Virtual Reality Gambling Guide for 2024
Gambling has been in integral part of human culture for thousands of years. Archeological evidence suggests the game of keno originated in China in about 200 BCE, and Native American tribes used to decide what tasks each tribe member would perform by rolling dice or tossing sticks.
Fast-forward a few thousand years and gambling is just as popular, if not more so. Casinos, sportsbooks, racetracks, and state lotteries all provide outlets for gambling enthusiasts, but new technology is making gambling even more accessible.
Online casinos grew in popularity in the late 1990s and today, online gambling is the prominent way many of us gamble.
But online casinos and sportsbooks leave a bit to be desired, especially if you’re the kind of person who loves the casino atmosphere. That’s where virtual reality gambling comes in.
This article is a compendium of virtual reality gambling resources, with information about where to start VR gambling, what equipment you need, and what to expect from VR in the future!
What Is Virtual Reality?
When people think about virtual reality, they often picture the big white goggles tethered to a computer, but VR actually has three different variations, only one of which require the special goggles.
A non-immersive virtual reality is a video game, like an arcade game or something you’d play on the Xbox or Playstation. The user is aware of their physical surroundings while also focusing on the virtual reality, which is the game.
A semi-immersive virtual reality is the middle-ground between physical awareness and complete absorption in the simulation. A good example of a semi-immersive VR is a flight simulator or, in simpler terms, the back-up camera on newer vehicles. You’re still semi-aware of your surroundings, but you’re completing a task that’s aided by the simulation.
And finally, the fully-immersive virtual reality is the VR we’re most familiar with. This is essentially a simulated world that you can access through a pair of special VR googles and provide input with handheld controllers or data gloves. Most VR simulations are in first-person, meaning you feel like you’re actually there in real life.
VR is primarily used for casual gaming, and is popular for horror video games because it provides a more realistic, immersive experience.
This technology is also used to help train medical professionals; it’s a zero-risk training method for potentially high-stress situations, like medical emergencies or intensive surgery. VR training has also helped construction firms improve workplace safety.
Virtual Reality Timeline
VR technology wasn’t developed overnight—it’s been a long road to get to where we are today. Here are some of the highlights of the growth of virtual reality technology.
1929:
The first flight simulator was created, which was a precursor to the VR flight sims we know today. Ed Link created this training simulator to help WWII pilots get ready for combat.
1939:
The View Master incorporates a spinning wheel with individual color film images attached to a pair of goggles. Edwin Mayer’s View Master was one of the first commercially-available VR-like products.
1965:
Van Sutherland creates the first VR headset, which is attached to a massive computer. Because of the size, the headset was mounted like a periscope on the ceiling. Thus began the era of computer-generated realities.
1990s:
Major gaming companies like Sega and Nintendo explore virtual reality gaming consoles, but don’t manage to make one as realistic or as complex as we know them to be today. This is where VR really broke into the world of gaming.
To learn more about the complete history of virtual reality, check out the VR history page. We show the complete evolution of VR, from early 1700s panoramic paintings all the way up to present day Oculus headsets.
VR Gambling: The Future of Gambling
So now that you know a bit more about virtual reality in general, you might be wondering how gambling fits into the equation.
Well, we’re very excited about VR gambling because it solves one of the big problems with online casinos — immersion.
Live dealer games added a social element to online gambling, allowing you to interact with the dealer and other players in the chat. But, when you looked up from your phone or computer, you were still in your office or living room, and that kills the vibe a little bit.
VR gambling experiences are designed to give you the visual and auditory sensations of being in a real casino. The bright lights, the sound of slot machines, conversation with other gamblers—it’s all an integral part of creating a realistic casino experience.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many options out there yet for players to use real money at VR casinos. A lot of the spaces that were created to provide a unique casino experience have free games or rely on in-game currency, and lack a real money component.
Games like Jackpot VR and Poker Stars VR are designed to be fun, social experiences, and they highlight all the traits of a good VR casino aside from the real money gambling aspect.
These kinds of games are usually only a couple of dollars on the Oculus market or on Steam, so they might be good to try out if you’re interested in VR gambling.
But what if you want to actually play casino games for real money? What options do you have? Well, that’s where the Metaverse comes into play.
Making VR More Social With the Metaverse
By this point, the Metaverse is a household term. In October 2024, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would be rebranding to Meta, and they’d be starting work a massive virtual reality world called the Metaverse.
This simulated reality comes straight out of science fiction (really! The term Metaverse comes from Neal Stephenson’s novel Snow Crash), but has massive opportunities for how we interact online.
Zuckerberg and his team claim that the Metaverse will be a hub for work, education, and entertainment, with a whole economic ecosystem that runs on cryptocurrency.
Obviously, the possibilities are endless, but the Metaverse has already started to revolutionize online gambling. Multiple different projects like The Sandbox and Decentraland have put up virtual casinos that you can access with your PC or with virtual reality gear.
These simulated realities are very complex, so we’ve made a few guides to help you get acquainted with how casinos in the Metaverse work:
Best Places to Gamble in VR
As it stands, there are a few different ways you can experience online casinos in virtual reality. Of course, you can hop on one of the social VR casinos, but if you’re looking for a real gambling experience, there are some other options.
Metaverse Casinos
In the Metaverse, like we mentioned above, you can use cryptocurrency to play casino games. Metaverse realms like Decentraland support virtual reality headsets, so you can fund your crypto wallet, slip on your Oculus, and play roulette, slots, and blackjack at a variety of Decentraland casinos.
As of now, there are four gambling locales in the Decentraland:
- The Atari Casino
- Chateau Satoshi
- Tominoya Casino
- Serenity Island
Slots Million
Slots Million is one of the only VR casinos out there where you can use real money (which you’ve first exchanged for chips) to gamble on slot machines. Slots Million creates a virtual casino complete with illuminated slot machines, a lounge area, and about 40 different games.
However, the only downside is that it’s a single-player experience, meaning you won’t be able to interact with other players. Still, it’s good for those people looking for a more immersive VR casino without the hassle of talking to strangers.
To learn more about what virtual reality casinos are available (or coming soon) and what gear you need to start playing, be sure to check out our VR casinos page.
Virtual Reality Gambling FAQ
How Are VR Casinos Different Than Land-Based Casinos?
VR casinos try to emulate brick-and-mortar casinos as closely as possible, but there will always be a difference. VR casinos can provide the sights, sounds, and interactions of a land-based casino, but you’re going to be missing a tactile element. Plus, the cost of entry for a VR casino is relatively high, since you’ll need to buy a VR headset, have a PC, and a solid Internet connection.
Are VR Casinos Really That Cool?
We think virtual reality gambling is pretty neat, but it’s not for everyone! You can easily get sucked into a VR worlds, so if you get motion sick or have a gambling addiction, play at your own discretion.
What’s the Difference Between Metaverse Casinos and VR Casinos?
The Metaverse casinos give you the option to use virtual reality, but it’s not required. VR casinos only have the option to use a headset. Plus, Metaverse casinos let you use cryptocurrency tokens to play casino games, while most VR-specific casinos only offer free play.
Will Virtual Reality Gambling Take Over Traditional Online Gambling?
In the near future? We don’t think so. VR gambling has a long way to go before it’s refined to the point that many of the online casinos are now. Plus, not many people have VR headsets and the necessary equipment to play at VR casinos. For now, we expect online gambling at casinos and sportsbooks to remain the most popular method, but there’s no telling how good VR casinos will become in the next few years.
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