What are virtual reality casino slots and how do they work?

As technology advances, virtual reality games have become more prominent in online casinos. They give you the chance to immerse yourself in the game like never before.

Find out all about what virtual reality games and the Metaverse Casino have to offer players like you below.

Virtual reality, also known as VR, is a computer-generated software that allows users to experience a realistic environment through a computer screen by using special equipment such as helmets, sensors and more. 

Although VR seems like new technology, its concept has actually existed since 1960. 

The earliest version of VR tech, the Sensorama, was created in the early ‘60s. It was a mechanical device that detects the four human senses—sight, smell, sound and touch—in a theatrical experience. Afterwards, Ivan Sutherland and Bob Sproull introduced the head-mounted display to the market and called it ‘The Sword of Damocles’. 

However, since its earlier prototype was too heavy to wear while playing, experts continuously improved the equipment to achieve what it is today. As the 2000s hit, virtual reality became stronger than ever. 

Nowadays, with more than 200 companies developing VR products, this technology is steadily taking over the gaming market. The world of VR is now growing with the potential for innovative and revolutionary gaming technology.

One of the famous headsets/helmets used today is the Oculus, which contains high-technology features such as enhanced displays per eye, positional tracking and low persistence. 

With the availability of high-tech equipment, you can now play your favourite games such as slot games, poker and blackjack in VR casinos, and experience online casino gaming like never before.

What are the features of VR casino games?

Players love VR casino games because of the immersive gaming experience it brings them. So what features can you expect of VR casino games?

3D Graphics

VR casino games bring you three-dimensional (3D) graphics such as game tables, seats, etc. It emits real casino sounds that make the game more realistic. It replicates the experience of playing in a land-based casino in the comfort of your home. 

Real-time multiplayer games

Virtual reality casino games can be played by anyone around the world in real-time. You can also interact with the live dealers and talk to other players through the microphones. 

 

Additionally, there is also an in-game chat where you can interact with your fellow players. This gives you the opportunity to meet players who have the same interests as you through the games.

Different environment setting

VR casino games have detailed casino game rooms. Unlike what you see in 2D games, virtual reality games enhance the designs, texture, and other elements of the surroundings to create a more realistic environment. Aside from table games, it also has realistic slot machines that mimic the action of spinning the reels with hand and body gestures.

 

A variety of characters to choose from

VR casino games also offer various choices for avatars/characters. You get to select your favourite ones or the closest character to reflect the image you want to portray during the game. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of VR casino games?

Advantages

• Gamble from home

Since virtual reality casino games are accessible anywhere anytime as long as you have Internet access, it’s easy to enjoy and win huge prizes even in your home! 

There’s no need to worry about dressing up or enduring long hours of traffic just to go to land-based casinos. With virtual reality online casinos, you can experience it all in real-time. 

• Interact with other gamblers

Gambling from home doesn’t mean hours with your computer as your only company. With VR casinos, you can virtually see and communicate with other players! Have fun with them and practice your social skills as if you’re in a land-based casino.  

• Live chat feature

Other than interacting with players, you can also interact with live dealers through the live chat feature. This feature is often seen in live dealer games as well as virtual reality online casinos. 

• Various available games to choose from 

With a wide range of virtual reality casino games, you’ll never run out of games to play! Whether it’s a 3D slot game, poker or any other table game, you can take your pick.

Disadvantages 

• Pricey equipment  

Virtual reality casino games are played with a high-quality headset, sensors, and other equipment that allow you to enter its three-dimensional environment. Without the complete VR gear, you won’t be able to play and experience games to the fullest. 

With the headset costing at least USD$599 or higher and sensors for about USD$100, getting a full set of VR equipment may be quite costly.  

• Must have an upgraded VR hardware 

Another factor you should also consider when playing virtual reality casino games is your computer’s condition, processing power and memory. These games occupy a large amount of space in your hard drive depending on the game you want to play. 

