BC Lottery Corporation Might Be Developing a Virtual Casino

This province does not make it easy for a company to construct a casino. There are a million obstacles to deal with -city council permissions, neighborhood resistance and of course, the stigma attached TO taking cash that might be flowing in from an organized criminal activity.

 

But a virtual casino could be a good alternative, right? It definitely seems like BC Lottery Corporation is considering this path because it has announced its plan to sign an agreement with a firm based in Vancouver with regards to developing virtual reality in the realm of gaming.

 

With a $250,000 contract with Archiact Interactive (a Shanghai and Vancouver-based firm), the company will be creating a unique VR game that allows players to find solutions to challenges while trying to flee from a room, announced B.C.L.C.

 

According to the annual report of BCLC, there was a $23 million decline in lottery earnings in the period 2016-17. At the same time, the eGaming revenue showed an increase of $22 million and reached $150 million per year. This is more than twice of where it stood 4 years ago.

 

The “hackathon” of BCLC in 2017 had the firm exploring computer games and applications of virtual reality, wherein players could gamble real money. However, it is important to note that a game going virtual does not automatically eliminate the actual risks, suggests a psychologist based in Quebec. He utilized virtual reality for treating his patients.

 

A paper published by Canada-based clinical cyberpsychology specialist, Dr. Stephane Bouchard, suggests that those addicted to gambling experience similar cravings and excitement in virtual spaces as they may do while playing in an actual casino. He believes that it is shocking to see the effects of virtual reality interaction on gambling addicts.

 

This could be an advantage when it comes to treating gambling addiction. Clinicians may use virtual casinos and place addicts in an environment similar to an actual casino. This would give them an opportunity to control their cravings and not worry about gambling compulsively. These findings will be presented by Dr. Bouchard at the forthcoming gambling conference ‘New Horizons’ in Vancouver.

 

While virtual reality in gambling has its advantages; it could also be a bit dangerous. How? Well, in actual casinos, you have Gamesense advisors as well as other individuals who could identify a distressed person. But in virtual reality gaming, nobody can help a gambler who is playing alone from his/her home.