Remember the PokemonGo craze in 2016? For an entire year before the game was released, Niantic promoted YouTube videos showcasing how the app incorporated digital elements – like Pokemon, gyms, and characters – into a real-world setting. The app was an incredible success and spurred other apps to follow in its footsteps. Harry Potter, The Walking Dead, and Jurassic Park are popular names in AR mobile gaming.

Mobile gaming apps aren’t the only ones making use of AR, though. Online casinos have taken a page out of the book by letting people use smart glasses to play casino games. To gain a competitive edge, some even let you gamble without creating an account. They also offer bonuses – you can see them on this best no account casinos list – even though it’s rare. With more and more players switching to online gambling during the lockdown, it’s no wonder why the industry is trying to improve the experience.

What Are Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality?

Augmented reality is often confused with virtual reality (VR), and for a good reason. The two share similarities, like being able to change how we perceive reality. The main difference is that VR fully immerses you in a virtual world. In contrast, AR inserts some virtual elements in the real world.

How Is AR Being Used in Online Gaming

The concept of AR being used in an online casino is still relatively new. In August 2021, XR Casino launched the world’s first multiplayer, cross-technology online casino. It lets users play in AR, VR, and mixed reality (MR). What’s more, is that it’s blockchain-based – which is a good alternative if you can’t access a no-account casino.

Using this technology in iGaming has benefits for the players as well as the companies. First of all, it provides an immersive experience for gamblers. Even though they’ll be at home, they’ll be mentally transported to a blackjack table. Instead of staring at the slots on a screen, the player will see the slot machine as if it’s real life. Check out the list of the best slot sites for winning money.

Not only does this make it a better experience for the player who will spend more time at the online casino, but it will also increase revenue for iGaming platforms. The longer users play the casino games, the more money these platforms stand to make.

Challenges to Using AR in Online Gambling

While this all sounds well and good, there are a few challenges that stop AR gambling from becoming a widespread reality. The first is that not many online casinos provide an AR/VR feature. Secondly, smart glasses are expensive. Players aren’t willing to buy glasses if there aren’t many casinos that give that option.

How to Experience AR

AR is experienced through smart glasses. Depending on your price range, there are different types of glasses you can purchase. Generally, smart glasses have gone from being clunky goggles, like something out of an old sci-fi movie, to discreet and sleek. Many of them look like normal spectacles.

In choosing the best glasses for your needs, a lot of research is needed. Is it a high-quality video you prioritize? Perhaps you’d like glasses that are paired with a digital assistant? Smart glasses prioritize different features depending on the brand.

Here are some of the best brands:

  • Oculus Quest 2
  • Microsoft Hololens
  • Vuzix Smart Glasses
  • Facebook x Ray-Ban
  • Snap Spectacles 3

Conclusion

iGambling is a niche that’s steadily rising to popularity. To capitalize on it and offer players a better experience, online casinos are developing ways to integrate AR technology into the industry. They have a few challenges to overcome, but if all goes well, then AR gambling will be the next big thing in the betting world.