The Growing Application of VR in Horse Racing
The global VR (Virtual Reality) sector is now bigger than ever, and the considerable growth can be attributed to more people using cutting-edge wearable VR headsets and the many other applications of VR, not just in horse racing and gaming.
Here is a closer look at how horse racing and the iGaming industry are using the latest VR applications to further their growth and how the technology is helping to attract a new generation of horse racing fans.
How is VR being used in the world of horse racing?
Virtual Reality is currently used in many areas of horse racing. For example, some of the world’s major television broadcasting and live streaming networks that cover today’s biggest horse race events use VR technology to create high-end virtual studios, where the shows are presented to you by human hosts.
A similar thing is used on today’s most highly recommended online sportsbooks and casino sites with live real-time croupiers.
Thanks to live streaming capabilities, computer programming, superfast internet speeds, and market-leading software providers like Playtech, Pragmatic Play, and Evolution Gaming, players can visit these virtual worlds to play live game shows, live dealer slots, and traditional live dealer table & card games.
People can now use their smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, laptops, and AR/VR/MR (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Mixed Reality) devices to access these thrilling computer-generated virtual worlds.
VR devices are also great for Virtual Horse Racing Betting. Virtual sports are simulated races running throughout the day, where the outcomes are determined by sophisticated and frequently tested Random Number Generators (RNGs). These games often have above-average RTP% payout rates.
Today, many people still watch live horse races on their television or from their desktop or mobile devices. However, there’s also a new generation of people fully immersing themselves in the race day experience by watching the races from a wearable VR headset, which gives a unique viewing experience like no other device can.
It’s a fully immersive experience that puts you there among the action and makes it feel like you are actually at the races – Kentucky or Ascot, for instance! Jockeys and trainers are also using VR technology and the latest and most advanced VR simulations as useful training tools to improve training methods.
For example, jockeys can use the tech to practice real race scenarios in a thoroughly realistic environment. Using the technology to train means the jockeys and the horses are no longer being put at any risk. They can train for longer periods and rapidly improve their performance.
Certain things like injuries and bad weather can make it impossible to train, but with the application of VR (e.g., using VR headsets, simulated environments, and mechanical horses), jockeys never have to miss out on a day’s training again.
What are the most popular VR headsets on the market in 2024?
If you are looking to invest in a VR headset for betting on the horses at a fully licensed and regulated online sports betting site, for watching live races, playing horse racing games/experiencing simulated horse racing worlds, or keeping fit with VR fitness apps, here are some of the best VR headsets money can buy in 2024:
- Meta Quest 3
- Meta Quest Pro
- HTC Vive Pro 2
Other reliable VR headsets that also have excellent reviews and are relatively affordable are the Meta Quest 2, the PlayStation VRs, and the Valve Index VR Kit. The best VR horse racing game to check out on any of these devices is the 2016 VR game ‘Horse Racing.’
Can I play other horse racing games at today’s best casino sites?
Yes. You can now find a handful of feature-rich online slot machines at many of today’s most highly recommended iGaming sites. However, you must be at least 18 years old to play them.
Examples include the Sporting Legends slot series from Playtech, which consists of three UK horse racing-themed slots: Ascot: Sporting Legends, Cheltenham: Sporting Legends, and AP McCoy: Sporting Legends.
Other hit titles include Design Works Gaming’s Hold your Horse online slot machine, iSoftBet’s Racetrack Riches Megaboard slot, and Light & Wonder’s Rainbow Riches: Race Day slot.
If that’s not enough to keep you going, don’t forget to try Triple Edge Studios and Games Global’s Bookie of Odds slot, Play’n GO’s Derby Wheel slot, and NetEnt’s Scudamore’s Super Stakes slot.
Other notable mentions include Hold Your Horses (Novomatic), Sure Win (Games Global), Champion of the Track (NetEnt), and Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven Jackpot (Playtech), to name a few.
Final thoughts
The possibilities of VR in horse racing are unlimited, so it will be exciting to see what happens over the next few years.
People will soon be able to meet up with their friends, relatives and colleagues to watch today’s biggest horse racing events from across the globe, albeit in a virtual environment and from the comfort of their own homes, thanks to constantly evolving and emerging new VR technologies and capabilities.
Some of the most significant developments and trends with VR we can look forward to this year are broader VR and AR adoption and improved wearable devices that will be more robust, versatile, lighter, powerful, and comfortable.
We can also expect better VR games, products and services, cheaper VR technology for users, and the mainstream integration of blockchain technology, which will enable users to purchase goods and services using their VR headsets.