Extended Reality (XR) consists of genres such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR). Players use these immersive technologies to interact with each other and their dealers in a hyper-realistic environment when playing games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
Currently, most regular online casinos allow players to access games on their mobile devices or PCs using websites or apps. They then allow you to deposit money through traditional ways like cards and bank transfers, with the best online real money casinos going the extra mile and offering e-wallets and prepaid cards.
But what if we told you all that might change? With the emergence of XR technologies, it wouldn’t be surprising if this new level of gaming becomes the latest norm. There’s already an extended reality casino called XR Casino where players can play in VR, AR and MR environments and use NFTs, crypto and play money as currency.
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What Is XR Technology All About?
Extended Reality refers to the simulation of a virtual interaction with different environments and people through smart devices. As earlier mentioned, it’s an umbrella term for technologies like VR, AR, MR, and more still to come.
Virtual Reality
VR is the main component of the XR concept, and it immerses users in real-time interactions with other players through a head-mounted display. All you’ll need to enjoy this experience is a VR helmet and gloves fitted with sensors. You can go for different types of VR equipment, including Playstation VR, Oculus Rift, or HTC Vive.
The PlayStation VR headset is popular for its unique offering of a 360-degree view of the scene and over 100 frames per second. With the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, you get a 110-degree view infused with a 3D effect, which also makes them top choices for gamers.
In their constant strive to up the immersivity levels for players, online casinos offer VR experiences for table games like blackjack and roulette. The technology comes with live chat features making it easier for gamers to listen to each other’s comments and give their opinions. That way, players feel like they are sitting at a real gaming table giving the whole experience a more life-like touch.
Augmented Reality
There’s no better way to define AR than as an alternative to VR. The only difference is that in VR, the user is visually cut-off from the real world while in AR, players can still see and navigate real-world locations. You can play AR games from a smartphone or a dedicated headset equipped with other sensor-based gaming gear.
Currently, the headsets available for AR are Microsoft HoloLens and Meta Quest Pro, but they’re both expensive and in short supply. As a result, smartphone-based AR gaming is more popular, but it offers a less immersive experience by overlaying game graphics over live camera feed while tracking location with GPS and other sensors.
The potential of AR in the online gaming landscape is immeasurable, especially since in most cases all you need is a phone. Imagine spinning roulette wheels and winning on your phone, but the game looks like it’s right there in front of you. Or having the poker table in your living room instead of your usual coffee table. That’s how much power AR could bring into online gaming if casino sites fully adopt it.
Mixed Reality
MR blends AR and VR with a player’s physical surroundings to simulate an experience that relies on both the physical and virtual world. While VR uses solely a 3D simulated environment and AR layers elements of VR with real-world surroundings, MR seamlessly allows users to interact with both virtual and physical realities.
Playing in a MR casino requires users to have a headset, like for VR, though often they are fitted with a camera to view the surroundings. As a result, you’ll be able to see the real world through the headsets, but this time, with superimposed effects and visuals.
If, for example, you are playing on a table, a block would appear next to you on the same table and with your real hands, you could hold it or even knock it off the table. In the context of casinos, this means you could physically hold blackjack chips, poker cards, or even the roulette wheel using MR technology.
XR Casino – The First Ever Extended Reality Casino
Launched in 2021, XR Casino is a one-of-a-kind platform specialized for AR, VR, and MR gaming. The initial games offered include classics like blackjack, roulette, and slots, but the operator promises to add other fan-favorites like craps and poker with time.
On top of this, the casino provides epic game features like multiplayer controls, private game rooms, public game rooms, and text and voice chats. Among the wide range of devices the site supports includes Microsoft’s Hololens 1 and 2, HTC Vive, Oculus Quest 2, AR-enabled smartphones, and Samsung’s Gear VR.
So, if you want a glimpse of how an extended reality casino works, XR Casino can give you a rough idea.
