Virtual Reality in casinos

It is not always possible to leave the house to play at a live casino. Today, many people are already using the possibilities of online casinos . To offer an even more authentic experience, many of these casinos are already experimenting with Virtual Reality (VR). VR is also used to allow participants to gain game knowledge in a virtual environment. Read on to learn more about this trend.

Virtual Reality in casinos

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual Reality is a computer technique in which a realistic situation is simulated in a simulated environment. VR and AR, Augmented Reality, are often used interchangeably. The difference is that Augmented Reality is a 'real world' in an online environment, while VR is a virtual world that is completely created and in which the developers can therefore give their imagination more free rein. To enter the VR environment, special virtual reality glasses are needed. This puts the user in the middle of an immersive environment. The vr glasses are equipped with a screen and the outside world is closed to the user. Because the screen is divided in half between the user's eyes, a 3D effect and a sense of depth are created. VR works even better when it excites the senses through sound or gNZD. It feels to the user as if he or she is being pulled into the artificial world. In the case of AR, you can just play on your smartphone or PC.

Technology

The images that a player gets to see through the VR glasses consist entirely of 360 degree images. This makes it possible for the player to walk around the casino and look around. This requires 360 degree photos and a memory card with a lot of memory. In order to give an authentic experience, it is also essential that the VR glasses always know in which direction the player is looking. To measure this, the glasses use a gyroscope and a magnetometer. This technology is not new, but, among other things, has been used for many years in navigation at sea. Collectively, this technology can determine the position in which a player holds his or her head. An accelerometer records every change of direction, allowing the image to move along with the head.

What do you need to use Virtual Reality?

Virtual Reality comes in all shapes and sizes. What a player always needs is VR glasses. These glasses are for phone, console, laptop and pc. Also, there are standalone glasses that allow users to enter the virtual world without being tied to a pc. To be able to move in the virtual world, two degrees of freedom can be distinguished: 3DoF or 6DoF, where DoF stands for Degrees of Freedom. 3 DoF glasses can track rotational movements, i.e. up or down and left or right. With 6DoF it is also possible to walk around the VR world by performing movements in the real world. Virtually all headsets are supplied including controllers that are equipped with buttons and a joystick. These controllers can be compared to, for example, the controller of the Xbox or Playstation. Controllers of 6DoF headsets are also often equipped with a tracking ring that tracks the user's hand movements.

How is Virtual Reality used in casinos?

There are several game providers that use Virtual Reality in their casino games . For example, Netent has already released several VR games, including the popular slot . Gonzo's Quest '. Microgaming is also responding to the VR trend. This provider was one of the first providers to develop a roulette game in Virtual Reality. Players will need the Oculus Rift DK 2 and a Leap Motion 3D controller to take a seat at this virtual table. Game provider Betsoft is also shifting its focus more and more towards developing VR games. Royal Vegas Casino uses VR for a completely different application. A lack of gaming knowledge prevents many people from visiting the casino. Through Virtual Reality, the casino wants to introduce visitors to the rules of various table games in a matter of minutes.

Especially due to the current developments in the world, including the Corona pandemic, it is expected that more attention will be paid to developing VR solutions for online casinos, among other things. this is the way to still be able to enter a casino, without actually having to leave the dNZD. However, players must purchase their own VR glasses and a controller in order to use the range of VR games.

What does the future look like?

No one can say for sure what the future will look like, but there is a very good chance that the future will be digital. Virtual Reality allows players to play their favorite casino games without having to leave the dNZD and without being stuck on opening hours. We expect that the metaverse will also offer many opportunities in this area. There are infinitely many ways to design the metaverse. This is a place where players can hang out in virtual form. This means that everyone is an avatar who can speak and move and "pick up" things in the virtual world with physical actions.

Currently, some VR casino games are already being developed, but in the future, complete Virtual Reality casinos may be pounded out of the ground, which will certainly benefit the gaming experience. Before this can be realized, reliable online casinos will have to be able to demonstrate that VR games are no longer addictive. VR provides an even more interactive experience, which may lead to gaming problems.