphones, regardless of the operating system. Another kind of platform is PC, and so are consoles like XBOX and PlayStation.
In online gambling, the platform is an important factor, so you can decide whether or not to join an online casino. Today, we will talk more about platforms and help you understand what cross-platform compatibility means in online gambling.
What is the Gambling Platform?
Back in the days when the internet was not yet invented, the most common way you could gamble was inside a land-based casino. Another way you could do it was to invite friends. There were some shady gambling facilities back then.
The physical location in itself is a platform. It is a casino, and people come there to gamble. In horse racing events, the platform was the racing stadium. You had to go there, stand in line and then place your bets.
After a while, people created a new platform, which was a betting kiosk. From that time on, people could place bets in various areas, and they no longer had to go to the racetrack. They only had to place their bets and then watch the race on television.
A platform is a system where the gambling facility can offer the games. Mainly, it offers accessibility. In 1994, Microgaming launched the first official online gambling facility. At that time, all you needed was a computer and an internet connection. That was the birth of what is called the desktop platform.
The Cross-Platform Online Casino
As the years went by, Apple launched the first massively commercial and successful smartphone. Although Apple was not the first to make a smartphone, the iPhone was a revolutionary product—it allowed people to download apps and games.
Gambling institutions saw this as an opportunity to provide access to gamers. Many gamblers did not have a computer. Desktop computers and laptops cost an arm and a leg. When Apple released the iPhone, it took only a few years before the smartphone became a part of everybody’s life. Because of the growth of the number of smartphone users, gambling institutions wanted to use this platform. At that time, you could only play at an online casino if you installed the “casino client” on your PC.
Then operators like GG Bet launched their mobile platform casinos. Taking this into perspective, a cross-platform casino is one that works on both desktop and mobile. The cross-platform casino, at its infancy, was a little problematic. Players had to install the gambling software on the PC, and if they wanted to play on mobile, they could only do it if the casino also had a mobile app.
The Browser-Based Platform
As time went by, game developers and casino operators decided that it is best to make their online gambling facilities browser-based. This was made possible by the advancement of HTML and other computer languages. Now, gambling institutions and game developers primarily make their games on the HTML 5 language, making sure that the games will also work on mobile.
Also, the casino institutions made sure that the way their websites are designed takes into account mobile compatibility. Because of all these efforts, a player can now gamble on a desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile device by accessing only one website URL.
There is no need to download and install an app to be able to gamble online. All you have to do to play online casino roulette or other casino games is to launch a browser and go to your casino’s website. Whether you are accessing it from a laptop, mobile device or console like PlayStation, you will have access to the same games.
A cross-platform compatible casino is one that you can access on any device. In the future, we are looking at these casinos also taking advantage of other technologies. As of today, virtual reality and augmented reality technologies are currently being perfected. Once they become available for use, we are sure that the casino industry will again develop their sites to be compatible with these devices.
