It is not always possible to leave the house to play at a live casino. Nowadays many people are already taking advantage of the possibilities of online casinos . To provide an even more real 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.
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 let their imaginations run wild. To enter the VR environment, special virtual reality glasses are required. 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 off for the user. Splitting the screen in two between the user’s eyes creates a 3D effect and a sense of depth. VR works even better when it stimulates the senses through sound or smell. It feels to the user as if he or she is being withdrawn into the artificial world. In the case of AR, you can simply play on your smartphone or PC.
The technology
The images that a player sees through the VR glasses consists entirely of 360-degree images. This allows the player to walk through the casino and look around. This requires 360 degree photos and a memory card with a lot of memory. In addition, in order to provide an authentic experience, it is 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 has been used for years in navigation at sea, among other things. Collectively, this technology can determine the position in which a player holds his or her head. An accelerometer registers any change in direction, allowing the image to move 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 available for telephone, console, laptop and PC. There are also 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 follow rotational movements, so up or down and to the left or right. With 6DoF it is also possible to walk around in the VR world by performing movements in the real world. Almost all headsets are supplied with controllers that are equipped with buttons and a joystick. These controllers can be compared with, for example, the controller of the Xbox or Playstation.
How is Virtual Reality used in casinos?
There are various game providers that apply Virtual Reality in their casino games . For example, Netent has already released several VR games, including the popular slot 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. Many casinos uses VR for a completely different application. A lack of game knowledge prevents many people from visiting the casino. By means of Virtual Reality, the casino wants to introduce visitors to the rules of various table games in a few minutes.
Due to 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 others. This is the way to be able to enter a casino without actually having to leave the door. However, players must purchase VR glasses and a controller themselves to be able 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 house and without being tied down to opening hours. We expect that the metaverse will also offer many opportunities in this area. The metaverse can be organized in an infinite number of ways. 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 can be built, which will certainly improve 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 playing problems.
