From the feather touch of a gaming front-end at a casino, lighting and sound effects, wafting aromas and other ways in which casinos both stimulate and accommodate guests, an environmentally wrapped AV technology would be only another element in the way of things.
Beyond transforming the ecology of gambling, immersive gaming is potentially changing the very culture – and ethos – of gaming. Getting it right involves a lot of design. In reality, we need to get the balance right between designing for immersive gaming, and also designing responsibly in the context of gaming. Let’s take a closer look at how all this is happening.
Visuals
Developments in technology have allowed for new forms of casino images that mimic reality. Innovations like screen design and special effects help to draw new entertainment audiences into gambling, keeping them engaged for longer periods of time. As a result, more casino gambling sites are providing options for the immersive experience in order to attract a new generation of players.
And with VR headsets providing immersive environments, with haptic feedback devices so players can literally explore these spaces, spinning roulette wheels and the sound of chips rattling in cups, this is about as real as it’s going to get.
To attract the attention of the millennial and Gen Z gamers who prefer games that offer a combination of skill and chance, many online casinos have developed fully immersive environments. As more hi-tech innovations such as VR, AR, etc, enter the market, this trend will likely only gather pace in the near future.
Sound
Sound is another reason behind this increase: the pleasantly static quietness of steady contemplation when facing a particularly hawkish card-player; bursts of celebration when slot machines pay out. These elements create an immersive experience that draws the player in deeper.
When 96 gamblers played the slot machine stimulator with sound, they estimated they had won 50 per cent of the time, compared with only when they had sound-off conditions.
New sound technologies and increasingly immersive virtual reality experiences will mean that audio can and should only get louder as the gaming industry continues to grow. Immersive VR experiences will allow for sound-realism, like cards being shuffled or coins clinking – with digital casinos feeling a little too much like the real thing.
Immersive environments
Immersion: the sense of being fully immersed in an artificial reality. Online casinos try to claim this territory, with HD displays and immersive soundscapes designed to facilitate a ‘being-there experience’.
VR gaming technology has revolutionised casino gaming by delivering the ultimate betting experience to players by transporting them directly into realistic, fully immersive three-dimensional environments where they can feel all the thrills and excitement associated with casino gaming without leaving home. VR technology disrupts the game by delivering all the action right into fully immersive 3D environments that transport players directly into the world of casino gaming.
Nevertheless, there is a set of potential risks for immersive VR experiences. Indeed, VR’s basic virtuality brings about specific risks that are produced by the sense of social isolation and addiction – especially in gambling games where the false sense of control it produces together with its immersive nature is dangerous. Various aspects of dissociation, urge to gamble and dark flow effects as a measure for danger factors were taken into account to assess the risk potential that particularly virtual reality gambling games produce.
Interactivity
Virtual Reality technology will make it possible for players to interact with each other through play and immerse themselves in an atmospherically created casino ambience, as if they were present inside a real casino. The whole purpose of VR is to provide an immersive sensory experience while players engage in casino games such as poker or blackjack with their senses. They can now “see and feel” the playback experience itself.
The more a player takes ownership of how they’re playing something, the more likely they are to keep playing for longer. Add to that the illusion of volition when the outcome is still a matter of chance, and the probability that the player will keep going back for more (because of the allure of the jingling coins and spinning reels of the slot machine) is only increased.
More players worldwide can theoretically access premium casino experiences for the first time, due to the lack of a geographic constraint in the metaverse. This could result in improved player engagement and retention.
