Chrome users still have the option to play games which use Flash, but have to manually approve its use.
Google is phasing out Adobe Flash Player from its Chrome browser, a move which could have an effect on the future of no-download casinos in the online gambling industry.
Google announced it is phasing out Abode Flash starting in mid-December 2016 and ending in February 2017. Only 1% of users will be effected by the Flash phaseout starting the week of December 12, 2016. By February 2017, the phase-out will effect 100% of Chrome users.
Google spokeman Eric Deily blogged on Chromium, the open-source project on which Google’s Chrome browser is built, “This change disables Adobe Flash Player unless there’s a user indication that they want Flash content on specific sites, and eventually all websites will require the user’s permission to run Flash. To ensure a smooth transition, not all users and sites will be affected immediately.”
Instant Play Casino Games
For years, Flash games have been the most popular format for instant play game designers. The rich-media format, which was developed by Macromedia before that company was bought by Adobe Systems, supported videos and animations. Flash was a natural choice to support video slots and virtual table games.
Adobe’s Security Issues
Over the years, Adobe has added features that became a problem for users. Their interactive and other advanced content features were used by hackers to gain access to client systems. Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox each complained of Flash’s security problems and eventually stated they would no longer support Flash as a default plugin.
Since Flash is a favorite choice of online game designers who want games which load in the browser instead of the casino download client, a lot of instant play games soon will not work in Google Chrome. HTML5 and Java are alternative instant play software options, though Java itself has support issues from the browsers and from its owner, Oracle.
HTML5 Technology
Google’s decision paves the way for the eventual preeminence of HMTL5 technology for instant play games. HMTL5 was developed by the Worldwide Web Consortium, which is a who’s who of the top global universities, tech-related governmental agencies, computer brands, and online companies. Google is a member of the W3C community.
This was planned for some time. Google announced in September 2015 it would start to de-emphasize Flash. The Microsoft Edge browser announced it would do the same in April 2016. Designers thus have seen the handwriting on the wall for a time.
HTML5 Instant Play Casino Games
Many of the top online casino software designers have developed their own HTML5 games over the past few years. While the technology is over 10 years old, online casinos and the software developers who design their software only began embracing the technology for instant play games between 2011 and 2014.
HTML5 provides cinematic quality video slots, allowing next-generation gaming solutions for mobile casinos, interactive slots, 3D gaming, virtual sports, eSports, and live dealer games. Some online casinos these days (Bovada, Slots.lv) no longer have a software download, but exist as instant play casinos altogether. The decline of Flash games might make that arrangement more common in online gambling.
Complaints about Flash Crashes
Rank-and-file online users also complain about Flash’s frequent crashes. While the technology works beautifully for video slots and even 3D video animations, it is an older technology prone to compatibility issues. Anyone who allows Flash to load videos without permission are likely to have experienced crashes of their browser when they navigated to video-rich pages.
Despite issues, a generation of online gamblers grew up playing instant play Flash games. Players are going to have other browser options for seemless Flash gaming for a time now. Also, even after the February 2017 full phaseout, Chrome will still allow Flash gaming. Players are going to need to click to run Flash, instead of such games loading automatically in the browser. This might cause confusing at first, but should involve little inconvenience in the minds of most.