For example, Oculus Quest, has a game for 64GB and 128 GB. If your computer can only store a minimum GB, chances are it will be much slower than its normal speed with VR games downloaded in it. 

• VR headsets can become uncomfortable 

Some VR headsets can become uncomfortable if worn for long periods. Users have reported feeling nausea or disorientated when they wear virtual reality headsets.  

• Addiction and mental health 

Playing virtual reality casino games can be fun, but it may also be damaging, especially when players get addicted to the game and start to feel disconnected from the real world. 

Furthermore, it can also affect their relationships with others, as well as their overall health if all they do is play virtual reality casino games all day. That’s why at Bitcasino, we always recommend everyone to practice responsible gambling.

What are the types of equipment you need to play VR casino games?

Some of the most common equipment used in playing virtual reality casino games include: :

• Headset
• Headphones/Earphones
• Sensors
• Treadmill
• Controllers
• 8GB RAM
• A PC with USB 3.0 support
• 2x USB 3.0 ports and HDMI 1.3
• Controllers and treadmills (these are more optional)
  
  

In addition, you can upgrade the equipment depending on your preference as long as it’s suitable for the game you want to play. 

Examples of virtual reality casino slots

Starburst

As one of Microgaming’s most popular slot games, you can now play Starburst in virtual reality! Experience the game filled with vibrant colours of games and other dazzling symbols live. Additionally, gems will continuously fall from above whenever you land a winning combination. 

Starburst is one of NetEnt’s masterpieces and a beloved game amongst VR casino players. It is also considered as one of the top ranking VR games due to its undeniable excellent features such as wild and free spins that will give you more chances of winning.

Gonzo’s Quest

Set in the jungle of South America, enter the world of Gonzo’s Quest where tremendous rewards await you. If you’re a fan of adventure-themed slot games, this will be a great opportunity for you to try it virtually as you get to experience a 360-degree view of the jungle!  

Miss Midas

Inspired by an ancient European theme, Miss Midas is one of the classic VR games in history. It is created by NextGen and has become a massive hit ever since its release. Instead of the King being the protagonist in the story, Miss Midas graced the game as the heroine. 

 

Get ready to experience firsthand the luxurious palace covered in gold walls and walk down the red carpet to see Miss Midas when you play the virtual reality game. Turn all your winnings into gold today!

Jack and the Beanstalk

Another creation by NetEnt, Jack and the Beanstalk has been one of the top-rated VR casino games because of its enhanced landscapes As you land in Jack’s world, you will be greeted by 3D landscapes filled with realistic plants and trees.

Top game providers offering VR casino games

Netent

NetEnt is one of the most popular game providers in the industry. With its quality game graphics and features, it has gained a reputation as one of the most successful online gaming operators in the international scene. The company is continuously striving to create better virtual casino games for the market that will allow players to have immersive gaming experience. 

Microgaming

Similar to Netent, Microgaming is also a renowned and successful casino game operator. Their most popular online casino game is online roulette. As the oldest game provider in the industry, Microgaming has been receiving awards and continuously innovating with the changing trends and consumer demands over the years. 

In 2015, they showcased their Virtual Reality Roulette at ICE London and have since been continuing their research on how to make better VR games. This led to them receiving the Innovator of the Year Award in that same year. 

Discover the best VR poker games

Virtual reality (VR) technology has been making waves in the gaming industry since the release of Oculus Rift in the late 2010s. Offering a one-of-a-kind first-person perspective of online gaming action, it quickly became available to numerous RPG video games. 

Soon enough, VR technology made its way to online casino gaming, allowing gamblers to play their favourite table games on a whole different level. VR innovations continued to thrive in the casino gaming industry and aside from slot variations such as Starburst, it has now ventured into the realm of poker. Explore today’s greatest VR poker games here!

Texas Hold’em Poker VR

Texas Hold’em Poker VR is a great game with lots of cool avatars that allows you to battle against different players in a live competition. Its special features include:

✔️Great graphics
✔️Different types of tables to choose from
✔️Free welcome bonus chips of 10,000,000 for new players.

