The iPad has grown to such a level that these days most homes accommodate the device. Apple being Apple have ensured that the iPad is one of the most technologically advanced tablets on the market to date, with 2014 probably being one of the biggest years so far in terms of taking the tablet to the next level. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from the gambling industry surrounding the iPad
Real Money iPad Poker Arrives In The U.S.
It’s no secret that the US market has been a huge miss to the online poker industry. A massive percentage of players used to come from the US, but since Black Friday struck in 2007, a massive grey cloud has overlooked the US market.
The Bovada Poker Tables for US Players In 2014 we really started to see some light at the end of the tunnel. There was not one but two poker rooms that implemented mobile poker for US based players in Carbon Poker and Bovada poker. In all honesty, this news came as a bit of surprise with the majority of poker rooms just starting to get on board with providing a legal outlet for USA poker players.
The two poker apps have been greeted with open arms within the industry. This is not just because of fact that U.S. based players now can play via their mobile device, but more the fact that it shows the market is starting to change for US players. If companies are starting to look at niche gambling sectors, which in all fairness mobile poker still is, it means that they have worked around the more basic offerings and start to push out more products for their users. Often in the gambling industry you will see a domino effect, with it taking just one company to really get the ball rolling. Hopefully, this will be exactly what’s going to happen in 2015 for US based poker players!
Regulated US Poker Rooms Rail To Really Spark in 2014
2013 was a massive year for online poker in the US. It was the first year since the industry melt down (Black Friday) in 2007 where states had become fully licensed and regulated to once again allow US based players play online poker. Three states in Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey all had successful applications to regulate online poker within their respected states.
It was hoped that this would create another domino effect, like mobile poker, for 2014, but unfortunately, this was not how it worked out. In 2013 it was reported that there were around half a dozen states set to legalise gambling throughout 2014, but as of yet, none of these states have managed to push the bill.
The biggest question that this poses is if this number will increase throughout 2015. You can’t help but think that 2015 will be one of the most important years to date in the online poker industry for US based players. If states do start to regulate in 2015 then there is light at the end of this lengthy tunnel, but if another barren year for the process occurs then it’s hard to see how or if the industry will ever recover.
The two poker apps have been greeted with open arms within the industry. This is not just because of fact that U.S. based players now can play via their mobile device, but more the fact that it shows the market is starting to change for US players. If companies are starting to look at niche gambling sectors, which in all fairness mobile poker still is, it means that they have worked around the more basic offerings and start to push out more products for their users. Often in the gambling industry you will see a domino effect, with it taking just one company to really get the ball rolling. Hopefully, this will be exactly what’s going to happen in 2015 for US based poker players!
Regulated US Poker Rooms Rail To Really Spark in 2014
2013 was a massive year for online poker in the US. It was the first year since the industry melt down (Black Friday) in 2007 where states had become fully licensed and regulated to once again allow US based players play online poker. Three states in Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey all had successful applications to regulate online poker within their respected states.
It was hoped that this would create another domino effect, like mobile poker, for 2014, but unfortunately, this was not how it worked out. In 2013 it was reported that there were around half a dozen states set to legalise gambling throughout 2014, but as of yet, none of these states have managed to push the bill.
The biggest question that this poses is if this number will increase throughout 2015. You can’t help but think that 2015 will be one of the most important years to date in the online poker industry for US based players. If states do start to regulate in 2015 then there is light at the end of this lengthy tunnel, but if another barren year for the process occurs then it’s hard to see how or if the industry will ever recover.
Web Based 888 App Allows Access From Around The World
888poker tables on the iPad The iPad poker app from 888 is widely regarded as one of the better performing apps in the industry. You can download the app directly from the app store providing you are in a country that allows gambling related apps to be downloaded from the store. There are currently only 20 countries that permit this, which is why 888 have decided to make a browser-based version of their mobile app.
The browser-based app essentially allows users from around the world play via their iPad. For those who cant access the app via iTunes then this is a godsend. The app includes all the features that you would see from the downloadable version and we wouldn’t be surprised to see that a number of mobile poker providers follow the same route to make their products even more accessible to those around the world.
Sky Poker; A Touch Of Class!
2014 saw the much-anticipated release of the Sky Poker mobile app. Sky Poker has been a company who have always pushed innovation hard and their browser-based game is currently one of the best looking on the market. However, it was their integration with TouchID that really set them apart from their competitors.
