The online casino industry has already elevated itself beyond levels that, at some point, may have seemed unimaginable, and it is still in constant development. New technologies and player demands push developers to continually progress, whether through the games themselves, the providers, or the experience. Alongside the progression of the likes of AR, VR, and AI, online casinos, and UK live casino games in particular, could experience a massive change that could shape the industry forever. So today, we will be taking a look at how AR, VR, and AI could impact the casino experience in the future.
How Slots Have Evolved So Far
The slot game industry is over 120 years old and has seen significant development over the years, dating back to 1894 with the introduction of the Liberty Bell machine. This is believed to be the first of its kind, designed and built by a car mechanic called Charles August Fey. Fey built a machine that was operated by inserting a coin and spinning 3 reels, aiming to land the same symbol across all 3 on the single available payline. It was the simplest of structures in comparison to what we see today. Since the introduction of the Liberty Bell, the demand for slot machines was much higher, resulting in them being mass-produced and even designed with new, innovative visual elements and symbols.
As a result of technological developments and the increased demand for slot games, Microgaming began a whole new journey and started a new trend, online slot games. In 1998, the first online slot game, ‘Cash Splash’, was released, which, in turn, invited plenty of other developers to join the trend and change online casinos forever. Now we have thousands of titles with different themes and visuals, but this is just the beginning as AR, VR, and AI begin to be more and more influential in the industry.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is an incredible technology that can impact so many different industries, whether it’s high-skill jobs in the healthcare sector or creative roles that might require assistance from the technology. Augmented Reality allows for a crossover between physical and digital elements, whether it be overlays displaying statistics and data, supporting advice, or various other potential needs. This could be massively utilised in the online casino industry, potentially more so for live casino games. Augmented reality can affect the experience by providing real-time data, assisted with AI (Artificial Intelligence), and allowing for physical slot machines to be played remotely outside of a casino. Furthermore, online live dealer table games can also be enhanced by AR, bringing the live dealer into an authentic environment that allows players to interact with the game more, providing a greater level of personalisation.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality often gets confused with augmented reality, but both technologies provide 2 different experiences. VR differentiates from AR by placing users in a different setting, rather than combining digital elements with a physical environment. More often than not, virtual reality is the cheaper alternative due to the devices and software used, but that doesn’t mean it can’t elevate the casino experience to a similar level.
In terms of gaming, VR is already being used to place gamers in a fictional setting, whether on the top of a skyscraper, in the middle of a battlefield, or even in space, with seemingly endless possibilities in this technology. In terms of casino games, rather than bringing casino machines and tables to the user, it could place the user in a casino setting, creating an experience that differs from standard online gaming. This could be done for both online and live casinos, with the potential to be implemented soon.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is one of the biggest talking points around the world, with people discussing the ethics surrounding it, risks of losing jobs and overall whether AI could replace humans in many different industries. However, many people believe that AI is more of a benefit to modern-day society than a threat, with benefits in everyday life, business, and even entertainment.
We’ve seen AI creating its own films and visual content, as well as being incorporated within video games, so how can it transform the casino industry? Personalisation is one way that AI is being used, and this is no different in the casino industry. It could be used to recommend games, monitor betting habits and even assist newer gamers in how to play certain games. It could also be used for various other safety features, including game balancing and fraud detection. There is a wide range of uses for AI in the casino industry, making it a vital tool that could be key to the development of the industry.
