Over the last decade, the online poker business has undergone tremendous development and change. What does the future hold for real money poker sites as we approach 2024? Let’s take a look at the significant trends and forecasts that will shape the online poker environment in the future year.
Continued Growth in the United States
The growth of legal, regulated markets in the United States has been one of the major storylines in online poker in recent years. The regulated online poker industry in the United States is now led by New Jersey, although states like as California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Ohio are also possible new markets in 2024.
The ongoing expansion of legal online poker in the United States has benefited major poker sites such as PokerStars, WSOP.com, and partypoker, allowing them to expand their player pools and tournament prize pools. As more jurisdictions legalize real money poker sites that run 24/7, expect increasing income and innovation that will benefit both poker operators and players.
Live Streaming and VR Integration
The combination of live streaming and virtual reality technologies with online poker is another development that is expected to accelerate in 2024. Sites such as PokerStars VR, which was now rebranded to Vegas Infinite, have already had success combining live poker with virtual reality and immersing players in a virtual poker room. In the following year, expect even more refining of visuals, gameplay, and social features.
Twitch poker broadcasting has also lately grown in popularity. Top players like Daniel Negreanu frequently livestream their online poker sessions and communicate in real time with followers. The chance to watch top pros play online benefits recreational players by allowing them to enhance their own games. In 2024, expect sites to incorporate streaming and virtual reality capabilities straight into the poker client for more seamless watching experiences.
Continued Rise of Mobile Play
Mobile poker has been on the rise for some years, and by 2024, online poker will be more played on smartphones and tablets. Mobile poker income currently accounts for 80% or more of worldwide online poker revenue. Platforms will continue to optimize their apps for mobile play. Expect short sit-and-go tournaments for mobile users, as well as specialty varieties developed exclusively for the mobile experience.
Advances in mobile payment processing and security will also contribute to the expansion of mobile poker. Real money mobile poker players benefit from features such as digital wallets, one-touch payments, and biometric logins. The flexibility to deposit, withdraw, and multi-table safely on a phone or tablet from anywhere will contribute to mobile being the main form of online poker.
More Recreational Player Incentives
Expect online poker operators to appeal to their recreational player base even more in 2024. Operators now understand the necessity of keeping and encouraging casual gamers in addition as sharks and professionals. Recreational gamers will benefit from VIP rewards programs, tournament leaderboards, and fixed buy-in tournaments.
Poker rooms may also increase their casino game options, allowing players to switch between poker and blackjack, roulette, and slots with ease. Increased cross-sell potential makes it simpler to retain gamers who like poker but also other forms of gaming.
Many sites offer players to exchange poker rewards points for bonus cash that can be used to play casino games. Next year, recreational gamers will benefit from more uniform gambling experiences.
Evolving Artificial Intelligence
In 2024, the complexity of poker bots and AI will continue to rise. However, while powerful AI may defeat the greatest humans in simpler variants of poker, defeating top pros in full-ring no-limit hold’em remains extremely tough. Human players’ unique bet sizes, blind play, and exploitative decision making continue to pose problems for even the most powerful poker AI systems.
In 2024, expect the emergence of advanced poker training tools and applications rather than AI opponents. PokerSnowie and PioSOLVER are already assisting players in mastering game theory optimal play. AI-based tutoring will become more sophisticated and accessible to the average poker fan as technology improves.
Safety and Security Still Key
Even with all the exciting advances on the horizon, licensed online poker companies will prioritize safety and security. In 2024, protecting player cash and data will be critical. KYC procedures, geolocation services, anti-fraud technologies, and proactive account monitoring will all continue to improve.
Encrypted connections, two-factor authentication, and sufficient monitoring provide players peace of mind when playing real money poker online. As the business evolves, operators will work more closely with authorities to develop security procedures.
Potential Cryptocurrency Integration
Could 2024 be the year when bitcoin is officially accepted in online poker? Some younger poker sites currently allow cryptocurrency deposits and payouts, but the larger established networks have yet to completely embrace it. Crypto’s volatility and anonymity continue to pose regulatory concerns.
However, the poker industry may now be ready to reap the benefits of crypto’s faster transactions, improved security, and more accessibility and liquidity. Although Bitcoin and Ethereum appear to be the most natural choices, operators may also choose to create their own digital currencies. Integration is still a question mark, but the moment may have come for cryptocurrency and online poker to merge.