THUNDER BAY – TECH – Gambling has evolved significantly over time. First came the saloons, the kind of places you would see in old Western movies, where cowboys tied their horses up outside. These gambling houses paved the way for the casino, a more specialised gambling location with greater focus on the games and less on the drinking and socialising. The casino formula was such a hit, its popularity spread worldwide and, with the introduction of technology, the gaming became more advanced.
The gambling world as many know it these days is all online, with thousands of sites providing players with classic games like roulette, blackjack and slots. Now, it looks as though gambling could be about to make even more steps forward with virtual reality.
Mainstream
2016 is set to be the year when virtual reality becomes part of the mainstream, essential technology. It seems as though the developers have finally got the formula right with the likes of Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and HTC Vive Pre, set to release their virtual reality headsets and take the world by storm.
People are already speculating over what kind of things they would like to see in this virtual reality. One area in which people are getting excited is online gaming. Because fans of casinos have seen such major advances in such a short space of time, it is enticing to think what new ways of enhancing the experience the developers can dream up. Players can already play online casino here now and see a wide range of highly advanced slot games, and new ways of playing old classics. There are different slants on blackjack, roulette and baccarat, and live links to real world casinos. But these sites are still confined to the pages of the web. How much further will virtual reality be able to push the boundaries?
Experience
Already, there are huge online role playing games where players can guide their character around casinos and play the games, along with socialising with other users. Virtual reality could take this one step further, and make the player feel as if they are actually walking around on the casino floor. Of course, they would actually be enjoying this experience from the comfort of their own home. This has been one of the criticisms of online casinos from the start – the fact that they can’t exactly replicate the buzzing atmosphere of the real casino. Virtual reality could rectify this problem. Some fans of casino feel a bit overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the real world casino and that is why they play online. To be able to slip off the virtual reality headset and relax for a while between games would also be an added benefit.
The possibilities for virtual reality gaming are endless, and one can only really guess at what the developers will think of. One thing is for certain, though, when virtual reality becomes a must have accessory, the online casinos will be right there with it. They will develop and evolve, like they always have done.
