When the Atari 2600 showed up in the late ’70s, it changed how people interacted with entertainment at home. It essentially set the tone for something much bigger than imagined. Since then, gaming has changed and drastically transformed itself alongside how people live, work, and relax. From those thick, heavy gaming cartridges to today’s cloud-based mobile platforms, every phase has reflected what people needed at the time. Today, players want entertainment that fits into their schedule, maybe even hand, and not the other way around, whether that means playing on a big screen, a laptop, or right on their phone.
How Playing Across Devices Got Started
In the early days, arcades were the only way to games. Then came consoles like the Atari 2600 and the Nintendo Entertainment System. Suddenly, people didn’t need coins and a trip to the arcade. They could just turn on the TV and play. PCs arrived next with a different offer, and that included bigger games, newer genres, and room to try new ideas. Later, handhelds like the Game Boy proved that games didn’t need a TV at all. You could bring them anywhere.
This didn’t stop with video games. Casinos followed a similar path. At first, gaming was limited to physical casino venues, where playing a hand or accessing slots required being on the floor in person. The internet and the advancement in technology created online casinos, allowing operators to provide access to more than just the classics like blackjack and poker. Today, many players can access both local and international gambling platforms, like several different trustworthy non Gamstop casinos that work well across phones, tablets, and laptops. For instance, these platforms are not tied to the UK’s self-exclusion program, offering additional freedom in how long gamblers can play. Additionally, these platforms have optimised sites, allowing players to switch devices without losing their spot in slots, poker, or even live dealer gaming options.
The Console Era
Consoles like the Atari, NES, and Sega Genesis created the first real home gaming experience. These systems were so easy to plug in, even easier to use, and gave people access to what felt like arcade-quality experiences. They didn’t need much learning, just a cartridge and a joystick.
Then Sony and Microsoft raised the bar. PlayStation and Xbox brought in memory cards, online gaming options, and discs that held bigger, movie-like games. These consoles asked for more time and attention, but in return, gaming became more personal. Whether you played solo or with friends on the couch, consoles turned into something more and became part of people’s daily lives.
What PCs Did Differently
While consoles were in living rooms, PCs were finding their place. Titles like Doom, Warcraft, and StarCraft showed what was possible on home computers. The PC side of gaming grew in a different direction, one that allowed for upgrades in systems, more freedom, and introduced gamers to like-minded online communities.
Updated hardware kept PC players ahead when it came to visuals and performance. Internet cafés became standard and exceptionally popular, especially in Asia and Europe, where online games became social hangouts. To this day, games like Counter-Strike and League of Legends thrive on PCs because they’re built for serious play and community-driven competition.
Going Portable
The launch of the Game Boy changed the face of portable gaming and, most importantly, fueled demand. Released in the early ’90s, people didn’t just want to play at home, but could play wherever they were. The only issue was the battery life. Users often found that the battery life was relatively short compared to expectations, typically lasting about 10-12 hours. This was partly because the hardware and the Dot Matrix LCD screen consumed a fair amount of power. Battery life often became a concern for players who wanted to game on the go without carrying spare batteries.
Later devices like the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Sony PSP made the experience even better with stronger visuals and more involved games. These weren’t exactly watered-down versions of console titles. Portable consoles showed that handheld gaming could stand on its own.
Smartphones Changed Everything
When mobile phones became common, pre-installed games like Tetris and Snake were available across 400 million devices by the 2000s. Suddenly, people had powerful mini-computers in their pockets. As basic as these games were, they were designed for short, repeatable sessions, fitting well into the small moments of free time people had.
Then apps like Angry Birds, Candy Crush, and Clash of Clans reached millions who had never played on a console or PC. Mobile apps now make it possible to access full casino games directly from your phone, with the same variety that was once limited to desktops only. You didn’t need a controller. You didn’t need instructions. You just tapped and played.
Today, mobile gaming has made a dramatic difference from the 90s through to 2025. Smartphones today have powerful CPUs, GPUs, large memories, and touchscreens, allowing advanced controls, realistic physics, and AI-driven experiences unimaginable in the 1990s.
The Internet Took It Further
None of this would have worked without the internet. Online features turned games into something bigger than solo sessions. Games like World of Warcraft, Fortnite, and Minecraft became shared spaces where people from different parts of the world could meet, build, and compete together.
Streaming also helped. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube turned players into entertainers and made it possible to enjoy games without even playing. Casinos now offer live dealer games, allowing players from anywhere in the world to participate. Streaming now integrates directly with game marketing. It has driven esports into a global cultural phenomenon, while lowering entry barriers for both players and fans, making esports more accessible across skill levels and geographies.
Cloud Gaming Is Next
Today, services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now, and PlayStation Plus Premium are opening another door. Players can now stream games directly to a phone, tablet, or smart TV, with no need for a console or high-end PC. This means more people can try the biggest titles without buying expensive gear. Casino gaming embraced the same model, allowing users access to live tables or slots on demand without downloads or high-spec mechanisms.
Cloud gaming isn’t perfect yet, but the direction things are going removes the tech barrier and focuses on letting people play what they want, where they want.