Since the first online casino games started to appear in the mid-90s, there has been one goal above all others, to use technology to bring the casino industry into people’s homes, via PCs, laptops and, later on, mobile phones. Arguably, this goal was reached in the middle of the last decade, with the advent of live dealer online casino games. They were a huge success, effectively creating another genre of online casino games.

Since the first online casino games started to appear in the mid-90s, there has been one goal above all others, to use technology to bring the casino industry into people’s homes
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With all the possibilities VR offers we must now ask is it enough to transport the casino to the home? Ten years from now, will it be exciting to use VR to play roulette, blackjack, and so on, as if you were in a real casino? That’s debatable, because VR, AR, MR and XR, offer us so much more in terms of player engagement than simply replacing one reality with another.

VR presents the online betting industry with new opportunities and new questions about how technology can engage their audience. Readers of this site will be well aware that virtual reality is leading us to fascinating new places in the future that go well beyond the idea of simply transplanting us from one place to another. Movers and shakers in the iGaming industry are now looking hard at the possibilities.

VR presents the online betting industry with new opportunities and new questions about how technology can engage their audience
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Gonzo’s Quest could already be considered to be ahead of its time, with its 3D graphics and brilliant gameplay, but the opportunity to bring players ‘into the adventure’ with VR is something else entirely
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One possible answer might be found by looking at the hugely popular adventure-themed game Gonzo’s Quest Slots from NetEnt, where you get a glimpse at how VR and gameplay could be combined for a more thrilling gambling experience. Gonzo’s Quest could already be considered to be ahead of its time, with its 3D graphics and brilliant gameplay, but the opportunity to bring players ‘into the adventure’ with VR is something else entirely.

If you have followed the rise of eSports and video games generally in the 21st century, you will have noticed that they have become more and more competitive and monetised
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The key players in iGaming are well aware that they must grasp the possibilities VR offers now and act fast to evolve their existing offerings to combat competition from video games
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If you have followed the rise of eSports and video games generally in the 21st century, you will have noticed that they have become more and more competitive and monetised. There is now a vast industry in eSports betting, and even a shadow industry of skin betting among non-professional gamers. Traditional iGaming casino games never really had competition before, if you make the exception of sports betting, but now competitive video gaming has changed that landscape and the key players in iGaming are well aware that they must grasp the possibilities VR offers now and act fast to evolve their existing offerings to combat competition from video games.

However, the iGaming industry has a history of forward-thinking and has recognised this before it has become an existential threat and right now developers are working on the next generation of skill-based games, adventure games and new casino concepts that will incorporate VR into the online gambling arena. If you think that traditional table and card games are best confined to the dustbin of history, then you might be pleasantly surprised at what you find when you visit an online casino in the 2020s. It’s not a stretch to say that we will be strapping on VR headsets to play adventure or fantasy casino games for money by the end of the 2020s.

If you think that traditional table and card games are best confined to the dustbin of history, then you might be pleasantly surprised at what you find when you visit an online casino in the 2020s
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Casino operators believe that it’s mission accomplished in terms of bringing the real casino experience into the home, and they now want to breakdown another barrier. And, with affordable, easy access VR set take off with a bang in the 2020s, the possibilities are limitless for developers and the online iGaming industry.

The post VR Set to Fuel Fantasy Casino Gaming appeared first on Tech Trends.

Playing online Poker is great, but it can get even better with some help from modern-day tech. From having the proper noise-cancelling headphones to owning a travel-friendly cigar humidor, here are ten things that will bring your game to a whole new level.

Sony WH-1000XM2

These are some of the best headphones for 2018

Poker is a mind game that requires concentration and nerves of steel. That’s why many players opt for listening to some tunes to block distracting background noise and annoying opponents. One of the best options for your poker adventures is the Sony WH-1000XM2. These headphones provide the ultimate audiophile nirvana. They are wireless, noise-cancelling and can run for up to 30 hours — enough for several poker sessions. One of the best features for poker players, save for the excellent sound, is that you can silence the music just by holding your hand over the right ear cup — which is quite useful if you need to hear the dealer’s instructions. The headphones also come with a quick-charge feature, giving you access to over an hour of playtime with a ten-minute charge.

