Level Up: The Rise of VR Slots and Games in Online Gambling
- Maria Emmanuelle Arnidou
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
Virtual Reality (VR) is no longer just for gamers and tech geeks — it’s steadily entering the realm of online gambling, offering players an immersive new way to experience the thrill of the casino floor. From VR poker rooms to full-blown virtual casinos, the rise of VR slots and games is slowly but surely reshaping the future of iGaming.
In a world where engagement, interactivity, and experience matter more than ever, it’s only natural that VR would become the next frontier. But how far along are we really — and who's actually playing?
From Virtual Worlds to Poker Tables: The VR Gambling Landscape
Back in 2016, Slotsmillion took a “dive-in approach” to creating the first VR real-money online casino – Slotsmillion VR – a platform which back then had no market, or customer base.
It has now evolved to boast a massive library of over VR slot titles from well-known providers with their immersive environment spanning Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and standard desktop platforms.
PokerStars has been pioneering online casinos, since launching its online poker cardrooms back in 2001, and it has kept its innovative spirit alive through the decades.
Their “Vegas Infinite” (formerly known as PokerStars VR) was launched in 2018 to bring table games to Virtual Reality and a social casino era, where friends can gather to play at a virtual poker table, chat and interact in real time. By now, this immersive social casino is a household name in VR gambling. With support for desktop, Meta Quest 2/3/Pro, and Apple Vision Pro, it offers poker, blackjack, roulette, craps – and slots.
These two platforms represent two sides of the VR gambling coin: Vegas Infinite excels at social table games, while SlotsMillion VR pioneers a fully realized VR slot experience.
Who's Playing? A Look at the VR Gambling Audience
VR gambling is a vibrant niche within the larger iGaming audience, gaining traction everyday, especially in younger demographics – becoming a vertical worth watching.
The typical VR player tends to skew younger (Gen Z to early Millennials), tech-savvy, and social – looking not just for a win, but for an experience.
According to data from Market us Scoop the VR market in general is growing rapidly:
“The virtual reality market value is projected to reach USD 57.55 billion by 2027, The market was valued at USD 6.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44.3% from 2021 to 2027.”
Data also confirms the growing use of virtual reality, reporting that in the US 19% of adult consumers have used virtual reality at some point. In terms of demographics, 34% of those between the ages of 16 and 24 were or are VR users, while 35% of users are aged 25 to 34.
Data for this dynamic market indicates the potential and growing popularity of VR casino and social formats as well – as proven by the abovementioned examples of Slotsmillion and PokerStars. Think avatars, real-time voice chat, custom environments – immersive elements where VR could outpace traditional gaming formats. Especially as major tech players like Meta and Apple continue pushing spatial computing and immersive platforms into the mainstream.
VR Gambling is Real – Virtual Slots and Games are Here
VR isn’t going to replace traditional gambling platforms overnight – but it doesn’t have to. What we’re seeing is the birth of a parallel world, where VR slots and games offer something entirely new: immersive gaming, a social experience, and excitement going beyond the screen and 2D.
As adoption grows and technology improves, the opportunities for developers, platforms, and affiliate partners will multiply.
The question isn’t if VR gambling will take off; it’s who will lead the charge.
🟣 Stay tuned for more on this by DepToWin – we are about to bring the future to you:
Top VR Casinos coming soon for an immersive experience!