As we continue our ongoing look at the intersection of casinos and Virtual Reality (VR), we ask the question, “Could physically walking around sprawling VR casinos be the future of online gambling?”

We are a privileged generation, as we can look back throughout the evolution of gaming and make reasonably firm predictions for how it could progress in the future. For instance, we know that the advent of the Internet brought about the online slot game, and that almost as soon as mobile devices shot to popularity the diverse reel-spinning game quickly made the transition. For those reasons, one would assume that slots could soon switch to a virtual reality format. But how will slots and other classic casino games look in VR, if these prophecies turn out to be true?

Gamers who attended the ICE Totally Gaming expo in 2016 managed to catch a glimpse of how developers are scrambling to create casino games for VR audiences and what they will look like. Microgaming, a famous software pioneer for online operators, has been the first to dip into the market with their VR Roulette game. This was available for trial at ICE, where a number of event-goers hailed the immersive experience. With a massive online casino power like Microgaming on board, it is expected that other companies will also seek to create software for VR.

 

Microgaming’s dominance of online gaming is plain to see, and in this list of the best online casinos, there are a number of operators that have lucrative deals with the software provider, so that they can offer players slots games like Jurassic Park and Game of Thrones. The list also provides information to players about which sites offer attractive welcome promotions, so that they can get more bang for their buck.

From the Liberty Bell and the one-armed bandits of the early 1900s to the 5-reel, themed, parallax scrolling, feature-heavy online slots of today, it could be argued that slots have maxed out the current technology available. The next logical step in their evolution could be to move to VR. Those who want to get a feel for just how incredibly futuristic these games have become can visit top free online casino games sites, and test the games without staking any money. The fact that there is no download required and there is zero financial risk makes this a fun pastime, which could be enhanced even more in VR.

But what would VR slot games look like? Would the player be standing in front of giant spinning reels or would they be walking around a virtual casino floor with hundreds of slot games to choose from?

The VR Roulette game allows players to stand in front of the wheel as they would in the casino, and place chips on the betting surface. The only difference is that the setting is in space and there is a robot croupier. If Microgaming were to expand on this idea, it seems feasible that they may try and recreate a typical land-based casino in a virtual world, and have an area in which people can play slots. A casino in space has the potential to be a pretty cool idea, that’s for sure. Let’s also not forget how a VR environment allows for all sorts of themes, supernatural beings, and defiance of natural laws that real-life casinos don’t.

At the present time, this is all just speculation. But what we have learned after seeing the many different faces of gambling over the years is that more and more things are becoming possible. Who knows, one developer could totally change the game and permanently alter the way we see casinos. The good thing is, we will find out in the near future as technology advances more rapidly than ever.