Online real money gaming began in the mid-1990s courtesy of game designers offering pretty basic casino table games to the online market. Since those tentative beginnings, the breadth and scope of online gambling has increased exponentially, and with cheap smart-phones widely available around the world, the number of people who can access online gaming sites has similarly grown. As virtual reality headsets are starting to become more integrated into the video gaming world, can we expect virtual reality casinos to be the future of the online gambling industry?
VIRTUAL REALITY CASINOS TODAY
The promise of virtual reality technology is to take you out of your current environment and transport you to a completely new head-space, where you are totally absorbed into a different reality. It doesn’t take a genius to see how this technology could be a winner for the online betting industry, and early adopters are already starting to utilize this new tech. SlotsMillion online casino was one of the first to embrace VR technology back in 2015. They provide an immersive gaming experience where you can wander through a virtual casino and enjoy the sensation of playing ‘inside’ the latest VR-adapted slot games. There have also been rapid strides in the race to develop fully functioning virtual reality Poker rooms, as this is seen as one of the online real money games which can most benefit from the technology.
THE FUTURE OF VR AND ONLINE BETTING
The potential for the fusion between virtual reality technology and online betting is just about limitless. Social casino games such as craps and poker could take on a whole new life when enhanced with virtual reality. Imagine an online craps game where you get to throw the dice, cheered on by your online companions as if you were in a brick and mortar casino? Or being able to read the expression on an opponent’s face across the poker table? How about placing a bet on a sporting event and then being able to virtually ‘attend’ the match or race, with your VR headset transporting you to a seat in the crowd? There are so many potential upsides to the merging of this immersive technology and the world of online gambling that it’s no surprise to see developers pushing the current tech to its limits in a bid to bring virtual dreams to fruition.
It is not cheap to access those tools to enjoy virtual gambling games. So, online gambling has a slight edge over them on that aspect. Technology, on the other hand, is flourishing and improving by each year. So, it is a strong possibility that one day these virtual casino platforms can outshine regular gambling.
THE WAITING GAME
For now the visions of wholly immersive online gaming are a step or two away, as the technology is not quite where it needs to be just yet. Current VR headsets are outside the price range of many, and internet connections and speeds in many parts of the world are not yet up to the challenge of streaming quality VR images. While the high-end headsets are able to produce stunning virtual reality scenarios, a majority online players are using smart-phones to play online and the integration of VR and phones needs a lot of development.
So for now, virtual reality casino gambling is still in its infancy, but we can expect this futuristic tech to be a part of the online gaming landscape sooner rather than later.
by David Ross O’Connor
Live Gambling Online Casino
Photo © by casino-vr
Virtual gambling is an Internet form of betting that is usually structured like a game, and typically involves fake currency. As such, players can’t actually lose money playing these games. Depending on the site involved, though, the virtual money that’s bet, won, and lost may have some value, even just within the limited constraints of the site. Some web services allow winners to use money to “shop” in virtual stores, often as a means of buying accessories or outfits for the avatars that represent the players online; winnings might also be converted into status symbols that other virtual gamblers will recognize. Offline, though, there aren’t usually any financial benefits or consequences. This sort of gambling can be a good way to learn games and play them in a relatively safe environment, but it can also raise problems for people with addictive personalities since it can sometimes lead people to believe that they’ll have more success in real casinos or on actual online gambling sites that they might otherwise.
What’s Involved
Most virtual gambling games are structured like regular casino games, including poker, black jack, and slots. Players often see graphics that simulate a card table or slot machine, and it often looks like they’re actually there. Participants can sometimes — though not always — interact with other users in real time, and they may be able to “see” other players if the game uses avatars or other aspects of simulated reality.
Sports betting games can also fall within this category, as can horse racing games. These usually have realistic graphics and include many of the popular horse racing and other sporting events, often in real time. The advantage for many people is that they can have the fun and entertainment of betting on events without the risk of losing money.
How Games are Accessed and Played
Virtual games all exist online, though they are hosted in a variety of places. Some stand-alone websites offer gambling games, for instance, as do certain organizations. The most popular tend to be found within social networking sites. People who are already members of these sites can join virtual betting games with their friends or other people in their networks; for some, these sorts of venues can be a good way to “meet” new people, too.
Most of the time, games are played in real time — which is to say, in the moment in which they’re happening. They are structured around live participants, too. This means that people usually need to be logged in to the site or server to play, and there isn’t usually a way to pause or save the game for later.
Difference From Traditional Internet Gambling
Online Virtual Casino
There is a difference between virtual and what is commonly known as Internet gambling, usually most profoundly where money is concerned. Many Internet gambling sites allow people to play casino games for money. This type of gambling is illegal in many places, including the United States. This form of gambling can be more addictive than casino gambling because gamblers can place bets from home computers, and can lose a lot of money very quickly — usually with just a few clicks of their mouse.
The Virtual Casino
Virtual gambling is different from Internet gambling because it is a game with fake money, which makes it legal in the United States and most other countries, too. This type of gambling is purely designed for entertainment and training purposes. It is often just as accessible as versions with money, and can be just as addictive — but players don’t often stand to lose much.
Risks and Benefits
Like most things, there are both pros and cons to virtual gaming and betting activity. One of the inherent issues with playing gambling games for entertainment is the risk that a person may become an addicted gambler. Gambling can be habit forming for compulsive risk takers, and many people have lost their families and livelihood through addictive gambling disorders. Virtual games aren’t usually harmful in and of themselves in this regard, but they may intensify the condition for those with disorders, and they can give people a perhaps unwarranted confidence that they can win at real gambling casinos.
Vegas Online Casino Gambling
There are also a number of positive things to be said for this sort of gaming. They can be a good way to connect with friends and family online in a fun way, and can also be good practice for people looking to build skills in games like poker or blackjack. Games often allow players to learn and experience how to play without risk.