Augmented reality, commonly known as AR in gaming, is most likely something you have heard of but have never seen before. That primarily is because the development of augmented reality is still on its way, and big iGaming companies are yet to adopt it as part of their services.
However, the future of the iGaming industry holds tremendous potential for augmented reality to revolutionize how players engage with online games. As technology advances and AR capabilities mature, it is only a matter of time before augmented reality becomes a prominent feature in the iGaming industry.
Augmented reality can overlay virtual elements onto the real world, where players can enter a virtual gaming environment. Imagine being able to play your favorite casino games on your living room table, with virtual cards and chips appearing before your eyes, or going to watch a sports event, but experiencing it from your living room couch.
While adopting augmented reality in the gaming industry may take some time, there are already early examples of its application. Some game developers and smaller iGaming companies have started exploring and experimenting with AR elements in their offerings, providing a glimpse of what the future may hold. As technology progresses and the demand for immersive experiences grows, larger iGaming companies will likely follow suit, integrating augmented reality into their platforms to stay competitive and captivate players.
Benefits of Augmented Reality in the iGaming Industry
Augmented reality is one of the most promising technology innovations the iGaming industry has seen recently. It holds significant opportunities for players and operators, and many can’t wait to see how it works in an iGaming platform. The idea is to combine the real world, virtual reality, and iGaming. What could go wrong?
One of the benefits is that augmented reality gives an immersive and engaging experience that overlays virtual elements onto the real world. That creates a more immersive and interactive gameplay environment, captivating players and increasing their engagement. By blurring the lines between reality and virtuality, AR adds a new level of excitement to iGaming.
From a different point of view, augmented reality will also enhance player interaction in a whole new way. It enables players to interact with virtual objects and characters in their physical surroundings. This interactivity fosters a deeper level of engagement and provides a sense of control and agency within the game. Whether manipulating virtual objects or engaging in real-time multiplayer experiences, AR enhances the social and interactive aspects of iGaming.
Augmented reality also holds the door for new innovative gameplay features. It introduces innovative gameplay features that go beyond traditional gaming experiences. Players can expect dynamic and adaptive game environments, interactive guests and challenges, and novel mechanics. These features provide a fresh and exciting experience, attracting and retaining players in the exceptionally competitive iGaming market.
From the iGaming operators’ perspective, augmented reality offers new revenue streams. Virtual goods, personalized avatars, and it is possible to monetize premium AR content, offering players enhanced customization options and unique in-game experiences for a fee. Additionally,
the introduction of AR can attract new players intrigued by the innovative technology, expanding the customer base and driving revenue growth.
Implementation Challenges of Augmented Reality
Even though augmented reality has shown lots of promise, implementing it in the iGaming field will take some time. There are several technological complexities involved in developing and integrating augmented reality in gaming platforms, and before that issue is solved, AR is yet to make its final breakthrough.
Firstly, the iGaming industry should ensure seamless performance and stability of augmented reality features across several devices. That is particularly challenging because online gaming sites are accessible for players using various devices with different hardware specifications and operating systems. At the moment, no one in the gaming industry can say that they have a project where all the augmented reality functionalities run smoothly and consistently across all devices without problems.
Another implementation challenge is to accurately track and map the physical environment where the user is. Augmented reality relies heavily on precise tracking of the user’s position and movements to overlay virtual elements seamlessly onto the real world. In the iGaming industry, this means accurately mapping virtual objects onto the user’s physical surroundings, such as a virtual poker table on their living room coffee table.
From a different point of view, augmented reality-based gaming platforms will also face plenty of challenges with data privacy and cybersecurity. As augmented reality often relies on capturing and processing real-time data from users’ surroundings, there is a need to establish robust security measures to protect sensitive information. iGaming brands should ensure user data is encrypted, anonymized when necessary, and protected from unauthorized access.
Lastly, educating and familiarizing iGaming operators and gamblers with augmented reality-related technologies will be a massive challenge. That includes providing training and support to operators to integrate and manage AR features effectively within their platforms. Simultaneously, players should learn to interact with augmented reality elements, understand their functionalities, and overcome potential learning curves. These things will take time, and at the moment, the world is not quite ready for this.
Experts’ Vision: The Future of AR in iGaming Platforms
Together with virtual reality, augmented reality is one of the biggest technology-related things that will shape the future of the iGaming industry. But what does the future look like? We talked with iGaming experts from Kasinosivustoni.com, and according to them, there are three things augmented reality will bring to the iGaming industry.
1. Enhanced immersive gameplay
Experts foresee augmented reality revolutionizing the gaming experience by creating highly immersive gameplay environments. With advanced AR technologies, players can expect to engage with virtual elements seamlessly, blurring the boundaries between the real and virtual worlds. Augmented reality will offer gaming experiences never seen before.
2. Interactive real-world integration
Augmented reality will mix the real world with virtual reality and combine real-world elements with virtual features. Players may participate in quests and challenges that utilize their physical surroundings, creating a more dynamic and engaging gaming experience. For example, augmented reality may transform players’ dining tables into poker tables, where players can see cards, other players, and the dealer, even though they only exist in virtual reality.
3. Social gaming reinvented
Online gaming sites are usually not seen as a social activity, and that is one of the things augmented reality can fix. Experts envision that augmented reality allows players to interact with other players, play with friends, and create a new community around the online gaming platform. That will make new connections when players can share immersive experiences and foster community within virtual gaming environments.
