Unless you have spent the last decade under a rock, you cannot help but have noticed the exponential growth of the online casino gaming market.

Unless you have spent the last decade under a rock, you cannot help but have noticed the exponential growth of the online casino gaming market. Worth an estimated $13.8 billion across the globe in 2005, it now has a cumulative value in the region of $41.1 billion as we approach the end of 2015. This represents growth of $27.2 billion in just 10 years, with the value of the market having more than tripled since the beginning of 2005.

The market is even growing in America, where there remains considerable opposition and a renowned drive to implement a nationwide, anti-online gaming bill. Despite this, online gambling is now legalised in three major U.S. states, with Delaware joining industry stalwarts New Jersey and Nevada. California was also close to joining this select but expanding group, although it has been forced to wait amid opposition and conflict between rival factions.

Growth is even more pronounced in other western regions such as the UK and Europe, where branded casinos can operate almost without restriction (although there is stringent regulation that guarantees fairness and best practice). Along with the sheer numbers in terms of growth and global turnover, the online gaming market is clearly in better shape than it has ever been and is set to expand further in the coming months.

We have already seen the concept of live gameplay augment the market in recent times, and this is part of a wider drive to initiate more authentic and immersive interactions. This not only enables the completion of live, online competitions, but it is also driving more realistic gameplay that reflects the pace and settings of a physical casino.

With augmented and virtual realities now also being integrated into the gaming world (think of the progressive and multifaceted Microsoft HoloLens, for example), the online casino gaming market is set to diversify further in the coming months.

Augmented reality headsets such as the HoloLens will be particularly impactful, as they can successfully recreate an authentic casino environment while enabling live, three dimensional gameplay from your living room.