To plug a budget gap without cutting any spendings, many countries around the world decided to abandon their aversion to gambling. Needless to say, the growing need for gambling revenue is the main drive behind the expansion of the gambling industry on a global scale. The attractive gambling venues along with the ever-expanding range of gambling options allowed gambling to proliferate. Canadian gaming industry has witnessed a slowdown in the past several years due to the reduced interest in the gambling options, which the country offers.
In March 2012, Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation (OLG) officially announced its modernization plan, aiming at breathing new life into the land-based gambling industry in the area. Since then, the cash-strapped corporation has started to privatize its gambling facilities, entrusting them in the hands of private operators. Only 2 days ago, OLG awarded its fifth gaming bundle as part of its modernization strategy.
To keep pace with the rapidly-growing global gambling market, Canada has started to explore different ways to make its gambling market more diverse and attractive. One of the leading trends in the gambling industry is the so-called virtual reality (VR). It allows players to interact with simulated environments and enhances the gaming experience by offering a perspective 3D view.
VR Games to Revolutionize Gambling Experience
Canada is about to welcome a new era in its gambling industry. According to the latest news, virtual reality gaming experience is no more a long shot in British Columbia. In a statement, B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC) announced that it is to consider its intentions to pen a C$250,000 deal with Archiact Interactive, a company specialized in creating virtual and augmented reality games. BCLC explained that the escape room virtual reality games will consist of a series of riddles and hidden clues, that would help the players to escape from the room.
Given the craziness surrounding virtual reality games today, introducing such digital games might be the winning bet for the gambling industry in British Columbia. BCLC announced its decision in the wake of its annual report, that revealed a steep decline in the lottery gaming revenue. BCLC reported a C$23 million fall in its lottery revenue in the 12 months ending in June 2017. The decline of the lottery revenue helped eGaming push. According to the annual report, eGaming chalked $150 million revenue growth.
Last year, BCLC has started to explore VR games, where players can bet real money. However, Dr. Stephane Bouchard, a Canada Research Chair in clinical cyberpsychology, warned that virtual reality games hide an increased risk of developing gambling-related problems. Bouchard elaborated that the VR games lack the Gamesense advisors, which detect vulnerable players. BCLC seems to have no plan yet how to tackle the gambling-related problems that may ensue from VR games. The corporation announced that it might take some time before launching VR games.
