E-Tables & Cashless Payments: The Future of Canadian Casinos

In this guide, we’re going to be looking at a few of the emerging trends that will help set up the future of casinos in the years to come. From e-tables to payment methods, land-based Canadian casinos will be offering a slew of new technologies, some of which you may already have seen at online casino sites.

• What Are Land-Based Casinos Like Today?
• E-Tables: The Future Now?
• Cashless Payment Systems of the Future
• A More Sustainable Future?
• Beyond the Casino Walls: The Future of Gambling for Leisure
• A Safer Future: The Evolution of Responsible Gambling
• Taste the Future with the Best Online Casinos in Canada

What Are Land-Based Casinos Like Today?

While the COVID-19 pandemic hurt the Canadian casino market, the industry has bounced back in the last couple of years. A number of different gambling venues all compete for gaming revenue throughout Canada, from private resort casinos that run under provincial licenses to First Nations casinos owned and operated by Canada’s Indigenous tribes.

Many of these venues are massive operations with marketing budgets that reach for customers not only on the provincial level, but also nationally and even internationally. However, many Canadian casinos are smaller, community-driven businesses, right down to charitable and community gaming concerns.

While the Canadian gaming market is thriving, there are still concerns and challenges that every casino –  from the biggest resorts to the tiniest hole-in-the-wall – will have to deal with in the years to come.

What challenges are land-based casinos facing?

• The Popularity of Online Gambling – While land-based casinos offer a different experience than their online counterparts, there’s no doubt that internet casinos provide players with a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional Canadian casinos.
• Economic Pressures – Inflation and other economic concerns following the COVID-19 pandemic have created broad tensions across the economy, but the gaming industry tends to particularly struggle when economic conditions are less than ideal.
• More Stringent Regulation – From anti-money laundering policies to an increasing importance on combating problem gambling, casinos are facing several growing regulatory concerns. And while these concerns are legitimate, they also cut into profits for operators.

E-Tables: The Future Now?

Electronic games are nothing new at casinos, with electronic slot machines being a gaming staple for nearly a century now. Video poker has also been a popular way to take the classic card game to the realm of machines for generations of gamblers.

While many these-tables are simply electronic versions of your favourite games, they come on a variety of different styles. For instance, there are automated roulette games that still use a real wheel, but don’t require a croupier to manage. Stadium-style games have rows of seats looking at a large screen where the gaming action takes place. Some e-tables are even linked to live dealers, so that you can still get the atmosphere of a real dealer and actual casino equipment from your seat.

Overall, there are a number of advantages for both traditional tables and these new e-table variants. Below, we’ll break down the pros and cons of each type of game, for both players and operators alike.

Cashless Payment Systems of the Future

While many players still use cash at Canadian casinos, most industry experts see cashless payments as the future of casinos at land-based locations, just as they are online. Already, resorts are beginning to allow customers to play slots machines and even table games through backend systems that employ seamless payments without cash. Here’s a look at a couple of payment methods we expect to feature heavily in a cashless future.

E-wallets

Online casino players are quite familiar with using e-wallets like Skrill, PayPal and Neteller to make deposits and withdrawals from their accounts. Now, many of the top casino operators are looking to bring the same types of payments to their land-based operations.

At major gaming conventions, developers have shown numerous ways in which casinos can link their player rewards cards to cashless payment systems where players can store value. This is a great way for casinos to increase the likelihood that players will spend money with them and creates a convenience factor as large cash withdrawals aren’t necessary. However, those who don’t want to use rewards programs might feel these systems offer nothing new.

Cryptocurrency

Online casinos have already proven that there are many benefits to cryptocurrency gambling. Players enjoy fast payment processing, security, and the level of relative anonymity Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies provide. These benefits will likely make crypto a lasting force in online gambling.

We may see a day when this becomes commonplace at land-based casinos as well. However, there are significant regulatory hurdles to overcome, at least when it comes to direct crypto payments. Governments and regulators are hesitant to allow such transactions, as it would be difficult to prevent fraud and money laundering through casinos once cryptocurrencies get involved.

A More Sustainable Future?

Another major change that will be coming to casinos – as with all industries – is an increasing emphasis on building sustainably. Climate change and the depletion of natural resources are ongoing problems, and limitless growth won’t be possible, at least in the way that casinos may have previously envisioned.

However, we’re already seeing signs of eco-friendly gambling at Canadian casinos today. Carbon offsetting has become a common practice in the industry, while new construction has begun focusing on the use of energy efficient systems, local materials, and reducing waste. This goes beyond the casino floor and into hotel operations, food options, and even how consumers are transported to and around resorts.

This will become even more of an area of emphasis in the years to come. No operator will be able to build and maintain a casino without answering both local and global environmental concerns. Whether they want to or not, casino companies will become sustainable, as this is an area were communities and consumers are demanding change.

Beyond the Casino Walls: The Future of Gambling for Leisure

One area of expansion for gaming in Canada will come outside of casinos themselves. For example, adding to the wide range of top casinos to choose from in Calgary, Calgary Airport has already implemented an e-table casino on site. In keeping with this trend, it’s expected gambling in locations like cruise ships, shopping malls, and hotels will continue to proliferate in areas where government regulation allows.

Another area that will see extensive expansion is gambling at sporting venues. Sports betting has become a huge growth industry in Canada, the United States, and around the globe. Increasingly, sports teams and leagues will want to integrate gaming into their stadiums, where fans can quickly place bets on their favourite teams and athletes, from the NHL to the CFL and even major curling events.

A Safer Future: The Evolution of Responsible Gambling

Over the past few decades, there has been a steady improvement in how the public and casino operators understand problem gambling, and more holistically, mental health. That means that in the future, we’re going to see a greater focus on making sure that vulnerable individuals are protected from predatory gambling, as well as treating those who are problem or compulsive gamblers.

Already, we’re seeing new tools and policies being used to protect players at land-based casinos. Here’s a look at a few of the most prominent changes.

• Promotional Regulation – Governments and regulators are cracking down on promotions that promise the world to players but feature fine print or are designed to keep gamblers on the hook for as long as possible. This is an extension of the online gambling industry has improved in this regard. We even include a guide to using casino bonuses responsibly to help you stay safe while playing online.
• Artificial Intelligence – Casinos are increasingly using AI to examine how their players spend money. While programs like these are used for marketing purposes, others from companies like Mindway can also detect potential problem gambling before it starts, allowing for faster interventions before consequences mount for players.
• Facial Recognition – Self-exclusion programs are a key component in any responsible gambling system. However, it can often take time for casino staff to recognize and stop gamblers who shouldn’t be playing on the floor. Advanced facial recognition systems are making it easier and faster than ever to prevent excluded players from getting bets down at casinos.

Taste the Future With the Best Online Casinos in Canada

Much of what we’re predicting for the future of casinos is already in place for online casinos. Internet gambling sites are already cashless, while many have fully embraced cryptocurrency as a banking method. Online casinos pushed forward with live dealer tables to make themselves more like their land-based counterparts; we’re now seeing these same games integrated into land-based resorts as e-table alternatives to blackjack and roulette tables.

If you want to see some of these innovations in action, Canadian online casinos are a great way to see them. You can get started today by checking out our list of the best online casinos in Canada.