Poker is great on its own, but it can get even better with some help from modern-day tech!
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Bose SoundTrue Ultra

Bose’s SoundTrue Ultra, an excellent option for out in public

Going to public places with bulky over-the-head headphones is now trendy, yet it’s not a style for everybody. Bose SoundTrue Ultra is perfect for those times when you need your music without looking like you are wearing antlers. The earbuds are noise-cancelling and among this year’s top picks when it comes to earbud sound quality. What makes this pair even better is the StayHear — an attachment system that creates a secure fit in the ears without having to jam the buds in your ear canal. Bose’s SoundTrue Ultra comes in versions for the Android and Apple, with both options available in black or grey — neutral colours to go with any style.

Going to public places with bulky over-the-head headphones is now trendy, yet it’s not a style for everybody. Bose SoundTrue Ultra is perfect for those times when you need your music without looking like you are wearing antlers
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Samsung Galaxy S9+

The S9+ is one of the best Android phones on the market

Every top poker platform is now offering mobile gaming. And it’s no wonder given the high demand for portable entertainment. If you are the type that likes to play poker on the go, you need a mobile device that can provide lag-free gaming on as big of a display as possible. Right now, your best bet is the Galaxy S9+. Everything about this phone is excellent — the processor, the memory, the battery and especially, the 4K 6.2 in Super AMOLED display. If you must get a game-ready phone, the S9+ is a No-brainer. However, there is a consensus among the tech sphere that those who can wait until 2019 for the S10’s release should do so.

If you are the type that likes to play poker on the go, you need a mobile device that can provide lag-free gaming on as big of a display as possible
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Smartphones are already a preferred gaming device, surpassing even computers

Anker PowerCore II

This Anker power bank is light and compact as well as has enough to charge most phones twice

The smartphone race has resulted in some space-age tech, but one area where manufacturers are yet to show something wowing is in battery life. All the extras that top-level smartphones come with — fast processors, bright colour-rich displays and powerful cameras — are power black holes. To avoid getting the dreaded low-battery message while playing on the go, you’ll need a portable power bank. The Anker PowerCore II fits the profile due to its slim and lightweight design, which holds 10,000mAh of energy. The battery also comes with a quick-charging feature, too.

All the extras that top-level smartphones come with — fast processors, bright colour-rich displays and powerful cameras — are power black holes
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Oculus Go

VR poker is still in its infancy, but it’s likely that it’ll only get better

What if you want the casino experience but without visiting one? And without tripping on a bunch of cables? Then the Oculus Go is for you. Online poker operators are getting into the virtual reality (VR) space with several platforms already offering VR poker, though so far, the experience is limited. Still, VR seems to be here to stay, with more actors paying attention to immersive tech, so it’s only logical that playing poker with a VR headset will be getting better and with the Oculus Go, you can play as the name suggests — on the go. The device is fully standalone, with a controller and a battery that lasts for two hours.

With the Oculus Go, you can play as the name suggests — on-the-go. The device is fully standalone, with a controller and a battery that lasts for two hours
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Google Wifi

Google Wifi provides a stable connection, wide coverage and a user-friendly interface

We covered the basics of playing on the go, so let’s turn to what you’ll need for enjoyable at-home sessions. Playing online poker requires a stable connection to the web. Imagine being on a winning streak, only to lose everything because your connection dropped. Thankfully, Google has come up with one of the best Wi-Fi mesh routers on the market. You can opt for one device or go as high as six for up to 9,000 sq ft of coverage. The setup is as simple as it gets, and you only need to access your smartphone to have Google Wifi up and running. The device requires a consistent connection to a Google account, which is a minor inconvenience, but will provide added security.

