What lies ahead in the next five-to-10 years for technology in the casino gaming sector?
With artificial intelligence becoming ever more ubiquitous and the technical limits of gaming continuing to advance, the pace of change in the world of gaming technology shows no signs of slowing down.
We spoke to several key figures from high-end supplier companies to discover what the next 10 years might hold for gaming and take a look at some of the products helping to push its boundaries.
Rob Bennett, technical director, Novomatic Gaming UK
“The coming years promise to be transformative for the gambling and gaming industry. As technology continues to evolve, we have a unique opportunity to explore new ways of creating richer, more engaging experiences for players. However, innovation must always go hand in hand with responsibility, and we believe the most successful advancements will be those that balance new technology and player enjoyment with the highest standards of compliance, safety and integrity.
“Looking ahead, developments in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality and ever-increasing graphics and processing capabilities have the potential to reshape the gaming landscape. From more immersive environments and dynamic game experiences to intelligent personalisation and real-time insights, these technologies could unlock new opportunities for both players and operators. AI-powered analytics in particular have the potential to play an increasingly important role in game development, player engagement, fraud prevention and responsible gaming, helping to create safer and more enjoyable experiences.
“As the industry explores these opportunities, it is imperative to do so in a responsible, transparent and compliant way.
“Following the Novomatic Group’s robust compliance-driven framework, Novomatic Gaming UK works closely with regulators, auditors and industry stakeholders to ensure innovation is aligned with regulatory requirements, responsible gaming objectives and our ESG framework.
“The future is undoubtedly exciting, and by combining innovation with strong governance and a commitment to responsible gaming, we believe we can help shape the next generation of gaming experiences while maintaining the integrity and standards our industry depends on.”
Thomas Schmalzer, VP of global sales and product management, Novomatic
“The next decade of gaming will not be defined by one disruptive innovation, but by the intelligent integration of technologies that make operations more connected, flexible and valuable for operators and players.
“In conversations with our customers around the world, one trend has become increasingly clear: operators are looking for solutions that combine outstanding entertainment with operational efficiency and long-term investment security. Technology must do more than introduce new features – it needs to optimise operational efficiency, streamline processes and adapt to changing market requirements.
“This is where I see the industry’s greatest opportunities. Modular software platforms, scalable system architectures and seamlessly connected gaming ecosystems will become increasingly important. We will see more networked gaming devices that can be centrally managed and continuously optimised, including the flexible deployment of game content. Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics will further support decision-making, optimise floor performance and help operators better understand player preferences, and always within the framework of responsible gaming and local regulations.
“At the same time, the boundaries between individual channels and gaming experiences will continue to evolve. Omnichannel digital wallets and cashless solutions can enable simple and secure fund transfers while creating stronger connections between land-based and online environments. Hybrid live experiences, enabled by advanced electronic table game solutions, will offer further opportunities to combine the atmosphere of live gaming with the advantages of electronic platforms. Alongside these developments, innovations in hardware, display technology and user interfaces will continue to enhance the overall player experience.”
Tom Soukup, senior vice president and chief systems product officer, Konami Gaming
“One of the biggest bonusing trends we’ve seen from casino operators is that they are moving away from exclusively using third-party marketing kiosks for promotions and instead are taking advantage of built-in Synkros promotional features supported directly on the slot machine via the player tracking user interface. These capabilities eliminate the need for players to have to get up off their favourite machines and go over to a kiosk somewhere else on the casino floor to engage with loyalty promotions. Instead, interaction with loyalty promotions occurs directly at the game machine. As a result, casinos achieve greater player time-on-device and can provide their players a seamless experience.
“Konami’s Synkros is supporting this trend in a wide variety of areas. For example, we developed an integrated digital drink ordering module which enables players to order drinks directly through the player tracking screen; partnered with a best-of-breed gifting vendor for gifting and partnered with multiple third-party payment processors to provide seamless cashless access directly at the machine.
“These product decisions were made with one goal in mind: to provide players a one-stop-shop for as many player loyalty and service interactions as possible directly at the slot machine while they are playing.”
Piotr Fedak, CEO, Promatic
“Over the next decade, gaming technology will become more powerful, but the player experience should become simpler.
