Major online casinos have been thinking about moving into virtual reality after demonstrating the capabilities of the Oculus Rift helmet in September 2014 in Los Angeles. So far, no one has managed to create a full-fledged project, but some gambling establishments already have interesting developments. The gambling industry is actively moving towards VR, so it is easy for many gamblers and experts to imagine what the casino of the future will be like. What is a VR casino VR casinos are three-dimensional digital establishments created by graphic designers and programmers. In the virtual halls there are roulette tables, tables for poker and other card games, video slots and the Wheel of Fortune. Games are accessed through special applications, and players can interact with each other and dealers using VR devices. Bills are paid and winnings are paid out online, as in traditional online casinos. If a real croupier is involved in the game, his main task is to maintain the right atmosphere and ensure that gamblers are fully immersed in the game process. Access to content is possible only if the gambler has a VR helmet and broadband Internet access. In virtual gambling houses, visitors can walk around the halls, talk with other users, change the interior of the establishment at their discretion and follow the statistics using a modern interface. Also, the user can change the look of his 3D avatar according to his mood, creating the most daring images. VR helmets provide visual and sound effects. If a visitor wants to experience tactile sensations, he will have to supplement his glasses with special gloves. Ivan Kondilenko, CEO of CASEXE, believes that VR technologies will gain popularity in the gaming environment by 2019-2020, and after 2-3 years they will become a mass phenomenon. Other experts are more optimistic. They argue that virtual reality casinos already have fans, and after 2-3 years their number will increase markedly. Pros and cons of VR casinos The advantages of gambling houses of the future include the ability to gather large companies in virtual reality to play poker or roulette 24/7. Users can invite friends and organize tournaments with cash prizes. But the biggest plus of 3D virtual casinos of the future, of course, is the realism of everything that happens. Unlike Live Casino and ordinary online casinos, the visitor is almost immediately immersed in the atmosphere of a gambling house, and the boundaries between the real and invented world become blurred. Virtual gambling houses also have several disadvantages. The biggest one is the lack of full-fledged projects with a varied menu and a large number of visitors. Many VR casinos that are just developing are limited to just a couple of games. The second drawback is the high cost of equipment, which the user will have to fork out for. Prices for simple VR helmets start from $150-200. The third disadvantage is the low percentage of gambling houses that implement virtual reality technologies, which is why gamblers do not have the opportunity to choose and look for establishments with bonuses, promotions and other nice additions. Popular games and software developers for VR casinos are developed by such IT giants as NetEnt, NextGen Gaming, CASEXE and Microgaming. In 2016, Microgaming presented the first VR roulette in London. The software transferred the user to outer space, in which the role of the dealer was performed by a robot. The Microgaming invention earned the ICE Totally Gaming award and instantly made it to the list of the most anticipated hits. Gamblers were equally interested in Jack’s VR World slot from NetEnt, which is an improved version of Jack and the Beanstalk specifically for virtual reality casinos. The developers abandoned the classic format and turned the software into something between a video slot and a computer game. They made the sound more voluminous, added more cartoon inserts and allowed the gambler to actively influence the gameplay. Foxin’ Wins video slot has become the most popular VR software from NextGen Gaming. The company, like NetEnt, has relied on 3D graphics, animated inserts and user-friendly controls. An equally interesting application was released by the developer Mega Particle. The company has created a cross-platform platform for poker Poker VR. The software allows you to hold tournaments with real players, or rather, their 3D avatars. In the improved version of the application, it will be possible to buy special chips, choose a croupier and follow the progress of opponents in a virtual table. And recently, PokerStars poker room launched its own branded VR project. Which helmet to choose for a VR casino Oculus Rift is considered to be the best option for visiting a virtual gambling house. The helmet has a light weight, a large viewing angle and a built-in audio headset, as well as only one external sensor to track the movements of the gambler. The price of the device varies between 330-370 dollars. The Oculus Rift helmet is a good option for virtual journeys into the world of gambling entertainment, but it is far from the only one. The gadget has several analogues. Pimax 4k is a helmet from a Chinese developer that works in 4K resolution. Built-in headphones provide high-quality sound transmission, and 2 separate screens turn the picture into a single whole without pixel noise, smoothing textures. The only drawback is the lack of an external tracking sensor. The cost of the gadget is $300. VR Gear is a Samsung product. The device consists of 2 screens with a viewing angle of 101˚ and a controller. The glasses are synchronized with Samsung smartphones, so they are more suitable for mobile gambling. The VR Gear equipment is capable of taking the user to any virtual casino that has a platform for mobile applications. The price of glasses is 95-100 dollars. Vive by HTC is not just a helmet, but a whole virtual reality system for professional gamblers. The gadget has 2 separate screens and 4K resolution, a built-in camera that allows you to transfer things from the real world to the virtual one, convenient controllers that are fixed on the hand with straps. As well as 2 base stations for tracking head turns and body movement in space. Vive technologies help the player to fully immerse themselves in the process and enjoy all the features of a VR casino. But only if a fan of online entertainment is willing to spend $680-700 on a “toy”.