Here’s a step by step guide on how to play it:

1. Click the ‘start’ button to begin the game.
2. You will instantly receive your welcome bonus when you start playing.
3. Then, you are given the option to choose which table you want to play at. The designated stakes in that specific table are flashed for you to see immediately.
4. After choosing a table, you will have to wait for the next hand.
5. Before the cards are dealt, place your bet.
6. When you receive the cards, check them and choose whether to call, fold or raise for that current round.
7. The result will instantly be flashed afterwards.
   

You can play this game using Valve Index, HTC Vive or Oculus Rift headsets. For a live poker experience, you can try the Texas Hold’Em Poker game here at Bitcasino.

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Gangsta Underground: The Poker

Gangsta Underground: The Poker is a thrilling game where users compete against different characters in a hidden underground location. Currently, only the single-player option is available and boasts high-quality and realistic graphics that will give you the experience of playing poker in a gangster-themed setup. 

To make the most of its extraordinary display, use the pop-up labels as your guide to finding out how many chips you have left, how much you plan to bet and more. Its mechanics are similar to a typical poker game where you take turns in making bets against another character. If you win, you take all the bets from the loser and kill your opponent using a gun. However, if you lose, your avatar will be shot.

Kickstart your gameplay by following these steps:

1. The moment you log into the game, you are given various gaming modes such as Single Play, My Room and Quest among others.
2. Click Single Play to start the game.
3. Choose your avatar among different character options.
4. Then, you can play against an opponent.
5. Start making bets and you can raise your wager depending on the value of cards in your hand.
   

You can play this on the Oculus Quest 2, Valve Index, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR headsets. Try practising different video poker games like the 3-Hand Casino Hold’em to get a better understanding of the rules of poker.

Poker VR

Poker VR is a new variant of the Casino VR Poker game that was first launched in May 2016. It became one of the most popular social apps in virtual reality and it’s back with a better and more jam-packed version. One of its special features is the realistic avatars that can mimic body and lip movements for a more interactive experience. 

Moreover, it has lots of prize pool tournaments that run daily. You can download this game for free in the Oculus Store. All you need is a Gear VR headset and a compatible smartphone to start playing this game.

Here’s a tutorial on how to play Poker VR:

1. When you log in to the game, you are instantly placed on a designated table for playing poker.
2. Place your bet for that round.
3. Then the dealer will start giving out cards to you and other participants.
4. Grab the cards using the grip button to experience a more realistic feel as if touching them in real life.
5. Check the cards you have and choose if you want to fold, check, call or raise.
   

Vegas Infinite

Vegas Infinite is a virtual reality poker game by PokerStars that has Sit & Go (SNG) tournaments where losers are instantly eliminated, making it convenient for those who only want to play for a short while. Some of its best features include a display of its leaderboards and a privacy bubble. 

You can also purchase chips with real currency. Although these chips have no real monetary value, you can use them to unlock more features of the game and join high roller tournaments. Users are given the discretion to use the free-to-play options. 

However, if you want to level up faster, you can go to the in-app store and purchase chips. You can download Pokerstars VR from the Oculus Store, Steam or Viveport.

To get started, follow these steps:

1. At the beginning of the game, you are first situated in a lobby area where a pop window on your screen will be displayed.
2. Choose the kind of table you want to be in and the number of players you want to compete with.
3. Then, you can start playing poker at your chosen table.
4. It uses the mechanics of a typical Texas Hold’em game.
5. The goal of this game is to have the best five cards against other players to achieve victory.
   

VR Games: The bright future of gaming

With continuous technological advancements in the world of virtual and casino gaming, it’s no wonder VR casino games have gained a lot of attention and recognition in the gaming industry. As more companies are starting to invest in VR, we’re excited to see how the technology will be leveraged to cater to the ever-evolving trends and demand of the market.

Words by: Kate Sanchez