VR and AR Technologies in Gambling: Forecasts for the Future

The casino niche is constantly developing, and platforms with virtual and augmented reality have become one of the most striking advances of recent years. They change the industry by offering new interactive and immersive experiences.

About Virtual and Augmented Reality

Gambling, like other sectors of the economy, is at the threshold of a technical revolution. Many innovations are already being actively used by manufacturers.

AR compares the environment where players are located with other virtual elements. Using special devices (like some smartphones), casino visitors can see artificially created components in the real world.

For example, on live portals, gamblers can independently:

• move chips;
• distribute cards;
• spin the wheel of fortune via a PC or personal gadget.

VR is a world created by technical means and conveyed through the customers’ senses: touch, vision, and hearing. Digital reality is distinguished by the most realistic image. People can get in it using special headsets.

The key difference between VR and AR is the mode of perception. The first one provides complete immersion in a 3D space, and the second one allows players to control their presence in the real world.

Development of Technology: Evolution

The term “augmented reality” was introduced in 1990 by Tom Caudell and David Mizell. Employees of the Boeing corporation came up with it when they were creating a replacement for the large plywood board system that is needed for building aeroplanes.

For a long time, AR was associated only with the industrial sector, and only in the mid-2000s, it began to be applied in other areas.

The most famous example of the use of the concept in GameDev is the Pokemon GO application released by Nintendo. The branded game combined monsters with well-known public places, which sparked the interest of a very broad audience.

The Japanese company is also considered a pioneer in the development of VR headsets. In the late 1990s, the firm presented the Virtual Boy innovative helmet. The product was designed for the launch on desktop consoles and had a resounding success in the Asian market.

Advanced Equipment

The year 2016 marked the opening of a new era for VR entertainment. In 2024, in cooperation with Facebook, the Oculus American enterprise released the innovative Oculus Rift headset. Its main advantage is the low cost with the excellent picture and sound quality.

The solution was the first HMD to penetrate the consumer market. The minimum requirements include high processor power as an additional barrier.

Over time, the following secure VR options began to appear in the catalogues of other well-known manufacturers:

1. Oculus. The company has released many headsets, including Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift S, Oculus Quest, and Quest 2. The product line stands out thanks to its modern design and affordable price.
2. Sony. The firm presented PlayStation VR, which was created specifically for PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles but can also be used in land-based casinos and locations with slot machines.
3. HTC. It includes the original Vive, Vive Pro, and Vive Cosmos models with high-quality displays. The main advantage of such options is the function of continuous monitoring of what is happening in VR space.
4. Valve. The provider released the PC-based Valve Index headset. The product is equipped with 2 high-resolution screens and an interpupillary distance regulation function.

Among popular VR solutions, we can also name Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard, Google Daydream View, etc.

Today, almost every well-known IT corporation is trying to develop equipment that supports virtual and augmented reality. Most companies are aimed at mass production of budget-friendly headsets of excellent quality. The price range is between $200 and $350.

This approach makes products accessible to a wide audience and contributes to the popularisation of VR and AR in the gambling niche.

The above-mentioned headsets are often called glasses due to the technology that uses 2 LCD displays (one for each eye), pixels, and lenses. They change the angle at which 2D images are projected, simulating how people see the world, and special helmets make the immersion even deeper.

The entertainment industry has already made great strides in the field of the improvement of VR user interface.

Modern controllers and tracking systems provide intuitive and precise interaction between the players and the gaming world. As a result, the duration of sessions and the size of the customers’ average checks are also increasing.

Morgan Stanley predicts that by 2040, the VR equipment market will be estimated at $250 billion.

The First Virtual Reality Casino

In 2017, Alea Gaming Group presented a universal platform with support for VR and AR solutions. When opening a website or launching a mobile application, users find themselves in an immersive 3D environment where they can walk around, place bets, and spend time in a virtual bar.

The product range contains more than 40 titles, including:

• slots;
• board entertainment;
• cards.

Currently, the digital resource is managed by the SLTM Ltd corporation and has licences issued by the authorities of Malta and Curacao.

The Future of VR in the Casino and Sportsbook Industry

The Statista online publication predicts that the global virtual reality niche will increase from $12 billion in 2022 to $22 billion in 2025. Revenues from iGaming will reach $3.6 billion, or 16.4% of the total capitalisation.

In addition to entertainment for money, technology will have a huge success in medicine, tourism, education, and other sectors where user experience is closely intertwined with innovation.

The Research and Market international portal expects that from 2024 to 2027, the market share of VR gambling will increase by $1.74 billion. The average annual growth rate is going to be 53.13%.

Specialists predict that 43% will come from North America. The region is famous for the high level of income of the local population, which directly affects the ability of people to buy headsets in different price segments.

According to the report, the list of key brands includes:

• 888 Holdings;
• DraftKings;
• Evolution Gaming Group;
• GVC Holdings;
• Kindred Group, and others.

Let us consider the latest trends in VR gambling.

Beneficial Technological Advances

Teslasuit, a unique suit with haptic feedback, is quite an interesting option. It was created for virtual simulations designed to train rapid-response teams: firefighters, divers, gas workers, and representatives of other professions who often work under abnormal conditions.