Playing online poker requires a stable connection to the web. Imagine being on a winning streak, only to lose everything because your connection dropped
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Secretlab OMEGA 2018

This chair lets you play comfortably like a pro gamer, and you can even nap on it

If you are going to play at home for long stretches of time, you’ll need a comfortable chair. Many players report that playing in bed makes them lazy and sloppy while chairs give them back problems. So, to achieve the best experience, get yourself a high-quality gaming chair such as the Secretlab OMEGA 2018. The Racing-style chair boasts a beautiful design in seven colour combinations. The upholstery is made of luxuriously looking PU leather, there are head and lumbar pillows, and the mechanisms allow flexible adjustments. On top of that, the backrest can be fully reclined for when you need to nap in between play session.

The upholstery is made of luxurious looking PU leather, there are head and lumbar pillows, and the mechanisms allow flexible adjustments. On top of that, the backrest can be fully reclined for when you need to nap in between hands
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Fizzics

Fizzics provides a tap experience in an ultra-portable device

Now that you’ve covered the basics of your home game experience, it’s time to think about the details. Indulging in alcohol while playing poker is not advisable and something that poker pros avoid, but there’s nothing wrong with having a drink on the side. And because poker can be quite exhausting, why not pamper yourself with a device that’ll make any ordinary beer taste as it has come from the tap? You can do that with Fizzics. The device uses a two-step system (including sound waves) to boost your brew’s taste and aroma. It is portable, operates on AA batteries and doesn’t require unique cartridges, so you can take it to your hotel room next time you try your skills at a live tournament.

Indulging in alcohol while playing poker is not advisable and something that poker pros avoid, but there’s nothing wrong with having a drink on the side
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Johnnie Walker: Alexa Skill

Johnnie Walker’s Alexa skill brings a fresh perspective on whiskey

For something more refined, you can’t go wrong with sipping on a good whiskey. The key here is to enjoy it slowly as a mild relaxant, not to get wasted and blow your money away. Here, too, tech can help you have a more enjoyable experience. You can do that if you have Alexa and a taste for Johnnie Walker. The Scotch-making company created an Alexa skill that can guide you through choosing the best label, enrich your knowledge about the drink and even navigate you through tasting whiskey as a connoisseur. Find out more about Johnnie Walker and Amazon Alexa here.

Johnnie Walker created an Alexa skill that can guide you through choosing the best label, enrich your knowledge about the drink and even navigate you through tasting whiskey as a connoisseur
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Davidoff Travel Humidor

With Davidoff’s Travel Humidor you can safely bring your cigars along when you travel

To go all-in, you need a good cigar to go with that whiskey. But good cigars need proper care, which is a challenge if you’d like to enjoy them while travelling. Davidoff’s Travel Humidor solves this problem with a look that combines style with functionality. The device was made with the traveller in mind and is lightweight and compact enough to fit into your luggage. The box holds eight cigars, keeps them fresh for up to three weeks and provides air-tightness that keeps humidity at an optimal level.

To go all-in, you need a good cigar to go with that whiskey. But good cigars need proper care!
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Poker is a battle of the minds, and the one that is most in tune is most likely to come out on top. None of the stuff on this list will guarantee you a triumph at the felt table. But playing in a comfortable setting can give you just the edge that you need to outsmart your opponents.

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post The Tech That Every Poker Player Should Own appeared first on Tech Trends.

Played poker before? Not like this, you haven’t! The world’s leading poker brand, PokerStars, has combined live and online poker in a truly immersive & social VR experience.

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post PokerStars VR is Something New appeared first on Tech Trends.

Poker and data visualisation show the future of the game in the digital age.

Sport is increasingly an industry that embraces technology and innovation, maybe not convincingly when it comes to Football’s goal-line tech and video assistant referees (VAR) but all sorts of sports have bumped their broadcasts up to 4k+ or even 360 video and all offer data heavy and detailed on screen and online interactivity. On my recent trip to France to check out Dimension Data’s rider tracking tech for the Tour de France I saw the exciting technical solutions, expense and effort companies and broadcasters go to engage viewers through data, and we’ve also spotted and covered this trend in other sports such as rowing and sailing recently.

