Metaverse Casinos, Virtual Casino Games in the Metaverse (2023)

On this page, we will take a look back at the history of gambling, explore the different types of gambling, and delve into the world of Metaverse casinos. We will also discuss the various types of games available in Metaverse casinos, the top five sites to play these games, and the benefits and risks of gambling in the Metaverse. Additionally, we will explore the future of Metaverse gambling. Finally, we will provide some helpful FAQs, as well as the best Metaverse casino alternatives. Whether you are a seasoned gambler or new to the world of online gambling, this page has something for you.

Taking a Look Back at Gambling History

The idea that you can bet something valuable on the outcome of an event and win something even more valuable back is a tale as old as time. As long as there has been competition, there has been gambling. From the ancient Egyptians to the Greeks and the Roman Empire, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution, gambling games have continually evolved.

Many of today’s range of games gained popularity amongst the upper class and nobility of France. They were exported Stateside by immigrants, of course. Once casinos knew they were onto something and realised the profits they could make, they launched a new variety of the same games, only part-based on the originals. A number of altered rules here and a few side bets there, and modern-day casino games were born.

Take roulette, for instance. This game was originally devised as a mathematical machine. Known as the perpetual motion wheel, it was designed to calculate probability. Little did its inventor know that it would be hijacked and turned into a major casino game. Since its time as a plaything of the French aristocracy, it has been altered, changed, and adjusted to make it more accessible to the everyday bettor. This includes video-based roulette games in the 70s and 80s, online gambling in the 90s and 00s, and mobile betting and cryptocurrency roulette gambling in the 2010s and 2020s.

It won’t surprise you to learn that gambling games are evolving even now, not just roulette. Many predict that VR and Metaverse gambling is next on the horizon.

The Metaverse is a concept that is relatively new for most of the population. Many only heard about it when Mark Zuckerberg changed the name of Facebook’s parent company. In the space of two Covid-hit years, though, lots of us have got to grips with the Metaverse as we engage in virtual meetings in our work environments and seek digital anonymity in an era of ever-increasing regulation and visibility online.

Is metaverse gambling the next big thing? What will it look like, and is it already here to stay? In this article, we’re going to answer all those questions and more. First, though, let us explain the different types of options you can already find in the current online gambling world.

The Different Types of Gambling

In our current gambling world, players already have a wealth of options and everything they might want is easily accessible.

Since the inception of online casinos, gambling games and other forms of betting have continually evolved and grown. There are multiple ways to play games for real money, place wagers, and make bets. Aside from casinos, depositing to bet on sports at sports betting sites is another option. Or there are bingo rooms, poker sites, online lottery games and live casinos with real dealer games that also support RNG (random number generator) games in addition to their ultra-realistic live dealer titles. In every sense, anyone wanting to get involved in gambling or betting is very much spoilt for choice.

The original concept of an online casino was based on a piece of downloadable software introduced by Microgaming back in 1994. That was transformed into an instant play or browser-based casino site. With the explosion in the use of smartphones and mobile gaming, it then became easy to enjoy gambling from anywhere. Most of today’s casinos are fully mobile optimised, to say the least.

More recently, crypto casinos have come to the forefront. These allow you to wager with digital tokens instead of what we call FIAT currency. These are currently the fastest-growing gambling sites in the industry. Even so, many of the top European online casinos are so versatile that they retain FIAT options alongside cryptocurrencies for those who haven’t yet made their mind up. Even with this, though, we’re not done. The online betting world continues to grow.

Next up on the hit list appears to be metaverse gambling. This isn’t something that is a decade or so away, either. Metaverse betting isn’t even right around the corner – it is already here. We’ve already seen and experienced Metaverse casinos ourselves. While we wouldn’t go out on a limb and say that they are the future, they are certainly going to be a force to be reckoned with.

How do you get started if you’re unfamiliar with such sites or don’t even understand the Metaverse? We’re here to help!

Gambling in the Metaverse Casinos

For many, the Metaverse is a brand-new concept and something they only heard about five minutes ago in the news. However, the same was once true for cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and at one point, Wi-Fi. Now, these are everyday common terms. One day, the Metaverse will be, too. We’ll look at gambling in the Metaverse in closer detail in a few moments. First, though, we need to provide you with some background information.

What Is the Metaverse?

The Metaverse is expected to be a digital universe designed to enhance our own physical reality.

Meta means “beyond”, so don’t look at the Metaverse as an alternative to reality. This isn’t the Matrix. Instead, look at the Metaverse as an addition to reality. A place where you can be whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to do in a digital environment. You can create a new version of yourself, where everything from the way you act through to the clothes or accessories you wear is customisable.

