How VR and AR are Impacting Online Casinos

VR (or virtual reality) is a technology defined by its immersive qualities. It involves the creation of complete digital worlds that users are able to experience as if they were a part of that world themselves. Essentially, it’s the technology that films like The Matrix and Ready Player One have warned us about – except it’s not as scary as you think!

VR is kind of a catch-all term for any piece of immersive technology. Technically speaking, video games are a kind of VR, simulating an environment for players to explore. Nowadays, however, VR has come to be more specifically applied to immersive technology that players are able to perceive through their own senses.

Of course, while VR has come a long way from being a plot device in cheap speculative fiction novels, it still has a ways to go in fully immersing players to the point where everything in these virtual worlds can be touched, smelled, seen, heard, and tasted (yes, that’s where all of this is headed)!

What is AR?

VR attempts to fully immerse users in a fully digitised world. On the other hand, AR’s ambitions are much more humble.

AR stands for augmented reality, with “augmented” being the operative word here. AR doesn’t seek to create full 3D environments for users to experience. Rather, it aims to enhance the 3D environment we already exist in (that being the mundane, physical world we currently inhabit, for anyone too zonked on NetRunner juice to follow).

So, how does it accomplish this? Quite simply, actually – in fact, you’ve probably already experienced AR for yourself. Through a combination of different apps and specific pieces of hardware (normally glasses or smartphones), AR “overlays” digital content onto your physical world. That means that if you’ve ever used a Snapchat filter, you’ve already used AR!

While you could make the case that AR is not as immersive as VR, it’s already made a place for itself in a variety of different sectors and industries. Simply put, it’s a “tried and tested” piece of technology that already has a variety of applications in comparison to VR’s more “experimental” nature.

What is the Metaverse?

In discussions of VR and AR, another term you’re likely to come across is the Metaverse. It’s kind of a buzzword at the moment and seems to be applied to just about any sort of shared, immersive digital space where users can interact with one another.

But as with VR, this definition lacks specificity – if you’ve ever played an MMO, you’ve technically been part of the Metaverse already. It’s only recently that the term has come to be exclusively linked with virtual reality, but in fact, the term was first used way back in 1992 in the science fiction novel SnowCrash. This story presented the Metaverse as the Internet on crack, a single-digitised space where users could freely interact with one another. Despite the age of the novel, author Neal Stephenson was bang on the money!

Due to the progress made in the fields of both AR and VR, the ethics and implications of the so-called Metaverse have been hotly debated. Specifically, the Metaverse has been linked to Web3, a proposed “updated” version of the Internet that would essentially allow users to live an entirely new life completely online with an independent economy and decentralised governance.

Naturally, many people are concerned about the lack of privacy such a world would entail. The Metaverse could also have several other adverse effects like increased digital addiction and general physical health hazards.

How Has the Introduction of VR and AR Affected the Gaming Industry?

With all that being said, how does anything we’ve discussed affect your gambling experience and the online casino industry as a whole?

When you take a step back to examine the evolution of online casinos, the quick introduction of immersive technologies shouldn’t come as any surprise. Online gaming sites have been around for as long as the Internet has allowed, and while these casinos were basic in nature, with simple interfaces and generic casino games, their presence quickly ushered in a new era of gaming.

Now, several more leaps forward have been taken. Many casinos and casino games have already integrated VR and AR into their systems. One of the best examples of this innovation is allowing players to explore these virtual casinos in ways they never could before. Rather than navigating boring menus, players with a VR headset can now explore the casino floor, visit tables, and interact with other players— you know, just like in real life!

This is by far one of the best and biggest changes to the online casino landscape, ushered in by the rise of immersive technology. But there are numerous other changes as well!

Enhanced User Experience

Besides the cool factor of being able to engage with online casinos like never before, the overall experience of gamers has been improved. While VR can be challenging to get to grips with at first, there’s no question that accessibility and navigation have never been smoother.

Improved Social Interactions

Many gamers – especially regular ones – can become withdrawn and isolated due to the anonymous nature of online casinos. While online privacy is still a concern, there’s no denying that being able to interact with other users in VR is a boon for users who may otherwise miss out on social experiences.

Enhanced Personalisation

Playing in an online casino requires signing up and creating a profile. While your username is customisable, that’s where your personalisation ends. With VR, however, you’re able to fully customise your avatar and be the player you want to be. It’s essentially like creating an entirely new you!

The Challenges of VR and AR in Online Casinos

Of course, for every innovation, there is a challenge – or several of them! In the case of VR in online casinos, many of the challenges faced by developers relate to integration. VR is still in its “experimental” phase, which means that fully integrating its use has proven difficult. An example of this is optimisation and compatibility, or rather the lack thereof.

In terms of user experience, while VR is exciting, purchasing a VR headset isn’t cheap. Worse still, users will need to ensure that the headset they buy is compatible with their system, and all the heady technological “mumbo-jumbo” can be opaque.

Finally, VR also has the same issues and challenges faced by online casinos since their genesis: user safety and informational privacy. The introduction of VR has forced developers to come up with new encryption and verification methods, many of which have not been fully tried and tested. Ironically, using VR in its current state to play online is something of a gamble.

Best VR Games

If you’ve made it this far and are willing to face the challenges of VR gaming to experience unparalleled immersion in your online casino of choice, you’re in luck because we’ve got a few picks for the best VR games to start off with.

Jack and the Beanstalk

If you’ve been around the block once or twice and know your way around an online casino, then the chances are that you’ve heard of NetEnt. They’re one of the biggest developers of online casino games, specifically slots, and their first VR game is none other than Jack and the Beanstalk, a revamp of one of their earlier titles.

This version of the classic tale sees the player – as Jack – climb the beanstalk in a stunningly rendered 3D world, encountering giants – and giant bonuses – as he goes. The game features a simple 5 reel window and 20 bet lines as well as 10 unique symbols, 5 of which are high-paying ones.

Blackjack

Yes, we’re including classics on this list, and you don’t get more classic than blackjack, one of the oldest casino games. Experiencing blackjack in VR is a treat: not only is the casino environment around you detailed and immersive, but you’re also able to see the dealer’s face when you eventually call blackjack!

Honestly, playing blackjack in VR is a surreal experience, but it’s also an authentic one. While some of the kinks still need to be ironed out, it’s definitely something owners of a VR headset should try for themselves.

The Hand of Midas

Finally, our last pick is none other than The Hand of Midas. While the original tale featured a king and far fewer flashing lights, The Hand of Midas retains the spirit of generosity that its namesake inspired. This is a game with 20 paylines and a 5-reel window with an RTP of 96.54%.

The sights and sounds of the Midas Temple (where the game takes place) have also been beautifully rendered in VR, allowing you to get even better acquainted with this fantastic game!

VR and AR

And there you have it, folks! Hopefully, we’ve demonstrated that VR isn’t as scary as you may have thought, though there is still plenty of room for improvement. Nevertheless, the future of online gaming has never been more exciting, and we hope you’re along for the ride!