Of course, fans want to be more engaged with the sports and games they love via TV, mobile and online communities and as I found out at the European Poker Tour Barcelona held at the Casino Barcelona last month, PokerStars is a company on a mission to offer Poker fans more.

Sport is increasingly an industry that embraces technology and innovation
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Even for knowledgeable fans, there are a lot of details and quick-fire action that @PokerStars want everyone to be able to easily engage with
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I had never played Poker, or more specifically Texas Holdem when I sat down for the Media Rep Poker Tournament and found out what a fast game it is and how hard it can be for the uninitiated to follow. More than half the time I didn’t know what the heck was going on and I was sitting at the table! Even for knowledgeable fans, there are a lot of details and quick-fire action that PokerStars want everyone to be able to easily engage with. They have seen their online viewing numbers jump in the last couple of years, so I was interested in how they used technology to help make such a  quick and complex game attractive to a broader audience.

The key to getting an audience into a game of Poker is to show them the player's hands, live as the cards are played and as the chips are bet
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The key to getting an audience into a game is to show them the player’s hands, live as the cards are played and as the chips are bet. To find out how they do this Tech Trends chatted to Jonathan Zincke, Senior Producer of PokerStars’ live broadcast team and found out a few tricks of the trade.

In the old days there was a spy camera in the table edge in front of each player and someone used to take a video still of the cards as they looked at them and manually type in the information that appeared on screen, now it is all automatic. The technology we use is RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification), every card has a chip in it. They are standard Casino cards, we don’t do anything special to them, but they cost about £80 a pack because of the chips. Each card’s chip is individual in the world so no two cards are the same anywhere. Explained Zincke. The tables are custom built for us with the readers embeded in and it only takes a second for the table to read the player’s cards. It’s commonly available tech that you can buy anywhere, all the technology in the tables is off the shelf but under the table the data is encrypted and secured. If you tried to hack into it, it would take a long time to even get the data for one card by which time it would be useless as the games are quick.

As I found while playing my fellow journalists the speed of the games was a surprise so keeping the viewers updated live is vital and covering a room full of tables is a challenge.

We started using RFID about five or six years ago and what is cool for us is this technology allows us to switch quickly between different tables during broadcast and show all the action going on, before RFID we couldn’t do that. The encrypted data travels along a fibre cable to our graphics system we had custom coded and built. This reads all the cards on the table, the hands the players hold and the flop cards in the middle, there is a sensor there as well. We have televised all sorts of games, fun games streamed on Twitch, the $100K games and of course the main events.

The encrypted data travels along a fibre cable to our graphics system we had custom coded and built
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Online games are popular with viewers who want to watch and learn the game or follow players they admire
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Live games with upcoming amateurs and celebrity players are very popular but a huge part of what PokerStars offer is online Poker, enabling players from all over the world to play together. These online games are also popular with viewers who want to watch and learn the game or follow players they admire. The Twitch platform is perfect for these broadcasts as it is optimised for streaming video and full of social tools, so unsurprisingly PokerStars is looking to innovate there too.

What we have looked at is how to superimpose graphics in a virtual way. We have looked at this but the technology isn’t quick enough at the moment for live use. We have started experimenting with live overlays for players on Twitch, so our system will send our game data to some code the guys at Twitch have written for us which will put up a chip count that the viewer can hover over a little widget in the corner of the screen and bring up an overlay graphic. We are looking at this and what other stats we can release, info that doesn’t interupt the casual viewer but is there for the knowledgeable person that wants a little bit more engagement with the details of the game. For the different levels of players and viewers, we want to cater to all types of fans and players.

Watch live video from PokerStarsFrance on www.twitch.tv

I have embedded a PokerStars France Twitch feed above and you can see how involving it is. With the interest in Poker growing like never before channels like this are pulling in new audiences from all over the globe and PokerStars are always looking at new tech and what it might offer to enhance the audience’s experience.

What we have looked at is how to superimpose graphics in a virtual way
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PokerStars are always looking at new tech and what it might offer to enhance the audience's experience
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When I looked at Dimension Data’s use of GPS tracking in the Tour de France 2018 I was amazed how much relevant info they could pull from only GPS data so I was keen to see how PokerStars might do the same and extrapolate more interesting and engaging stories from the existing RFID tech they use.

