In a world full of technology it was always inevitable that virtual reality would make its way into online casinos. But how exactly does a virtual reality casino work? Today’s blog is going to be looking at just that and by the time you’ve finished reading we hope you’ll be ready for your first virtual casino experience.
What Are Virtual Reality Casinos?
We’ve actually covered virtual reality gambling in the past but now we’re wondering is virtual reality gambling really taking over this industry? Of course virtual reality hit video gamers first but it wasn’t long until the first virtual online casino was invented and we’re sure over the years to come we’ll see more and more VR Casinos emerging too. But what exactly is virtual gambling?
Typically, a VR Casino will try to replicate a land-based casino experience which is fantastic for players wanting to try land-based but never being able to. Vica versa it’s also great for land-based lovers willing to take their gambling to the next level online but without losing that “real-life experience”.
A VR Casino will try to replicate the experience from a land-based casino.
It’ll provide a three dimensional view as opposed to the traditional 2D casino, and a virtual casino online will also allow interaction with the casinos environment. This means it is fully interactive giving you an experience as close to the real thing as possible.
How Does a VR Casino Work?
There’s actually a very thin line between virtual video gaming and a casino virtual experience. The concept itself remains exactly the same though and in this new wave of gaming you’d need some special equipment to play at a virtual reality casino.
Over the years there have been loads of top notch VR gaming gear which have included Facebook’s Oculus Rift, Valve’s Stream VR, HTC’s Vive ad of course there’s Sony’s PlayStation VR. This 21st century gambling will transport you to a whole different experience so you’d better be ready for it.
A VR Casino will typically be full of games you’d find at a normal online casino such as online slots and table games like blackjack and roulette. Although you shouldn’t expect to find as many games, well not yet anyway. And, these are currently the most popular games amongst VR fans.
How these games transform into virtual reality is pretty neat too. The graphics are produced using high-resolution imagery at a much higher frame rate than other video games you might play without VR. This also means if you move your head and your view changes, you won’t experience any kind of lagging. In addition to this, a VR Casino will also work on a number of other key features as follows:
- The ability to chat and interact with fellow gamblers and the dealers
- Multiplayer games available to play in real time
- You’ll get to choose from avatars and characters
Now to enjoy a VR Casino you will need VR goggles like we mentioned just now. You’ll also need a powerful computer or laptop (we’ll go through that later). A casino VR will not work without compatible goggles. Well generally you may be able to test out VR games without them but the experience will be nowhere near as immense as it would with the VR goggles. You’ll get a 3D experience without them but a fully immersive experience with!
Using VR goggles will give you a fully immersive casino experience.
This is also the case if you’re thinking of a virtual casino mobile experience but you should always search the market and do your research before investing in any VR equipment. They’re not cheap, so do your homework first.
You should consider which games you’ll be wanting to play with a headset, you should also take some time to read up on reviews first too. Don’t worry if you’re not very techy, you can just read the headset specs and compare them against different models. You’ll soon get the gist of it.
Don’t expect to search the market and find a ton of headsets available because you’ll probably be disappointed. However you will find a select few, but this will increase as/if VR becomes more popular in the future.
Recommended Computer Specs for Playing at Virtual Casinos
So, we briefly touched on computer requirements just now but this is important so listen up! Don’t go buying expensive VR goggles if you haven’t got the computer specs to load the casino and its games. If you’re serious about VR gambling you should invest in a proper computer setup to avoid any compatibility issues. These specs should help:
- Windows 7 SP1 or above
- 8GB+ RAM of Memory/RAM
- Intel i5-4590 or higher
- 2x USB 3.0 ports and HDMI 1.3
- NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD 290 or higher
You must also have a keyboard or controller to enjoy the casino games and a head mounted display too. If you think you already have a powerful PC just be sure to check these spcs first to avoid any disappointment.
Virtual Reality Gambling Is the Future of Online Casinos
Well this is the burning question isn’t it. Let's have a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages first shall we.
Advantages
- Fantastic social aspect: players who enjoy interacting will love this side of VR gambling
- A VR casino will detect your presence once you join a game
- Their live chat may allow you to speak to dealers
- Large selection of games available
- Allows you to try something new
- Won’t need to visit a land-based casino but can still live the experience
Disadvantages
- Expensive to initially set up and get started
- Chances of spending more money gambling than in an online casino
- Due to its immersive nature there’s a chance you could spend more time thinking about gambling
- You may not notice anything that is going on around you at the time of playing
- Limited places to play
- Not as social as online casinos (You’re not going to be sat on a bus with a pair of VR goggles on are you!)
When you weigh both sides of the argument, it’s certainly not going to be for every player and does have a niche market at the moment. Some players are reluctant to play due to the nature and cost of it all to set up. However, on the opposing argument you’ll have players wanting to immerse themselves in this experience, possibly these are already fans of video gaming VR.
Virtual Reality isn’t something that’s going to go away and though. It’s been in the world of gambling for some time it still has a lot of evolving to do. But is it really the future of gambling? In years to come will we all be sat playing with VR goggles on or will it eventually fade out?
Join Us At the Forum
Why don’t you tell us what you think the answer is over at the forum. Join us over there and let us know what you think. We’d also love to hear from anyone who has already experienced VR so we’ll see you there, yeah?
And on one final note, if you decide to take your first virtual reality experience remember that gambling is addictive, always play within your means and play responsibly. Never bet what you can’t afford to lose.