As an iPad user, you will likely be aware that the TouchID fingerprint recognition has been one Apple’s standout features from some of their latest iPhone and iPad products. Well, Sky Poker has gone one step further in allowing you to log in to your account and confirm deposits using this very feature. It works in exactly the same way you would use it to either unlock your phone or confirm iTunes purchases, but from within the Sky Poker app. The innovation has been one that took many by surprise, but we can see it being a fantastic feature for so many mobile poker apps in 2015.
Sticking with Sky Poker, 2014 was also a year in which the company announced the inclusion of live streaming from the ‘Sky Poker Live’ television channel. For those of you that didn’t already know, Sky run a series of live shows on their satellite channel where you can get expert analysis of live, online tournaments as they take place. Sky Poker has made this feature accessible directly form their app meaning you can stream this whilst on the go.
Google Glass and Apple Watch Set For 2015 Online Gaming Introduction?
Two of the most hotly anticipated pieces of tech for years were finally released in 2014, in the form of Google Glass and the Apple Watch. Made by two of the biggest companies in the world, Apple and Google, these products are set to revolutionise the way in which we can communicate with people and also change the way in which we use our smartphones.
The browser-based app essentially allows users from around the world play via their iPad. For those who cant access the app via iTunes then this is a godsend. The app includes all the features that you would see from the downloadable version and we wouldn’t be surprised to see that a number of mobile poker providers follow the same route to make their products even more accessible to those around the world.
Sky Poker; A Touch Of Class!
2014 saw the much-anticipated release of the Sky Poker mobile app. Sky Poker has been a company who have always pushed innovation hard and their browser-based game is currently one of the best looking on the market. However, it was their integration with TouchID that really set them apart from their competitors.
As an iPad user, you will likely be aware that the TouchID fingerprint recognition has been one Apple’s standout features from some of their latest iPhone and iPad products. Well, Sky Poker has gone one step further in allowing you to log in to your account and confirm deposits using this very feature. It works in exactly the same way you would use it to either unlock your phone or confirm iTunes purchases, but from within the Sky Poker app. The innovation has been one that took many by surprise, but we can see it being a fantastic feature for so many mobile poker apps in 2015.
Sticking with Sky Poker, 2014 was also a year in which the company announced the inclusion of live streaming from the ‘Sky Poker Live’ television channel. For those of you that didn’t already know, Sky run a series of live shows on their satellite channel where you can get expert analysis of live, online tournaments as they take place. Sky Poker has made this feature accessible directly form their app meaning you can stream this whilst on the go.
Google Glass and Apple Watch Set For 2015 Online Gaming Introduction?
Two of the most hotly anticipated pieces of tech for years were finally released in 2014, in the form of Google Glass and the Apple Watch. Made by two of the biggest companies in the world, Apple and Google, these products are set to revolutionise the way in which we can communicate with people and also change the way in which we use our smartphones.
The biggest question in the industry at the minute is if they can be set up to use online gambling products such as mobile poker? At first glance it would appear that this integration would be tough and the switchover likely bypass even 2015. The interaction of Google Glass would be less than ergonomic with the size of the Apple Watch forming a bigger headache for online gaming developers.
At the minute, we would hazard a guess that 2015 will come too soon for online gaming platforms to be introduced on these products, but you cant rule it out all together. If there’s one thing that we have learned over the years its that online poker likes to move with the times and if the popularity of Google Glass and the iWatch really starts to take off, then it’s likely that the poker rooms’ hand will be forced to develop a product available on one, if not both.
At the minute, we would hazard a guess that 2015 will come too soon for online gaming platforms to be introduced on these products, but you cant rule it out all together. If there’s one thing that we have learned over the years its that online poker likes to move with the times and if the popularity of Google Glass and the iWatch really starts to take off, then it’s likely that the poker rooms’ hand will be forced to develop a product available on one, if not both.
2014: The Year Of The Web-App
2014 was the first year in which we started to see a number of online poker rooms make their product available to mobile users. But, instead of making dedicated apps, they made web-apps, which meant there was no need to download. Think of it as going to play poker whilst using your iPad, for the poker room to then recognise you’re on an iPad and then point you in the direct of the specially designed mobile version dedicated to your iPad.
The development in HTML5 has definitely been at the forefront of this shift. HTML5 means that companies can develop a mobile ready poker room, that isn’t essentially an app, and make it available to anyone using any kind of mobile device. Looking forward to 2015 should see this number increase again as mobile poker rooms are starting to worry less about promoting products via app stores such as iTunes and more about providing a better playing experience to a wider range of users.
