Virtual reality in online casinos
One of the brightest trends in the gambling market is the use of VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) technologies. Thanks to them, an incredible level of immersion in the game is achieved, as well as obtaining new emotions and impressions.
Many companies are currently developing VR casinos as says https://thebestcanadiancasinos.com/, slots, roulettes, poker, blackjack and other gambling entertainment. But there is still no massive demand for such services. Nevertheless, many are convinced that this is precisely the future, and the near future.
Pros of using VR in online casinos
Virtual reality provides the highest level of immersion. Modern technologies make it possible not only to make high-quality 3D graphics, but also to place living people in a virtual environment. These can be both dealers and other players. As a result, for example, the game of poker may be indistinguishable from the real one.
Special controllers allow you to interact with objects in the virtual space. The player can throw chips, press buttons on slot machines, express emotions with gestures.
Difficulties with implementing VR in gambling
The main problem for the VR market is one. This is the availability of virtual reality headsets. First, they are very expensive for the mass consumer. Price tags for headsets with high-quality graphics start at $ 1000. Secondly, the market is still under development. New models of VR glasses appear regularly, some companies try to dictate standards, others suddenly curtail their activities.
When developing a mobile casino application, it is enough to make a version for iOS and Android. This will cover the needs of 99% of potential users. It's more complicated with headsets. A separate version is required for Oculus Rift, for HTC Vive, for Microsoft HoloLens. And these are the most popular headsets. And there are dozens of other platforms from HP, LG, Samsung and so on. The cost of development in such conditions increases significantly.
In addition to the cost of a headset, the user needs to purchase a VR-compatible computer. In practice, this means the presence of a sufficiently powerful modern video card. This is another limitation that significantly raises the entry threshold.
For the mass distribution of VR technologies, the appearance of a headset is necessary, which will:
have a price at the level of a budget smartphone;
completely wireless;
have good graphics and sound;
work for several hours without recharging.
All these requirements, except for the price, are already met by the Oculus Quest headset. It remains to resolve the issue with the cost.
Market size forecasts
Back in 2016, analytic agency Juniper Research predicted the explosive growth of virtual technologies. According to them, by 2021 the volume of the VR / AR solutions market should have reached $ 500 million.
ResearchAndMarkets.com estimates that as of 2018, the total gambling market was $ 449 billion. It plans to grow to $ 565 billion by 2022 (6% annual growth). Against this background, even half a billion does not seem to be a significant amount. But, the same experts assure that VR will grow much faster than other segments - by about 15% annually. In some regions, for example the USA, the annual growth will be 40-55%.
Technavio Plus estimates that the gambling virtual entertainment market will grow to $ 360 million by 2022. The current estimate, as of 2019, is $ 100 million.
Success stories
SlotsMillion is often cited as an example of a successful VR casino. Back in 2015, she launched SlotsMillion VR online casino. Using Oculus Rift glasses, the player can wander around the colorful room with slot machines, sit down at any one and play. There are about 40 slots available in total.
According to the heads of the company, in the first time after the launch, they faced a number of problems. Firstly, there are not so many gamblers in the world who have a VR headset at home. Secondly, regulators are trying to tighten the laws in relation to virtual casinos. SlotsMillion used the Malta license. The country is known for its loyal attitude towards gambling. But in this case, the regulator demanded that a number of requirements be met. For example, a clock must be present in games. This is done so that the player does not lose the sense of time. There were also restrictions on tournaments between players.
VR casino providers
Many of the popular online casino solution providers have already embarked on the development of virtual technology. Among them are companies such as:
CASEXE
The company develops software for online casinos, which is supported by VR gadgets. The company can also implement VR support for games that do not initially use this technology.
Microgaming
The company offers virtual roulette VR Roulette. It works with Oculus Rift headsets and Leap Motion controllers. Through the use of these controllers, the player gets a greater degree of immersion.
NetEnt
This provider has several VR-enabled casino slots in stock. These are the games Gongo's Quest, Jack's World VR, Starburst and Scarface.
Most VR slot adaptations are pretty straightforward. They consist in changing the geometry of the slot and adding various three-dimensional effects. By choosing a slot machine, the user gets a full-screen picture. During the game, you cannot move your gaze to the left or right and see the neighboring machines and the players behind them.
When should you launch your VR casino?
From a business point of view, launching a VR casino is not much different from launching a website or mobile application. In any case, it will be more profitable to take games from trusted providers. Marketing will always be the most expensive part. The main thing is the availability of demand. There are still some problems with this.
The main indicator that indicates the growth of the VR industry will be the emergence of an affordable and at the same time productive headset. From a large company that can capture a significant volume of the market. Not so long ago, Google abandoned the development of its VR platform. Now all hope is on Facebook.