The product has 68 built-in tactile points that can simulate physical sensations throughout the body. This includes impact with the wall, touch of some subjects, too low or, conversely, high temperatures, etc.

Teslasuit allows players to fully immerse themselves in virtual reality. The solution is equipped with a motion capture system, climate control, and biometric sensors. Thanks to this, everything that happens in the game can be felt through electrical impulses.

Experts predict that the use of such a development together with a professional headset (such as Oculus Quest 2) will make VR entertainment more realistic and fun.

Foveated rendering is another important technological advancement. It focuses on the visualisation only of the area of the screen where the user is looking. This reduces processing power and improves the overall performance of headsets.

Innovation in the GameDev field results in smoother and catchier gameplay, as well as a reduction in the device’s cost.

AR and Mixed Reality

Top companies are actively investing in projects at the intersection of 2 in-demand technologies. Such enterprises offer large-scale digital spaces where gamblers can interact seamlessly with real and virtual objects.

Metaverse from Facebook is the most famous option in this category. In the digital world, people can construct buildings, visit unknown countries and, of course, place bets in casinos.

Many market leaders are focused on the production of professional AR equipment. Thus, Microsoft introduced Hololens wireless glasses for mixed reality, and Google is investing in Magic Leap. The solution’s advantages are minimal weight, high computing power, and an increased field of view.

Why iGaming VR Platforms Are Gaining Popularity

The technology has enormous potential due to the innovation trend and the competition between international IT companies.

The main advantages of virtual reality casinos include:

1. Increased realism. One of the key benefits of such portals is the maximum level of immersion. The 3D environment makes people feel like they are inside a real establishment, which enhances the pleasure of the gameplay. Customers can walk, communicate with their opponents, and even gesticulate.
2. Convenience and accessibility. Incredible user experience is available from anywhere around the globe. All casino visitors need is a VR headset and a compatible platform. After that, they will be free to place bets and win generous prizes.
3. Social interaction. Virtual reality sites, unlike traditional digital resources, have a powerful public aspect. Gamblers can interact with other players around the world, communicate with friends, make new ones, as well as participate in tournaments or seasonal campaigns, and give presents. This helps operators to attract a wider audience and increase revenues.
4. Good protection. Most online casinos use SSL encryption to prevent hacking and theft of confidential information. In the VR environment, the range of security tools expands significantly. Entrepreneurs can use biometric identification (based on fingerprint or retinal scanning), distributed ledger technology (DLT), and other innovations.

Exciting Content for iGaming VR Sites

According to a report by AnalyticsIQ, virtual reality products rank fourth in relation to consumer preference, after computer and mobile entertainment. At the same time, the sector has huge growth potential, which directly depends on the release of low-end equipment.

The study showed that:

• 36% of respondents said they had launched VR or AR solutions in the past 12 months;
• 31% of users prefer action content, 30% choose research games, and another 25% select traditional card entertainment and slots with virtual and augmented reality elements.

Trends for VR Products

The NetEnt Swedish provider was the first to present this type of title. In 2017, at the ICE Totally Gaming international exhibition in London, the firm showed a demo version of Gonzo's Quest VR. The product became available to a wide range of consumers at the beginning of 2018.

The developer took the popular video slot of the same name as a basis. The story of the fearless Gonzo was transferred to the virtual world, which caused unprecedented interest among NetEnt fans.

The company currently offers several popular VR games:

• Gonzo's Quest;
• Jack's World VR;
• Starburst;
• Twin Spin;
• Scarface.

The release of solutions for virtual reality casinos has become a priority activity for the studio. It promises to introduce more products with original gameplay in the near future.

Active Development of Immersive Content

Currently, exciting VR games are offered by many brands:

1. NextGen. The manufacturer’s most famous slot is Miss Midas. This is a fascinating story about Queen Midas who turns everything into gold in one touch.
2. IGT. The firm has several high-quality options. Archery VR is an RNG product where gamblers try to break through a siege and win big prizes. Another in-demand title is Siege VR.
3. Microgaming. The developer offers several slots of this type, the most famous of which is Thunderstruck II. It tells users about Scandinavian mythology and includes 5 reels and 243 pay lines.

One of the key benefits of virtual reality content production is the powerful public aspect.

The decision to integrate social media and related features contributes to the formation of a sense of community spirit. Internal chat and sharing tips or strategies with friends enriches the overall user experience and brings the audience together, which is essential to building a powerful group of gamblers.

The Main Things about VR and AR in the Casino Niche

They have the following key characteristics:

• Immersive technology transports players into an imaginary digital world. The evolution of virtual and augmented reality is associated with the mass production of budget-friendly equipment: glasses, helmets, headsets, and consoles.
• The advantages of VR casinos include increased realism of the gameplay, as well as convenience and accessibility from anywhere in the world. iGaming platforms have a strong social effect and an improved security system.
• Interesting VR content can be found in the product range of NetEnt, Microgaming, IGT, NextGen, and other top brands. They release slots, card entertainment, and multiplayer casual games.
• The future of such technologies in the industry is associated with the release of professional equipment and tactile solutions (for example, Teslasuit). Innovative approaches to visualisation reduce the performance requirements of VR equipment and affect the growth of the casino sector.

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