Virtual reality is transforming the sports betting industry. Although VR is a fairly recent innovation, according to Statista, between April 2019 and March 2020, sports betting yielded a massive £2.4 billion. With this amount of growth, it’s clear that this groundbreaking technology could take the industry to a whole new level.
Live sports betting
Nowadays, it is common practice for players to wager on most sports without needing to leave the comfort of their own homes. Virtual reality takes this accessibility a step further by providing players with a more immersive experience, as users are able to explore their virtual surroundings through a 360-degree view of any sporting event. The introduction of VR betting provides a more realistic and engaging way for gamers and therefore is slowly transforming how players bet. Not only do users feel like they are in a physical setting but they are also able to bet in real-time. Players ultimately get a first-hand experience that caters to today’s audience that places a lot of importance on immersion and real-time action.
Fantasy sports
It is evident that virtual reality is enhancing the sports betting experience for gamers as there has been a significant increase in players who prefer to play virtual sports, with Fantasy Football one of the most popular options. The introduction of VR could continue to enhance this gaming experience by offering players the opportunity of not just watching games live but also actively participating through their VR headsets.
This offers a whole new element for sports fans, for example, a Manchester United fan would be able to play in any position they want at the Old Trafford centre. This essentially creates an experience that puts the player in the centre. What’s more, players can organise sports tournaments virtually and with high-end graphics, this makes the experience one that is truly immersive and interactive. Ultimately, using VR headsets allows players to visit major sporting events in a way that makes them feel as though they are really there.
The future of sports betting
The sports industry is one of the largest industries in the world and it is evident that with new and emerging technologies such as VR to aid in this success, the prospects of sports betting are indeed very promising. In fact, it can pave the way for other options within the iGaming industry to seek out VR as a way to expand their offerings.
Although online slot games are gradually introducing new technology into the market, implementing more VR-compatible games could really give slot games that extra edge. For example, Fluffy Favourites is a fun and creative slot game. If gamers had the option to play slots games such as this using VR, they would have the opportunity to bring the game to life, getting to enjoy the full funfair experience. What’s more, the use of VR essentially creates another element to the gameplay by offering a more dynamic three-dimensional experience. This immersive technology, therefore, maximises the user experience.
That being said, virtual reality is already taking over the casino industry as players can now play other popular casino games such as VR Blackjack as well VR poker. So, it seems that it is only a matter of time before the experience reaches other offerings in the online casino sphere. Could this be influenced by other successful industries’ successful adaptation of the technology?
There is certainly a compelling argument for the benefits of harnessing VR and, overall, when it comes to the future of sports betting, there is no doubt that it’s destined for success.
