Star Wars movies usually start with a simple text that reads “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” and this is, by all means, one of the most memorable openers in the history of film. Now, this can be interpreted in several different ways but one thing is for sure – while the Stars Wars universe may be somewhat a depiction of our past, it equally tries to emulate a possible future.
This is especially with regards to where the human race is headed to in terms of technology and, dare I say, entertainment. As you may have already inferred we are going to try and dissect the way this mind-blowing movie franchise conceives the future of gambling.
If you are a fan, you will certainly be aware of the relationship that Stars Wars has with gambling and casinos. We could point out several instances and fictional places where characters in the movie either participated in some form of gambling or were in the vicinity of some of that action. However, we will only be focusing on one particular place for this piece.
The Canto Casino and Racetrack
Prominently featured in Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi, Canto Casino and Racetrack is an out-of-this-world (literally and figuratively) gaming and hospitality destination that is located at the heart of the city of Canto Bight. The city is located on Cantonica, a desert planet in the Cantonica System of Corporate Sector in the galaxy’s Outer Rim Territories.
In the film, we get to see just how luxurious the destination is. It draws in multitudes of wealthy tourists, high-rolling gamblers, and of course, war profiteers. At Canto Casino, they get to enjoy placing bets at the racetrack which occupies the center of the property and a ton of casino games at various gaming rooms. There are also cabarets, restaurants, and luxury hotel accommodation. Does that sound familiar?
Now, while all of the services described above may bring back memories of your casino experience, there is so much more that the casino scene in Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi shows us. If you have watched it then you might have just witnessed the future of casinos.
New Games and Formats
One of the very first things that you will notice about Canto Casino is the mind-blowing array of games that it has on offer. There are familiar formats such as racebooks but there are so many of them that you will not find at your local casino, at least not at the moment. If you are curious enough to dig deeper you will find that some of these games include Binspo, Sabacc, and Compmatch.
Your favorite online casino will probably not have these games. Even so, considering the huge impact that popular culture has on gambling, it will not be too surprising if they eventually present customers with somewhat similar games.
The gaming industry is very dynamic with new game titles and formats being introduced on a regular basis. Perhaps the future is going to be all about new and unheard-of forms of gambling. Hell, maybe someday we will even get to bet on pod races.
Virtual Gambling: Leveraging the Power of Modern Technology
Stars Wars is generally a science fiction or fantasy film but some of the things that we see in Canto Casino are not really that far-fetched. Holograms are one of the most widely used technologies in the Star Wars universe. The prospects of using hologram for communication is very exciting but seeing the technology being utilized right at the heart of Canto Casino will blow you away. In one of the scenes in the casino, a patron makes use of a hologram to participate in the action. How exciting is that?
Already, online gaming has made it much easier for us to bridge the gap between land-based casinos and online gaming. Live dealer games such as those found on US casino sites are so common these days and they continue to grow in popularity as the technology that supports them continues to advance. That said, with the massive leaps that have been made in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), we might already be headed to a future where we will able to interact with land-based casinos without actually being there.
Man and Machine Working Together
One of the other things that are prominent in the Star Wars universe is the presence of droid or mechanical beings. These are essentially sentient robots that live and work alongside living beings. In Canto Casino, we get to see droids working as waiters and dealers in the casino. In fact, some were even patrons of the casino.
Casinos with robots working alongside human staff are already beginning to take off and in the near future, they could be very common. Imagine getting served by a robot or having your cards dealt by a machine.
Are You Ready for the Ride?
It is a truly exciting time to be alive but there is so much more to come. You might have some speculation about what to expect but the truth is some of these developments might be spontaneous and random. Still, you will have to brace yourself for all that is to come. The future is drawing nearer and nearer.