Virtual and augmented reality tech is becoming more and more a part of our daily lives. Both of these ideas used to be futuristic concepts reserved for sci-fi movies: Speedometers projected onto windscreens, glasses that can tell us how fast we are running or cycling without us having to take our eyes off the road and game worlds coming into the real world like in the game Pokémon Go. Once it was only a dream to be able to go to concerts without leaving your bedroom or meet people in “real-world-like” environments from the kitchen while you cook. Now it’s part of the lives of many people all over the world.
AR, VR and Web 3.0 will Change Gambling, how we meet people and interact with them, how we play games, how we experience art and culture and so much more. The further along this technology gets, the more it is improved and streamlined. The more it is worked on and developed, the more available and accessible it becomes, and the more that all of these concepts can come together to help create the metaverse and a new way of living our lives. The first industry that will see radical change will be online gaming, and though it may not immediately spring to mind for many people, online gambling. Let’s take a look at our predictions.
AR, VR & online gambling
Let’s make sure we all understand the concepts we’re talking about before we go any further.
- Augmented reality: Augmented reality is an interactive experience combining the physical world and computer-generated content. The content can span multiple senses, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory.
- Virtual reality: Virtual reality is a simulated experience that uses pose tracking and 3D near-eye displays to immerse the user in the world.
- Web 3.0: Also known as Web3, is the third generation of the World Wide Web. Web 3.0 is meant to be decentralized and open to everyone. The user interface provides access to documents, applications, and multimedia on the internet.
- Online gambling: A blanket term that covers any kind of betting or casino activity carried out online rather than in person.
The applications of VR and AR technology have been obvious to online gamers for a long time, but it is becoming increasingly clear that online gamblers can also reap the benefits of this technology becoming more available. But how?
For many online gamblers, part of the allure of the activity is the fact that you do not have to spend money on transport to get to a brick-and-mortar casino, you won’t have to pay for drinks or food while you’re out, you don’t have to put on constricting clothes and you do not have to deal with strangers. While this all sounds very enticing, it can sometimes take a little of the shine off your experience to feel alone and isolated. Virtual reality will make use of technology that enables the gambler to feel like they are in a “live” environment while they’re really at the location of their choice. If you have access to a headset, you can experience being in a brick-and-mortar casino thanks to visual tech. Though it is not readily available yet, touch tech will also play its part. Gloves and bodysuits can give the illusion of touching dice or chips and even brushing up against the shoulders of AI players while you play.
While VR tech takes you into a virtual world, AR tech brings a virtual world into the real world. Pokémon Go is the best example of AR tech that we currently have. If you’re gambling online, this could translate to looking through your phone screen and seeing a roulette wheel or slots in your living room where there aren’t really any. Instead of just hitting a button on your screen, you may soon be able to have the in-person experience without buying any equipment.
With Web 3.0 on its way, it’s clear that the internet and everything we do there is evolving. Websites and companies want to capture more data from your experiences to make those experiences better for you in the future. This includes tailoring VR and AR experiences to each user’s personal preference, making for a far more personalized and entertaining experience. Users demand far more from their time on the internet than they have done previously, and all companies who sell their wares or occupy space online are taking note and adjusting their approach accordingly. These companies include online casinos that want to retain their user base and ensure that gamblers choose them time and again over the competition, of which there is plenty.
Wrap up
Though many of the applications of VR and AR technology that we have discussed are still coming on the next wave of technological evolution and availability, this is the future, and there’s no way of getting around it. Get ready to embrace the new way of being on the internet because it’ll be with us sooner than you think!
