2010 is nearing it's halfway mark; a good time to take stock of the online casino market and check out the latest trends.

1. Live Dealer Games

Increasingly online casinos are using state of the art technology to recreate the atmosphere of land based casinos. It all started with the refinement of sounds and graphics, giving games a lifelike quality and enhancing the online atmosphere. Recent software developments have upped the ante further with live dealer games such as Blackjack blurring the edges between the online and live casino experience.

These games have a video link to a real dealer who deals 'live' cards onto a table which you are then able to make playing choice upon using your mouse. Online casinos, most notably Victor Chandler Casino, offer live dealer games and players are lapping up the new hybrid.

2. Zero House Games

Betfair were the innovative online casino that brought the Zero Lounge to the net. This section of their online casino boasts games with a house edge of less than 1%. If you want the best odds on the net at an established and trusted online casino then Betfair are definitely your best bet. With games such as Zero Roulette and Zero Baccarat proving a hit, copycat casinos are bound to follow suit.

3. Bonuses, Promos and Tourneys

In the past it was the choice of games that were the main attraction at online casinos but as individual brands amass growing selections, players are generally able to find a one-stop-shop where they are spoilt for choice not just with the variety of games but also with different variants on offer too. Therefore the range of tourneys, progressive jackpots, bonuses and special promos has gained importance as the deciding factor on which online casino players pick.

4. Side Games and Chat

As more and more online casinos are crammed full of all the major casino classics, side games are increasingly catching the eye of many. Designed originally to help fill the waiting time between games, the variety, fun themes and great graphics are enticing many to sign up to particular casinos in their own right.

Other popular draws are multi player games, forums and chat; all of which add to the social dimension increasingly demanded by today's new generation of online casino players.

5. Mobile Casinos

Mobile applications at online casinos have gradually changed from being a nice benefit to a 'must have' feature.

With iPhones being one of this year's most sought after gadgets, online packages suited to the touch screen style and improved software design are attracting more and more online casinos to develop their own packages. Jackpot City and William Hill Casino Club are two brands that have both embraced the mobile market.

We're not even half way through 2010 yet but already we can see that the online casino market is vibrant, changing with the times and pulling in the players.