Online Casino Crossover to Video Gaming
The online gambling sector has settled perfectly into the entertainment industry. iGaming in 2021 recorded wagers approaching the $1 trillion mark. But what started as a simple platform to play online roulette, slots, and poker has become significantly more sophisticated over the years.
As igaming becomes increasingly digitized, it has started to resemble video gaming. Video games, on the other hand, have also started adopting aspects of online gambling into their MO. Here is a closer look at how these two continue to blend and how igaming is making the crossover to video gaming.
VR and AR: Immersive Gaming
AR and VR technology have caused the most significant changes in the gaming and tech industries. In casinos, these technologies have allowed for immersive experiences only previously possible through video gaming. When online gambling gained traction, online gamblers could log into a platform and play popular casino games against a computer program. The immersion began and ended with the music and pictures emanating from the screen.
However, the incorporation of VR into gaming has extended the reach of casino game narratives and environments. Thanks to this technology, we have real-world casino games like PokerStars VR, which allows players to interact with other players and game elements as they would in a video game. The next few years will see this technology usher in a unified virtual space, the Metaverse.
Casino Mini Games
On their part, video games have been keen to incorporate aspects of online gambling into their storylines. This is because online casino gamers have become such a significant market they can no longer be ignored. Many indie and AAA titles now have casino-themed mini-games that allow actual or narrative-based gameplay.
In Red Dead Redemption 2, for instance, players can enter saloons in the Wild West and enjoy a real game of poker. The games are not tangent to the storyline either. They allow characters to form and grow in-game relationships. A similar game exists in The Witcher 3. The original card game, Gwent, was so popular with gamers that it became an independent release.
In-Game Assets
Returning to the realm of casino games, recent years have witnessed a substantial shift in focus from developers towards in-game assets. Gone are the days when gamers were restricted to digital transactions and rewards within the domain of minimum deposit casinos. This transformation has been catalysed by the advent of blockchain technology, which has ushered in a new era where players can now amass and enjoy in-game assets as integral components of their gaming exploits.
Compelling statistics shed light on this trend, revealing that nearly 4 out of every 10 gamers have engaged in the acquisition of in-game items, encompassing an array of offerings such as loot boxes, characters, skins, and virtual currency. These assets harken back to the essence of traditional video games, where the journey often entailed the accumulation of various items to propel the narrative forward.
Incentives
Igaming incentives have also followed suit. With online gamblers now able to win in-game items, they have joined the growing virtual asset community. The availability of NFT assets like virtual property, art, and other rare items means online gamblers have a reason to visit online marketplaces. NFTs built on the same blockchain can be used across different games.
This means that an online gambler can buy or win an NFT that they can then use in a video game on the same network. What this does, essentially, is that it creates opportunities for smooth transitions between iGaming and gaming.
Gamification
Online casinos understand the value of competition and reward. And while video games inherently tap into the human need to play, compete, and win, earlier versions of casino games were little more than a gamer going up against a computer program.
This has steadily changed over the years with igaming gamification. Online casinos, like video games, now allow players to earn rewards and badges for completing games or winning a set amount of money. This creates a sense of continued accomplishment and progression that keeps players coming back. Online casino platforms also feature leaderboards and allow players to advance to different levels, unlock new features like higher payouts, and more.
Intelligent NPCs
The move toward intelligent NPCs has been felt across both video gaming and igaming. Players have expressed the need for more adaptable non-player characters that don’t just do and say the same things repeatedly. And with the help of AI, game developers are hard at work creating in-game characters that respond to the player’s gaming style and actions.
In online casinos, developers have adopted a similar move, infusing popular games with more in-depth characters and narratives. The options now no longer range from slots and roulette to baccarat and blackjack. You can play slots in an Egyptian-themed environment where the assets you collect are treasures and allow you to escape from mummies and many such storylines.
Wrapping Up
Video games have created a vast world of entertainment encompassing every storyline, character arc, and environment possible. From post-apocalyptic setups to the Wild West, there is a video game to tickle every fancy. Online gambling has quickly established itself as the younger sibling of video gaming, following steadily in its footsteps.
The deeper characters, more nuanced environments, gamification, and increased levels of immersion speak to an exciting crossover that could see igaming blur the lines between online gambling and video gaming.