Remember when 3G was touted as the future of mobile internet in 2001? A few years later, 5G is looking to make 3G obsolete with 6G already in the kitchen. Yes, that’s how fast mobile phone technology is changing. Because 5G promises a quicker and more stable internet connection, the number of bets is expected to get an uptick. So, this post takes an in-depth look at how 5G will impact your experience at a mobile casino.
Before diving into the theoretical part, here are the hard facts. Paysafe recently took it upon themselves to examine the impact of 5G in the iGaming industry. The study involved bettors in the UK, US, and Germany. According to the research, mobile gambling remains the predominant form of betting ahead of computers (31%) and in-person venues (26%). Well, that’s no surprise!
The same report continues that one in five of all current and potential bettors interviewed will consider playing live games with 5G. It adds that 18% of the respondents think they don’t have enough information to make the correct bet. Of course, this issue can easily be solved with zero latency and increased bandwidth of 5G.
Lastly, the Paysafe report reveals that card payments are most prevalent among online bettors. In the UK, 69% of the respondents prefer card payments, with the number being significantly lower in the US (31%) and Germany (30%). From these stats, it’s safe to conclude that online banking methods have some catch-up to do.
5G is basically not any different from its predecessors. Smartphones and tablets will connect to the cellular network via radio waves just as usual. However, 5G uses unique radio frequencies to provide what 4G and the rest cannot. While 4G uses frequencies less than 6 GHz, 5G maxes out at 30 GHz or higher. Now imagine what this would do while playing at the best mobile casinos.
The fifth-generation network also boasts shorter wavelengths than 4G and the rest. This means 5G antennas are smaller while providing exceptional directional control. In return, 5G can support more devices to the same network without affecting network speeds. From that viewpoint, you can say that 5G is here to replace some Wi-Fi networks.
Live mobile casinos stand to gain the most from 5G technology. They offer players a chance to play live games streamed in real-time from live studios. But it would be a lie to say that the experience is top-class. Most players complain of sluggish gameplay and disconnections. But little do they know that their internet connection is to blame.
With 5G’s increased wavelengths and download speeds, lagging live play will now be history. 4G provides a minimum download speed of 100 Mbps. Although this is 20x faster than 3G, it’s nothing compared to the 750+Mbps that 5G offers. So, all things considered, 5G will see more gamblers play live table games like poker, blackjack, and baccarat.
As said before, card payments dominate the online gambling scene. However, some countries have started banning credit card payments while playing at a casino online. In April 2020, the UKGC announced a blanket ban on all credit card gambling activities. It didn’t take long before Germany followed suit.
But with the 5G revolution continuing to take shape, operators are now offering more credit card alternatives in the form of e-wallets. Some are even considering standalone payment applications to facilitate faster and more secure mobile transactions. Plus, the upsurge in cryptocurrency payments couldn’t have come at a better time.
Any gambling enthusiast shouldn’t think twice before purchasing a 5G smartphone. But while they don’t come cheap, you’ll enjoy faster download and refresh rates than 4G and ‘average’ Wi-Fi networks. Think you’ve seen it all? More is on the way!
