The Virtual Reality Online Casino Experience

Every year, modern technology seems to move the online casino gaming experience a little closer to the real-life retail casino experience. That has certainly been the case as it relates to live casino/dealer table games that have become popular iGaming options for casino enthusiasts worldwide. Amazingly, a few well-placed video cameras can bring the retail casino experience right into someone's home.

What's next? Virtual Reality (VR) online casinos? That's right. It appears that VR casinos have officially arrived on the scene and not a moment too soon.

Note: This kind of technology has yet to reach the U.S. However, this information should still be relevant to U.S. online casino and poker enthusiasts because the technology is coming and nothing is going to stop it.

What Are VR Casinos?

VR casinos are casinos that are prompted by state-of-the-art virtual reality technology to create a retail casino experience online. The technology can offer access to all types of online casino games (video slots, table games, video poker, real table poker, etc.). To play VR casino games or poker, players will need the appropriate VR equipment (VR Headset, goggles, controller) to get started.

The following information is going to be directed at explaining how VR casinos work and some of the intricacies that causing iGaming customers to pause and give this iGamning option a go.

Starting Your VR Casino Gambling Experience

To keep things simple, we want to lay out the process of playing on VR casinos and help you set your expectations.

Choosing a VR Casino: Before you get started, you'll need to find a VR casino that suits your needs and tickles your fancy. It's not an easy process because the VR iGaming technology is still evolving and not many operators have fully moved forward to embrace the technology.

When choosing a VR casino, you'll want to stick with the usual criteria during the selection process. You'll want to consider

• Where each casino is licensed and regulated (avoid unlicensed operators


• What types of VR equipment will be needed to access the site


• What times of casino games or poker options are in the offering and from which software developer(s)


• Value of welcome bonuses for new customers


• Reputation of the VR casino operator

The last item on this list demands extra scrutiny. Given the newness of this technology, it's probably a good idea to go with an operator that has conquered the VR casino realm and has built a reputation as one of the better go-to VR options.

Choosing the right equipment: Once you have targeted a specific VR casino, you'll be able to get specs related to the kind of VR equipment that is being suggested by the operator. It's not necessary to go with recommended brands, but you do want to focus on getting the kind of equipment that's needed to capture the full experience.

Of course, the cost of VR equipment can vary wildly. What experience has taught us is there is a direct correlation between what you spend and the effectiveness/efficiency of the equipment. With that in mind, you might want to spend a little extra to get the best available equipment. That will likely pay off in the end with a better VR iGaming experience.

At a minimum, you'll want a quality set of VR goggles with state-of-the-art audio capabilities. A higher quality of goggles will result in better casino game interaction while the audio component can help bring about that coveted live casino experience.

If you have experience as an online gamer, you might be interested in adding some additional auxiliary VR equipment. That might include

• VR customized controller for interactive bonus features


• Haptic vest for an enhanced gameplay experience


• Motion platform


• VR treadmill to emulate the walking/running experience when needed
  

Picking games: Here's where things start to get a little complicated. Keeping in mind that VR casinos are still evolving, key software developers have not yet gone all in with the creation of casino games that are built around VR technology. That's the next frontier that needs to be conquered. It's possible that by the time VR casinos hit North America, there will be plenty of VR casino games from which to choose.

To be clear, some of the top online casino software developers are starting to invest in building VR platforms and VR games. That's especially true related to poker where the creation of a VR poker platform is easier than creating a fully functional online casino platform. Here are a few of the top VR iGAming platforms that have popped up in recent times: PokerStars VR, NetEnt VR, and Poker VR. No one should be surprised to see NetEnt on this list. They have been a top iGAming innovator since the beginning of the century.

Setting Expectations

As you put on your VR equipment and visit a VR casino for the first time, you'll have no idea what to expect. We can help you set expectations by simply stating you'll get the sense of stepping into a retail casino. What's different is everything will be in 3-D as you move about the casino from a stational position.

You'll encounter banks of video slots and rows of table games. You'll be able to approach your games of choice, place your bets, and await the results. If you are lucky, you'll also be able to collect your winnings.

If the VR casino comes with an audio component, you'll likely experience the sounds associated with a retail casino. That might include the sounds of spinning wheels/reels, coins clanking, and dealers calling our results. In the more elaborate VR casinos, online customer interaction with other customers and dealers might be allowed.

There is one more feature on the near horizon. Some video slots are being created that will allow for direct interactions with players. It will be like players are allowed to step into the game and become part of the game itself. Imagine for a moment that a video slot has a shooting feature and you get to pick up the weapon, fire it, and receive your reward. The possibilities seem infinite.

Conclusion: Yes, the technology has arrived but the availability of games is still lacking. Like the live casino/dealer market, this will improve over time. For now, casino players in the U.S. and worldwide are on notice. VR casinos are coming soon to an Internet site near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What types of VR casino games am I likely to encounter today?
A: Of course, you should be able to find a small selection of video slots. Also, poker tables should be accessible if you use a targeted poker platform like PokerStars VR. What might be lacking is the availability of table games, limited to the basics like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat.

Q: What kind of equipment will I need to get started?
A: At a minimum, we would recommend a quality set of VR goggles with integrated audio capabilities. A VR treadmill might be nice for moving around the casino from one gambling station to the next.

Q: When are VR casinos coming to America?
A: It's hard to predict when this technology will hit North America. However, word is getting around and interest is starting to build. We would guess that the first licensed VR casino will hit America sometime in 2026. Until then, there are several offshore operators out there that a more than happy to accommodate casino players from the U.S.