BetConstruct are of course a major outfit with a number of strings to their gambling bow, including their extensive sportsbook software, which offers over 30,000 events per month, their virtual sports offerings, over 4,000 casino games on offer, scratch cards, fantasy sports and even a B2B social gambling service with accompanying player analytics facility, but what they were showcasing on the frontline of their immense square footage at ICE London this year was something a little bit different. Something kinda special.
Strap into one of BetConstruct’s VR devices and you find yourself seated at a virtual blackjack or poker table, face to face with what appears to be a real live dealer, and yes, she’s making eye contact and smiling at you. She barely glances at the cards she’s dealing.
The experience was so immersive and realistic that I had to unstrap myself from the headset for a moment and ask the genial rep seated beside me whether the dealer could see me, even though I know enough about these things to know that’s not really possible at this stage of current VR tech. He humoured me, and managed to elicit a very non-patronising “no, of course not,” as I strapped myself back in. BetConstruct’s live dealers are broadcast from their base in Armenia as well as a studio in London, and these actresses sure have perfected the art of seeming like they are looking right at you.
As I struggled a bit over the virtual hands and the finger movements allowed in the surprisingly sophisticated interface, I accidentally went all in with my 176 chip stack, just as the rep was answering my next question, “Is it real money?” He surprised me by enthusiastically saying, “Yes, it is real!” as I stuck on seventeen and lost to the dealer’s twenty. I can only assume they were winning either way, even if they were using real funds. At least, I do hope so.
The complete version of the software features a fully navigable virtual casino, with slots and table games; there is even a sports bar being added in the next edition. Another of BetConstruct’s B2B offerings, they provide full VR casino setup to operators for €5,000 and VR live dealer setup for an additional €10,000. I would have loved to see more of the offering, including the multiplayer support which is mentioned in their literature, so I’ll be sure to be back for more in 2018, unless I can catch them at another convention in the interim.
The experience really was just a little bit haunting, and, I think, far more likely to promote rapid adoption and lower player churn than your typical widescreen TV or cinematic live dealer offerings.
