Las Vegas is the first city that springs to mind when considering a fun gaming destination.
Yet, while we tend to think of classic games being played in a low-tech setting here, the truth is that the city has been harnessing cutting-edge technology to shape the gaming landscape.
Biometric Security Systems And Cashless Wallets
The popularity of the city means that many people travel here each year. Reports from early in 2023 suggested that the total number of annual visitors had surged to over 50 million.
This volume of traffic has led to advances such as biometric security being used to help increase security in crowded sites while lowering costs.
Due to this, Las Vegas casinos have started looking into facial recognition technology to help them manage access to their premises more easily and control crowds of players.
This technology has already been showcased at several Las Vegas conventions and is being used by at least one casino so far.
Cashless wallets are another innovation to boost security levels in the city’s resorts. In this case, facial recognition is part of each user’s identity verification process to let them access their wallet smoothly.
They can then use their funds during their stay without using cash or bank cards. They can play games, buy food, and carry out other transactions in this way.
Virtual Reality (VR) And Augmented Reality (AR)
Las Vegas is one of the most popular cities for gambling in North America, alongside the likes of New Jersey, Cancun and Montreal.
It has some of the biggest and most luxurious resorts in the world along its four-mile Strip, with many introducing technology that makes it easier for visitors to order food and drinks from their tables.
Technology has also expanded the range of games, but the timeless classics remain in place.
The blending of the physical world around us with the digital world has been one of the most interesting leaps forward in the entertainment industry in recent times.
Virtual reality involves the user putting on a headset only to find themselves immersed in a virtual world that seems real to them.
On the other hand, augmented reality adds virtual details to the person’s real-world setting, giving a different type of experience.
These technologies are ideal for gaming centers and casinos looking to provide a more immersive experience, so it’s no surprise that they’ve already been introduced in some locations.
Users can feel that they’ve been transported into the midst of a zombie apocalypse, outer space or any other type of setting that a developer thinks their players will enjoy.
This adds an extra edge to playing games in Vegas and gives the option of enjoying the gameplay while feeling that you’ve been transported elsewhere as you play.
Interactive Consoles
Another new way of playing games has emerged thanks to the interactive casinos placed in casinos and other entertainment venues in Las Vegas.
These devices feature themed games like slots but are built into table-based consoles rather than the traditional cabinets we’re used to seeing slots played on.
Players use a touch screen to play, making it similar to the way we play using mobile devices and therefore should seem immediately familiar to newcomers.
Early versions of these consoles cover themes like pirate adventures and poker games, with elements of skill included in some.
While it seems unlikely that classic slot cabinets will disappear, it’s easy to imagine a situation in which these consoles offer a popular alternative to slots.
Mobile Gaming And Apps
With millions of people traveling to Las Vegas to play games every week, it might seem that mobile gaming isn’t as necessary as it is in other places.
After all, people travel here to soak up the famous atmosphere of the Strip and to see the sights.
Yet, we need to bear in mind that everyone travels with mobile devices these days, so offering them the chance to use them to play can turn out to be a smart move.
Suppose someone has had a busy day visiting the area’s top tourist attractions, like taking a helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon or enjoying the city’s extensive collection of public artworks.
In that case, they might find playing some games on their smartphone more convenient during the day as there might not be enough time for a trip to a brick-and-mortar casino.
Mobile apps can also include elements of gamification to make them more immersive. This means that players can take part in tournaments and attempt to win trophies from their smartphones.
It makes for a more varied type of gameplay and provides the chance to compete against other players who climb a virtual leaderboard with each win they achieve.
AI And Chatbots
With artificial intelligence (AI) being such a hot subject around the world right now and starting to be used in industries like medicine, it’s no surprise to find that the Las Vegas entertainment industry is considering ways to use it.
Roles such as receptionist, bartender and security guard can all be carried out in this way, with a recent NPR report suggesting that up to 65% of jobs in Las Vegas could be automated by the end of the next decade.
Chatbots can help visitors to understand their options and move around the big resorts where varied types of entertainment are offered around the clock.
One of the interesting moves being used is to give these AI chatbots an engaging personality rather than making them dry and purely informative.
The Future
This technology will likely become more familiar to us as it’s introduced to many aspects in Las Vegas and elsewhere.
The big question is which ones will flourish more than others, which will only be revealed over time as we see how well players receive them over the next couple of years.