VR Technologies in Gambling: Application Features and Prospects

Currently, gambling companies are keeping up with the times and extensively adopting new technologies. One of the most demanded is VR systems. Both online resource owners and gamblers notice the advantages of such solutions. The first ones attract new customers, while the second ones obtain new emotions and impressions.

What is virtual reality? How is VR used in gambling, and what are its prospects? These issues are revealed in the article.

What is VR? General idea

VR, or virtual reality, is an artificial world created using digital systems. To immerse into it, you require special devices: VR glasses and controllers.

Do not confuse virtual reality with augmented reality (AR). The latter means a technology that supplies the world with virtual elements. One of the examples is Pokemon Go. Its characters applied to the surrounding environment. Therefore, gamers could see Pokémons in their rooms, on the street, and in other places.

VR casino: features and advantages

One of the key relevant trends is a VR casino. It is an online platform with high-quality three-dimensional graphics. A beautiful and realistic picture recreates the atmosphere of a land-based gambling venue with a wide range of slots and games. Entering such a virtual world, users can move throughout rooms, participate in various games, talk to people, and perform other actions.

Core benefits of VR casinos for gamblers:

• total immersion into the gambling process;
• high-quality gambling;
• communication with dealers and competitors using voice options or on the chat.

SlotsMillion Casino was the first to apply VR technologies. You need Oculus Rift Headset to get into this virtual club. The next step is to download a special app and sign in to your account.

Putting on the headset, users enter the VR casino hall. They can move across the gambling venue, examine interior items and slot machines, as well as take part in games of chance. The operator offers more than 40 gambling products.

If a virtual reality headset is absent, users can enjoy the 3D space of SlotsMillion. Such a visit requires only a PC.

VR gambling games

Nowadays, the gambling market provides not only VR casinos but also certain gambling games based on virtual reality technology.

For instance, Microgaming has designed a VR roulette. To play it, users need Oculus Rift DK 2 headset and Leap Motion 3D controller. These devices will allow players to monitor motions of their hands and opponents’ actions during the game.

NetEnt has developed several VR slots: Gonzo’s Quest, Jack’s World VR, Starburst, Scarface.

PokerStars, in partnership with Lucky VR, has launched PokerStars VR, a game combining elements of live and online poker. The gambling product was released in 2018.

The game consists of five locations: Macau 2050, Macau Suite, Showdown Saloon, Monte-Carlo Yacht, and Void. Entering one of them, users can play poker, track motions of their hands and opponents’ actions, moving through the virtual space and interacting with other people. As an additional entertainment, gamblers can throw any item to their virtual competitor or “shoot” a piano.

PokerStars VR requires VIVE, VIVE Pro, or Oculus Rift headsets as well as VIVE and Oculus Touch controllers.

Challenges of VR major
integration into gambling

The first problem is the cost of software. The development of VR casinos is quite expensive. Thus, not all operators can afford investing money in these online platforms.

The second issue is the high price of VR equipment. A virtual reality headset costs, on the average, $100. The market has cheap Chinese analogs of such headsets, but their characteristics are much worse than original models’ options.

Besides, VR game developers believe that the high cost of VR gambling gadgets is not the reason for refusing the development of new products. One should be forward-thinking in this regard.

Manuel Bevand, a member of the innovation department at PokerStars, stresses that the Oculus Rift headset and the appropriate VR computer are expensive, but their prices are gradually falling. “When they become affordable, we should be ready. Therefore, we have to work on the product right now,” On Poker Games portal quoted the specialist.

Prospects of VR technology in gambling

VR casinos are interested to gamblers, as these resources allow them to get new experience and completely immerse into the game. So, the development of such a platform is a perfect way to attract and retain clients.

Reliable and licensed software by verified providers will ensure seamless virtual casino operations. By the way, the platform should be adapted for mobile devices. It will help to gain better traffic because many gamblers enter websites via smartphones instead of PCs or tablets.

Gambling experts suggest that VR solutions will also allow to allure customers to land-based casinos. The installation of 3D cameras on poker, roulette, or blackjack tables will allow actual visitors to interact with remote gamblers. This kind of gambling entertainments is already implemented in live casinos. The gaming process with live dealers is shot on camera and broadcasted on the Internet. Users monitor the situation on a computer or a smartphone and participate in games.

Conclusion

VR technologies are gradually conquering the real world. They are considered to be one of the main gambling trends as of today. Integrating virtual reality systems into their platforms, operators allow users to dip into the gaming process and fully enjoy games of chance. In turn, gamblers return to online casinos again and again, increasing platforms’ revenues.