Belgium 
Canada 
China 
Germany 
Denmark 
Spain 
France 
United Kingdom 
Croatia 
Ireland 
Italy 
Japan 
Korea 
Netherlands 
Poland 
Romania 
Serbia 
Russian Federation 
Sweden 
Thailand 
United States 
Vietnam 
Although it may be a little tricky to read these changes in the moment, it's possible to get a clue as to how the industry is changing by looking out for some tells. Interesting changes that have manifested themselves in reality, these tells are signs that the poker industry is on the up and players are set to receive a better deal.
Poker Platforms Evolving into Something Greater
From blackjack, like they play in The Hangover, to roulette and slots, poker players with an urge to take on variance in a different way can access a host of new options inside the PokerStars 7 platform. Fully integrated and interconnected, the software is a manifestation of how modern poker players are demanding more bang for their buck.
Strategic and Technical Similarities
Using a combination of logic, skill and mathematical analysis, poker grinders and casino players are able to ride a way of variance towards a (hopefully) profitable outcome. Because of this theoretical connection between the two disciplines it's possible for players to easily switch from game-to-game and enjoy some degree of success.
From a functional point of view, casino and poker games also have a number of technological links. When you log into Poker Stars Casino you'll be able to scroll through its list of credentials and find a certified random number generator powering its games. For seasoned poker players, the concept of RNGs is a familiar one and something that should inspire confidence that each turn of a card will be fair.
Another similarity between online poker and online casino gaming is the ability to converse with players and fire up multiple games in a single session. One of the main reasons the iGaming industry is converging and operators such as PokerStars are bringing together all facets of the industry is to create a more communal atmosphere. Taking inspiration from other online industries, iGaming is becoming a more unified product.
iGaming Learning from the Big Boys
Why
would a poker operator such as PokerStars want to augment an already
successful platform with a string of new options? The answer is
simple: connectivity breeds greater immersion and, therefore,
entertainment. The World Wide Web was designed to connect people and
ideas and aid the proliferation of knowledge. However, as new
industries have grown up online they've become separate entities of
their own.
For example, YouTube and Spotify were once the scourge of the traditional music industry because they gave users a more instant way to enjoy their favourite artists. However, thanks to a merging of interests, record labels, artists and online portals are all now working as one. The same is true of the TV industry. Online streaming and video archives are now standard for all the largest TV networks in the world, such as the BBC or FOX.
Poker and Casino are Better as One
The iGaming industry has simply taken this model and adapted to suit its own needs. As the industry has moved into the mainstream, there's been an increased need to cater to more tastes and offer more options to the casual player. The net result of this has been a shift towards cohesion and the creation of super platforms where poker and casino games now exist in the same space. Much like YouTube and major record labels, users can now access every part of an industry with a few simple clicks.
As Aristotle said "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" and that's true of the iGaming industry. Complete platforms are beginning to prosper in new ways and that can only be a good thing for players from all sides of the gaming spectrum.
