PokerStars Plans to Bring Online Gambling to VR Headsets

There are a number of casino style experiences such as Poker VR or Social Club VR that allow you to play one of the worlds most popular card games Poker. Yet these are quite casual titles. What happens when one of the world’s largest online poker sites, PokerStars, decides to try its hand at virtual reality (VR)? That’ll soon become apparent as PokerStars VR is currently in closed beta.

PokerStars VR will be a free-to-play, authentic social poker experience designed for both new and seasoned players alike. To begin with PokerStars VR will offer the No-Limit Hold’em version of poker set in five exotic settings: Macau 2050, The Macau Suite, The Showdown Saloon, Monte-Carlo Yacht, and The Void.

Features will include intuitive controls so players can handle chips and cards just as in the real world, the ability to study opponents and pick up their tells, chat to one another in real time, whilst keeping the tables fun with a host of interactive props.

Currently being tested using both HTC Vive and Oculus Rift headsets, players will also find integrated Twitch broadcasting, video streaming and social media integration on Oculus Rift for those who wish to play and stream. There will be  leaderboards and private tables, stats to study – for the more serious poker players – and the ability to earn free chips to use at the tables by spinning a virtual wheel every day.

“PokerStars VR is a chance for us to take this amazing technology and bring something totally unique to poker players,” said Severin Rasset, Director of Poker Innovation and Operations at PokerStars in a statement. “Poker is about interaction. It’s been bringing people together for well over a century. We’re really excited to invest in the next generation of the game and to give players the opportunity to meet in a brand new virtual reality dimension.”

Developed in collaboration with Lucky VR, currently there’s no specific launch date for PokerStars VR. When there is, VRFocus will let you know.

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from Online Poker