Online gambling has been around since the late 90s but over the last several years its really taken off, becoming increasingly popular. As more people began to participate in online gambling, the technology involved began to grow, allowing for more immersive experiences. But what immersive experiences are available now?
Table Games
Most online casinos and their sister sites today offer a variety of games, usually video slots and classic table games such as blackjack and roulette. These games have been a staple at online casinos and offer a pretty basic experience, letting you play slots and table games against a computer. Over the last year, however, game developer Evolution Gaming has been shaking things up by launching a series of first-person games, which provide a close-up view and experience of the game, almost as if you were actually at an online casino playing the game!
At the time of writing, there are currently four first-person games; roulette, blackjack, lightning roulette, and dream catcher. The games all follow the same rules as real table games but can be played on multiple devices and feature superior 3D animations that help provide players with the ultimate immersive experience.
Live Casino
Over the last few years, live casino games have grown more popular. In live casino games, real-life dealers are streamed directly to you and you can interact with them and other real players who are participating in the game alongside you. The dealers stream from a purposely built studio and interact with the players via the stream. There are dozens of live casino games including blackjack, roulette, poker, sic bo, and more. These special games allow users to play their favourite casino games with a real dealer from the comfort of their home, a great alternative for anyone whose nearest casino may be a little too far away.
Most recently, game developer Playtech launched the first-ever live slot game. The Buffalo Blitz live slot features a real dealer who speaks and interacts with players while the slot continuously spins behind them. Players are required to enter the maximum wage they want to bet and select the maximum number of spins they want to wager on. Although dealers generally don’t stand around with you when playing slots at a brick-and-mortar casino, there’s no denying that it offers a truly unique immersive experience!
VR Casino
One of the most immersive experiences when it comes to online gambling is VR casinos. Since virtual reality technology is still growing, NetEnt has managed to launch its very own VR slot games, including Gonzo’s Quest. These VR titles plunge you straight into the game itself, and users who play Gonzo’s Quest VR will be placed directly in front of the reels with a full 360-degree view. Gonzo himself will appear in the game and will react to your wins and losses throughout the game.
Meanwhile, SlotsMillion launches a VR casino lobby where players can walk around! Currently, the available VR casino games available are mostly slots since they’re much easier to program but it’s likely that more developers will begin to invest in this technology as VR grows and we may eventually see VR table games and, sometime in the future, possibly even VR live casino.
Regardless, all of the games here offer players an immersive experience. What you enjoy will depend on how immersed you want to be, whether that means just wanting to play a simple slot or interacting with a real dealer and other players. Whatever you choose, you’ll have fun and that’s what matters the most.
2018 ·