Big fans of augmented reality have partaken in Ingress, a game Niantic developed in 2012 that demanded you stay active, as you strategize and destroy enemy bases by walking around the city. Four years later, the world got the Pokemon Go fever. It is a safe bet that augmented reality is on the rise, and it is being integrated in many technological aspects of our lives.
What does this mean for the gambling industry? Well, one of the main issues the average players face is that they cannot access the world famous casinos. They have never seen the Bellagio, or played the slots at a casino in the Atlantic City. They have no idea what the buffets are like in Reno. They can play poker against anyone in the world, in the comfort of their home, office or cafe. They can also easily bet on sports match outcomes. Augmented reality brings the people the best of both worlds.
Here is how it works: AR, unlike VR, doesn’t transport you to some magical land, where you instinctively forget about your surroundings. This could require supervision to prevent injury. What AR does is simple: it integrates the things that are not really there into reality. You can look at amazing things by simply raising your tablet or phone and looking around the room. The videos and images are incorporated now into your surroundings.
This means that your own home could be a gambling feast for the eyes, where you could sit down at your own kitchen table, and then look through your tablet at it, and see all of the people you are playing with. This is a huge step up from merely looking at their nickname and a funny avatar on the screen, as it makes the whole betting experience much more immersive. You could potentially be able to see a person’s face and try to read their poker face without needing to leave your house!
Another option a person would have is to see how the dice are rolling at the craps table, or the ball spinning at the roulette wheel. We could look at art hanging from the casino walls, or even see exactly how the Blackjack dealer is flipping the cards onto the table.
In October 2017, in Reno, REVIGLiOS has presented the world with a new augmented reality app for the Gambling & Casino industry. Another company that is throwing its hat into the ring is Infinity Augmented Reality Inc. We believe it is not an exaggeration to say that there will be more and more companies competing with each other in this up-and-coming market, while the customers will reap the benefits of it all, by receiving the best experience sooner.
The idea is that, since we can’t, or simply don’t want to bother to, visit extravagant gambling palaces, we can make them come to us. To that effect, it is reasonable to expect further improvements in the industry – more details, brighter colors and options for the users. Fans of video games among you remember the progress the graphics have experienced over the years.
There are still a few kinks to iron out, in terms of hardware and software. In addition to that, there is still no info on the price of the apps and tech when it becomes affordable for Joe Six Pack. We have no idea what devices will be necessary for it to work. This is still emerging technology, and to make it really applicable to games and the gambling industry will take some time. If we are lucky, we might even encounter some eyewear for the completely enveloping experience.
