The modern world never ceases to amaze us with new inventions and scientific discoveries. These changes also affect the entertainment industry, in particular, online gambling. The advent of the Internet and its rapid introduction into all spheres of life has greatly spoiled people. It is not easy to surprise gamers with something, as their requirements are very high today. Gambling business owners literally go out of their way to meet the needs and desires of users. They are willing to spend billions of dollars on new developments that can improve the gambling sector as a whole.
One of the most promising technologies of our time is virtual reality (VR). It is able to change our world beyond recognition, filling it with new emotions and opportunities.
What are VR and AR technologies
Virtual Reality is a fictional world created using computer technology. To plunge into it, the user will need a special VR headset and controllers.
The first VR experiments were carried out back in the 60s of the last century. For half a century, technology has been actively studied and improved by specialists from different countries. A new wave of interest in VR swept the world in 2012 with the appearance of the Oculus Rift prototype.
As for augmented reality (AR), it does not create a new world but adds non-existent objects to the familiar environment. Thanks to it, the two worlds merge into a single whole and create a completely new experience for the users.
Using virtual reality in gambling
Fans of gambling have already appreciated the elements of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in practice. Virtual and augmented reality provides the player with a complete immersion in a chosen entertainment. He not only observes what surrounds him but becomes a part of it.
Poker, blackjack, slots, and roulette are available right from home. You can visit Macau, US, or modern Australian online casino thanks to VR technologies which transfer gamblers to the most famous casinos in the world in a matter of seconds. Moreover, everything is so realistic that it is often difficult to distinguish truth from fiction.
Virtual reality made its way into the gambling industry a few years ago. The most striking example of the first implementations of VR in gambling was the SlotsMillion virtual casino launched in 2015. The player gets a truly unique experience in it. Putting on a VR headset, he instantly moves to a full-fledged gambling establishment, where he is able to walk through the gaming halls, sit at a table and enjoy the views from the window. At SlotsMillion, you can play not only with strangers but also with friends, gathering a company of 20 people at the gaming tables simultaneously.
The next stage in the development of online gambling using VR technology was “live casinos”. Here players sit at tables, play and can communicate with each other. A real dealer monitors the course of the game, which creates a feeling of complete immersion in a live casino game.
For Live Casino operation, special studios are used in real casinos, from where online broadcasts are conducted. For the entire process to be successful, special 3D cameras are required. They provide the ultimate gaming immersion with a VR headset. However, there is also a possibility to play at live casinos without VR headset as well since you can view the standard (not the 360) live broadcast with your phone, tablet, or PC/Mac.
Using the latest technologies, casinos with a good reputation and tasty bonuses attract thousands of new users to every day.
What future will hold for VR gambling?
Everything suggests that the online gambling industry will continue to actively use VR and AR technologies. A mobile version will probably be created for such casinos soon. Many games these days have long moved from computer screens to tablets and smartphones. In order to keep up with the trend and attract new players to their ranks, VR casinos should not ignore this trend.
Experts are sure that many gambling enthusiasts will gladly plunge into the new virtual world. An even deeper introduction of digital technologies Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality will lead to the emergence of new tactile and sound effects. Users will not only be able to play and walk around the hall but even feel the game pieces in their hands!
The next few years will show whether virtual reality can become a fundamentally new stage in the development of gambling and, in particular, online poker games. It may well do a much better job of attracting recreational players than any other poker room attempt.
Of course, VR casinos will not be able to completely replace the live game, but with the further active development of technology and financial support from gambling establishments, they will form a separate niche for players.