“I do not believe innovation should be measured by how many features, screens or layers we can add; it should be measured by whether the technology is useful: does it make the game easier to understand, more enjoyable to play, more reliable to operate and more responsible by design?
“The most important breakthroughs will often happen behind the screen. AI, data analytics and improved platform architecture will help developers understand player preferences, optimise performance, identify technical issues earlier and support safer play. However, players should not have to see or manage that complexity. When technology works well, it feels natural.
“At Promatic, we want to use advanced systems to create clear experiences, not complicated ones. A player should quickly understand the objective, recognise their progress and enjoy the rhythm of the game. Operators should receive products that are stable, serviceable and designed for real casino-floor conditions – not concepts that look impressive in a presentation but deliver limited practical value.
“The future of gaming will not be about technology replacing entertainment. It will be about technology serving it – creating positive emotions, stronger engagement and entertainment that remains transparent, intuitive and enjoyable.”
Domenico Pastia, IGT head of global commercial gaming for Class III, IGT
“In the coming years, the gaming industry will continue to place a strong emphasis on slot cabinet design, functionality and serviceability. Innovation must advance the player experience in a meaningful way, as today’s players are highly sophisticated and have more entertainment options than ever.
“Cabinets must work in harmony with captivating content to create an entertainment experience that inspires return play.
“Success will be predicated on a combination of breakthrough and incremental innovations. The Rise32 cabinet is a strong example: its precisely angled displays evolved from IGT’s previous slant-top cabinet designs, but the refinement has had a significant impact on game presentation and performance.
“The monitors create a dynamic canvas for top-performing titles such as King Khufu and Stink Link, while the top display serves both as an attract feature and an integrated part of gameplay.”
Marco Herrera, CEO, DR Gaming Technology
“The land-based casino has always evolved alongside technology, but I believe the next few years will see a far more fundamental shift than simply introducing new games or hardware. The future lies in creating a connected ecosystem where systems, data and player experiences work together seamlessly.
“One of the biggest developments will be deeper integration between casino management systems and third-party technologies. Whether it’s payment providers, loyalty platforms, customer relationship management tools or business intelligence solutions, operators will increasingly expect open, flexible platforms that allow them to adopt new technologies as they emerge rather than being constrained by closed environments.
“Artificial intelligence will be another defining influence; while much of today’s conversation focuses on personalisation, AI’s value extends far beyond predicting player preferences. It will increasingly help operators understand player behaviour, optimise communication strategies and deliver more relevant engagement throughout the customer journey.
“Perhaps even more significantly, AI will become an operational decision-making tool. It has the potential to analyse game performance continuously, manage the lifetime value of individual games, recommend more effective floor layouts and optimise machine configurations.
“Technology will not replace the human element that defines the casino experience; instead, it will give operators better insight, greater agility and more intelligent tools to create experiences that are increasingly personalised, connected and responsive to both player expectations and business performance. That said, a core skill will remain the ability to ask the right questions; only humans can do that.”
Randy Gilbert, CEO & CFO, Table Trac
“The casino industry is entering a period of significant transformation as artificial intelligence, automation, biometrics and cashless technologies begin to reshape both operations and the guest experience. From my perspective in casino management systems, the most significant shift will be the move from systems of record to systems of intelligence – platforms that not only capture information but help operators make better decisions in real time.
“Artificial intelligence will become embedded throughout casino operations, helping teams make better decisions in real time. Instead of navigating screens, running reports and searching for information, users will increasingly interact with systems conversationally and receive recommendations, insights and automated assistance when and where they need it.
“Many of the technologies that will define the next decade – including AI, advanced imaging technologies, biometrics and intelligent automation – are already beginning to reshape casino operations.
“While adoption has been gradual, I believe cashless gaming and biometric technologies such as facial recognition are inevitable. Today’s gaming patrons may not yet expect these capabilities, but future generations will.
“As digital payments and frictionless authentication become commonplace in everyday life, casinos will increasingly be expected to offer similar convenience and personalisation. These technologies have the potential to streamline the player experience, strengthen security, reduce operational friction and create more personalised interactions.
“Perhaps most importantly, better data, real-time analytics and intelligent monitoring tools may help operators identify potential concerns earlier, support responsible gaming initiatives and meet evolving regulatory expectations.”
