How Technology is Changing the Way We Play Poker
Poker isn’t what it used to be – in the best way possible, of course. While thirty years ago, the only way to play poker was by going to a traditional casino and placing down your chips, in 2024, technology has completely changed the poker industry, to the point where there are multiple ways to play.
The first is the fact that poker is now mainly played online – this goes without saying. Over the last twenty years, the iGaming scene has been on a meteoric rise, with the evolution of smartphone technology ensuring that anyone can play a game of poker, at any time, in any place.
But apart from the online revolution, there are a few other technology changes that have revolutionised the poker space, and we wanted to take a moment to look at two of the most significant.
The Crypto Evolution
In 2009, the first Bitcoin whitepaper was created, and while this didn’t seem like a significant event at the time – there were many naysayers who assumed Bitcoin would never be worth more than the $0 it started at – cryptocurrency has now taken the world by storm.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is worth nearly $68,000, and there are numerous other altcoins that have similarly found success in the digital finance market. The iGaming industry was one of the first to really take advantage, too.
Nowadays, there are multiple Bitcoin poker sites that enable players more security and privacy to deposit and withdraw their funds – with the ability for faster transactions, limited delays, and greater anonymity also worth noting.
With one of the main drawbacks of online poker being the risks of cybersecurity, being able to play with extra transparency, fairness, and the game results being verified on an immutable ledger has made a huge impact on the industry.
The AI Revolution
Another developing technology that has had a profound impact on the online poker scene is artificial intelligence. Over the last few years, AI has led to the fast development of highly sophisticated training tools like GTO, which allows players to understand various strategies and learn how to analyse the hands of others better.
With the industry full of professionals, this has allowed for easier and more streamlined entry for beginner players who can access professional-grade resources, with tools offering clear feedback and giving players a route to improve faster than just traditional trial and error – which might end up negatively affecting their bankroll.
Once again, security across poker sites has also been improved. AI now plays a vital role in maintaining a fair and secure environment, with better bot detection and anti-collusion – AI algorithms can constantly monitor player behaviour and detect any suspicious activity – and assurance of fairness – AI algorithms can identify abnormal betting patterns and help poker platforms to intervene if foul play is suspected.
With these security measures in place, players around the world can now enjoy online poker with greater confidence, knowing that any potential for cheating is being effectively managed, which subsequently allows them to get their head in the game and focus on one key thing: winning the hand.