Crypto. Are you thinking Bitcoin, Ethereum, and investment banking stuff that would be of no interest to you? The world of crypto looks obtuse to a lot of us (try on-ramps and off-ramps, and a lot of other technical terms…). We do not blame you if you think you’d rather steer clear… but if you think that’s all there is to crypto, you might be behind the times.
Crypto has wriggled its way into the gaming world in recent years, resulting in plenty of curiosity. An increasing number of games are starting to build crypto right into their fabric, and an increasing number of game developers are jumping into this trend feet-first, with real enthusiasm. Could this be the next big wave in the industry?
It seems pretty likely! So, what’s that looking like? Where can you get your crypto fix while playing a video game?
Games With NFTs
First up, the NFT extravaganza. NFTs are actually one of the first ways that crypto hit the gaming world, back with games like Huntercoin and CryptoKitties. Cute kitties aside, these were pretty early iterations, but it took a while for them to catch on… now, though, NFT gaming is getting big.
Worlds like The Sandbox, MOMO Farmer, CryptoBlades, Arc8, and a bunch more let players, for the first time, start bringing crypto into the digital world of gaming. Suddenly, you own those pixels, and nobody else can use them – pretty intriguing, and appealing, for most players. There’s something really attractive about having a sense of “mine” when it comes to building your own world… think Minecraft, but unique to you.
What you can get does vary, but you’ll usually be offered things like characters, weapons, land, or something similar – and nobody else can have the same thing as you: that’s yours, and you’re alone. Often, you’ll be allowed to sell (or otherwise trade) those NFTs with other players, but one thing is certain: that digital asset is unique to you while you own it!
So how do these games work? Well, it varies from one game to the next. Some require you to buy NFTs with crypto, but others will let you “play to earn,” so your hard work in the game gets rewarded with NFTs, and sometimes coins. That sounds fairly good to us, and with the number of these games on the rise all the time, tons of players are finding games that are perfect for them in this space.
Sure, these games aren’t really up there with the true A-list options yet – they lack the depth and world-building, and they’re just not quite “it” for some die-hard gamers… but it’s still great that they exist, and they’re definitely getting bigger. Watch this space!
The Mechanics Of Crypto In Casino Games
It’s not just the video game landscape that’s getting a new burst of life from crypto’s appearance on the scene – what about the casinos? There’s a whole surge of activity going on here, and crypto casinos are popping up all over the place, attracting interest from gamers, investors, and so on…
So, what does this look like? Well, gambling with crypto isn’t wildly different from regular gambling. Stock up your e-wallet, pick your game, make your wager, and if you win, collect the money. Pretty straightforward. If you’re doing some blackjack betting, you place your bet as normal, try to beat the dealer, and see if you win!
But there are some big benefits! First up, let’s look at security (a big one for most casino visitors, especially in the online space). Crypto brings a lot more security to the table, even for casinos that already focus highly on being secure! With blockchain offering unalterable information, it’s borderline impossible for anybody to hack it. That’s music to the ears of anyone wary of digital theft and nervous about ever-rising cybercrime.
And what else? The speed is pretty attractive too. A lot of people get fed up with the amount of time a simple bank transaction can take – especially in the modern world, where we expect speed! Turn to crypto, and that all changes. Most crypto transactions occur within a few minutes, meaning that if you win big, you can access that money straight off the bat. Another win!
Last of all, we have anonymity, and if you’ve ever wished for more privacy while you relax with casino games, this is where crypto is your best friend. Although transactions on the blockchain are public so no fraud can occur, they’re totally anonymous, so nobody knows when you’ve just taken home a big win – not your neighbor, not your bank, and not a snooping cyber-criminal.
That’s about all that changes in terms of mechanics when you play at a crypto casino – three big bonuses, but nothing different about the classic games everyone knows and loves. Even so, there’s no question that crypto is changing things up in both video games and casino games… and who knows what’s coming in the future?
https://www.pexels.com/photo/gold-coins-on-the-laptop-6770845/
