GAN to provide virtual reality remote gaming to U.S. casino operator
News on 31 Mar 2016
News on 31 Mar 2016
GameAccount Network plc (GAN) announced Thursday that it has released a Virtual Reality Simulated Gaming application for New York’s Empire City Casino which is available for download for both home computers and Facebook’s Oculus Rift VR headsets.
The software includes selected slot machines and GAN’s Simulated Gaming service, which offers poker, backgammon, gin rummy, poker dice and blackjack tournaments. Among the virtual reality environments included in the software is the main casino gaming floor, with games and bonuses hidden throughout.
GAN is active in the US market, providing its free-to-play Simulated Remote gaming product to ten US land casino operators, and collaborating with Betfair in the New Jersey legalised real-money online gambling market.
GAN chief executive Dermot Smurfit said Thursday that Virtual Reality is considered a promising emerging technology and GAN is making serious attempts towards consolidating its position in the sector.
The app is expected to boost revenue and engage more players by offering an enhanced online gambling experience as an add-on to the company’s Simulated Remote Gaming product, and is expected to attract the key 30 to 54 years demographic as early adopters of the exciting new technology.
Simulated Gaming supports Mobile App, Mobile Web, Desktop Web, PC VR.
Smurfit says that GAN plans to offer real money regulated gaming in virtual reality for selected markets later in 2016, provided regulatory and political authorities permit it.
“Playing authentic casino games in VR for real money will dramatically close the gap between the live gaming experience available on-property and the flat two-dimensional experience available at home on traditional personal computer or mobile devices,” he claims.
GAN’s announcement comes as VR headset makers prepare for a year of intense competition, with Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Sony PlayStation VR all launching within months of each other. Oculus and Vive have already begun selling to consumers, with Samsung’s Gear VR headset also available.
GAN is also planning on testing its Simulated Gaming technology with HTC Vive.
The PC VR market, which the casino app would target, is expected to be worth $3.5 billion this year, with estimates from research firm MarketsandMarkets that the overall market for virtual reality products will be worth almost $16 billion by 2020.
“There’s a movement afoot, originating from Facebook’s 2014 $2 billion acquisition of Oculus, suggesting VR could be the next major internet platform,” Smurfit opines.