There is talk about using RFID tagged chips, we have discussed it at PokerStars as Casinos already use RFID to track chips, so we have looked at this, so when a player moves their chips we could have another reader there and however many chips were moved registers as the bet. Each reader would be on a different frequency so the card readers wouldn’t get confused with the chip readers. It’s extremely expensive so hasn’t been introduced yet but is quite cool, what you can do then is not only track the chips at a certain table for the TV or Twitch broadcast but track all the chips at a tournament giving you loads of data which would tell you details like who is the chip leader at that time. All the viewers and journalists could tap into that and have the up to date info instantly.

Tech Trends is convinced that for sports, gaming, gambling, media and data companies like FIFA, PokerStars and Dimension Data, learning how to use all this data to tell new and exciting stories that engage viewers in the digital age is the future of entertainment. All these seemingly different sectors are now on the brink of merging into broader entities as data starts to drive the entertainment and sports industries. One issue that will no doubt keep the lawyers busy is access and ownership of the data they gather and use, but from what Jonathan already sees in the data PokerStars keeps private, those could be very powerful stories indeed.

Learning how to use all this data to tell new and exciting stories that engage viewers in the digital age is the future of entertainment
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Obviously a lot of the data we have back there we aren’t able to show the public but for us we can see the type of cards that are played and how they are played. If you see 140 hands of Poker in a day you can see the way a certain player plays an ace, or a pocket pair and then you can look into how they bet in relation to those cards which is quite interesting.

Quite interesting indeed! Watch this space for some very exciting news later this month as PokerStars take on the latest and greatest digital medium!

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post Poker in the 21st Century appeared first on Tech Trends.

When the chips are down Tech Trends is there.

Tech Trends is at PokerStars European Poker Tour Barcelona this weekend on the blazing hot Mediterranean coast to see how the high stakes and high rolling world of cards is taking advantage of new technology to engage its audience. Sponsored by PokerStars.es this event is part of a much larger European Poker Tour organised by PokerStars that includes Sochi, Monte Carlo & Prague.

Check out the action for yourself on PokerStars TV and watch out for more from the event on Tech Trends over the next few days and if I haven’t lost my passport along with my shirt I will be back in the office Monday.

EPT Barcelona Festival Dates: August 21-September 2, 2018

Play this event for the chance to win one of TEN Platinum Pass packages to the PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship worth $30,000 each!

Here’s how you could win a Platinum Pass in the EPT Main Event:

– Win the EPT Main Event
– Be the longest lasting qualifier in the Main Event (both live and online qualifiers are eligible)
– Win the crazy pineapple hand challenge*

Here’s how you could win a Platinum Pass in the EPT National:

– Win the EPT National
– Win the crazy pineapple hand challenge*

Here’s how you could win a Platinum Pass in the EPT Cup:

– Win the EPT Cup
– Win the crazy pineapple hand challenge*

Platinum Pass packages will also be awarded via the following methods:

– One Platinum Pass added to tournament #25 – PSPC Package Qualifier
– One Platinum Pass awarded for the crazy pineapple hand in tournament #23*
– One Platinum Pass awarded for the crazy pineapple hand in tournament #28*

Key Dates & Event Info

See below for key tournament dates.

– EPT National: August 22-26 – €1,100
– EPT Super High Roller: August 25-26 – €100,000
– EPT Main Event: August 27-September 2 – €5,300
– EPT High Roller: August 31-September 2 – €10,300

As well as exciting action at the tournament tables, all attendees can benefit from the following:

– Win a PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship Platinum Pass worth $30,000!
– StarsFun activities
– The chance to meet Team PokerStars Pros
– Players’ party including guests
– Free players’ merchandise

Tom Atkinson is a Digital Producer & Photographer at R3Digital and Reviews & Dept. Editor at Tech Trends. Connect on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter @R3Digital

The post PokerStars Ups The Ante With Technology appeared first on Tech Trends.