The latest virtual reality technology

Virtual reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment. Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR places the user inside an experience. Instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users are immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds. By simulating as many senses as possible, such as vision, hearing, touch, even smell, the computer is transformed into a gatekeeper to this artificial world. The only limits to near-real VR experiences are the availability of content and cheap computing power.

Virtual reality headsets were first developed in the 1980s. In 1991, as a proof of concept, that they could be used for more than just flight simulators, two VR headsets were attached to the outside of a helicopter with the goal that pilots would receive simulated visual data about the landscape.

Headsets for consumers were first developed in the mid-late 1990s. Many companies have developed their own headsets, but several major players remain at this time. Non-standalone (no positional tracking) VR headsets were released in the mid-late 1990s for video game arcades, and then in 2000 for home use. The Nintendo Virtual Boy was released in 1995 but never became popular due to its monochrome display and lack of positional tracking.

Stand-alone (also known as “tethered") VR headsets were first released by Sega in 1993. These systems were very primitive and often only [included one head-mounted display]. [In the 2010s, stand-alone VR headsets became more widespread.] In 2014, Oculus showed off an early prototype of their Rift headset at CES. In 2016, Sony unveiled Project Morpheus (now PlayStation VR), a virtual reality headset for the PlayStation 4 video game console. In late 2016, HTC and Valve showed off their Vive headset.

A 2017 study by Stanford University found that VR headsets cause nausea in some people. The more visually complex a scene is, the more likely a user is to feel nauseous while using a VR headset. If the software has not been optimized, higher frame rates have been known to cause more discomfort.

Haptics is a tactile feedback technology which recreates the sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions to the user. Haptic devices may incorporate tactile sensors that mimic the mouth, hand, and other organs. They are capable of measuring parameters such as force, pressure, displacement, velocity, and acceleration.

VR software can produce the illusion of standing in a virtual world by tracking the movements of one or more users within an immersive environment that responds to their actions. This is achieved through sensor fusion(sensory data), which integrates information from multiple sensors into one system for processing. The key to a believable VR experience is it being able to track the user’s movements in real time.

Using a combination of sensors, including headset accelerometers and gyroscopes, hand controllers, and sensory belts fixed around waist or feet, the system tracks how users move their bodies, hands or fingers. The more information that can be fed to the VR machine, the more it can replicate poses and actions of players. 

There are three main types of VR modalities used for clinical therapy: virtual worlds, augmented reality, and mixed reality. Virtual worlds are immersive, computer-generated environments that allow participants to experience a world that is completely different from their own. In augmented reality, the participant is placed in a physical environment but has objects or information displayed on top of it to simulate an enhanced virtual world. Mixed reality takes this one step further by integrating both real and virtual objects into one scene so that they are able to interact with each other.

Virtual reality in online casinos

Casino games are designed to make the player feel like they are in control. A standard roulette wheel, for example, is built with 36 pockets (or holes) where the ball will land after it's released. The pockets alternate between black and red (1-18). There is also a green pocket (0) that allows players to ensure that they're only betting on the numbers 1-36. The house edge for American roulette is 2.70% - meaning for every $100 wagered, $2.70 is expected to be returned to the casino over a large enough sample size of bets.

Virtual Reality Casino - Possible Advantages forPlayers

A virtual reality casino will allow a player to experience a number of possibilities that can't easily be experienced in a real casino. This includes the ability to mix and match different games, as well as change their environment. For example:

  • Play roulette with your choice of the table (number of pockets), betting type, and dealer avatar (three options are male, female, and robot).
  • Play craps with an all-female cast of dealers, or you could even play at a "virtual" table that has the option of being set in outer space.
  • Swap out blackjack tables for poker tables - each new game gives the player a different experience while still allowing them to wager on a single bet.

These are just a few of the possibilities being considered, and players would be able to choose whether to stay with their original game or switch it up based on mood (or how lucky they feel) - effectively allowing them to "fit" the casino experience around them. Casinos that offer this type of virtual reality experience will be successful in attracting casual players who are not looking for the full casino experience , but rather a quick game during their commute to work.

Types of VR gambling products

A new type of virtual reality casino games are being developed by developers from SlotsMillion. These are exciting, multiplayer online games that are claimed to be able to transport players into the virtual world of the casino. The site's graphics are stunningly realistic, with ultra-high definition images and saturated colors. Players can explore the virtual casino floor, watch live dealers and play games in a fully interactive environment. Among the site's features are high-definition slots designed to make players feel like they're in "The Matrix." For example, one of the games takes place in an erupting volcano, with bright red lava and explosive sound effects.

RoyAl's online casino in Canada uses virtual reality technology to allow players to experience an immersive version of its brick-and-mortar equivalent.  The new VR gaming option works in conjunction with a compatible Samsung Gear headset and a compatible PC or Mac. PokerStars will host public virtual reality poker tournaments with hundreds of players, each able to play in their own personal VR room.

The popularity of VR headsets is already justified, and many people already own them because they are one of the cheapest options to experience virtual reality. Not only are they cheap, but they're already compatible with most smartphones, which gives VR headsets a huge advantage.