You can even enter the Sandbox, build your own digital abode, and monetise your personal space in Ethereum’s blockchain. Once you log in, you are your character, a fully digital entity. In short, you can do what you want with this project. Naturally, for some players, that means online gambling.

In theory, the Metaverse can support thousands of applications, ranging from games to music, video streams, meeting spaces and social platforms, financial services, and, of course, online casinos.

Of course, the Metaverse is designed to be as immersive as possible. This means that it needs to work alongside virtual reality. Your eyes and ears must be glued to the Metaverse to create the necessary illusion of immersion. That’s exactly why a VR headset is a critical element of the experience.

An avatar is another must-have part of the virtual experience. Avatars are digital characters designed to represent you in the Metaverse. They don’t have to be realistic or anything like you. In the Metaverse, you are free to look how you want to look and be who you want to be. The VR headset and avatar combination represents you as a brand-new person in a fully digital virtual realm.

At present, most people would admit that the Metaverse isn’t quite ready for us.

Sure, there are a few applications out there where you can take your avatar and interact with others – most notably in business meetings. There are even a few casinos that have sprung up to cater to the early pioneering adventurers in the Metaverse.

However, the mainstream metaverse, if you want to call it that, is still a few years away. That gives us plenty of time to prepare for its big arrival and to speculate.

What Is a Metaverse Casino?

Technically, a metaverse casino would be any internet gambling site that allows you to immerse yourself in playing its games through a VR headset with the use of an avatar. In most cases, these are crypto gambling platforms. They are often located in digital worlds, such as Decentraland, and its entertainment district, known as Vegas City.

At present, there is a hub where many top crypto casinos can be found. Platforms like these are important in this early stage in metaverse history, as they allow players to congregate and easily find what would otherwise be obscure sites. Alongside Dencentraland, we have Decentral Games (DAO), created by Miles Anthony in 2019. Their casino uses the SDG currency.

By contrast, Decentraland supports what can currently be described as the leading metaverse casinos. These include Chateau Satoshi, Tominoya, Serenity Island, Atari Casino, ICE Poker, and more. You can use MANA to bet there.

Most metaverse casinos offer similar features to the first ever decentralised casino (EarnBet), albeit through a VR-assisted digital interface.

Once you’ve decided to take the plunge, what can you expect at a metaverse casino? Virtual reality casinos such as these work in a very specific way.

They are decentralised, so nobody has control over them. However, the games run via smart contracts and on blockchains, so they are Provably Fair and certified.

Other nifty features include anonymity by way of your avatar, while secure financial services can be expected through a crypto wallet, such as Metamask.

There are plenty of features that haven’t come online yet, but that are in the pipeline, too. For instance, we’re starting to see betting with NFTs.

Let us say that you want to start betting on the Metaverse. Given that metaverse casinos are simply supposed to be a digital version of land-based casinos for your mind, you should have all the customary options discussed above open to you, yes?

What can you expect to wager on? Let’s find out in the next section.

The Different Types of Games in the Metaverse Casinos

Let us say that you have decided that you want to be one of the pioneers trying metaverse gambling for yourself. What can you expect to play? In all honesty, that depends on where you play and the software providers behind those casino games. Today’s casinos suffer from the same limitations. For instance, Casino 1 may feature software from Developers A, B, and C. Casino 2 may house software from Developers A, B and E, while Casino 3 may only support games from Developer D. As you can see, it is often a mixed bag.

• Here’s the good news – while the specific games you can play in metaverse casinos may vary (depending on where you play), the types of games supported will largely be the same. For instance, all metaverse platforms that offer gambling options will support meta baccarat, blackjack, and European roulette games. However, what poker game one platform offers may be different from, say, Ice Poker. The same is true right down to slot machines and other games.

Some meta casinos may be packing an immense collection, with many slots and games available. They will have signed content partnerships with many of the biggest developers of these games. By contrast, others may only offer you a limited selection, as they have fewer agreements in place. It is also worth noting that many of the more notable metaverse casinos work differently. Instead of featuring software from established providers, they utilise in-house proprietary games. This allows them to tailor those games to meet the preferences of their audience.

Once the Metaverse gets properly going, we wouldn’t be surprised to see all manner of conventional games offered. In short, we’d expect to see all table games such as roulette, blackjack, and baccarat operate as live dealer titles (albeit with virtual reality) and slots you can interact with as standalone cabinets/machines just like in a real brick-and-mortar casino. We’re not quite there yet. For now, then, as with most casinos and the games they support, there are many options scattered across the Metaverse and little in the way of a standard or any uniformity.

With that in mind, it’s a very good idea to look around and try out different options.

The Five Popular Sites to Play Metaverse Casino Games

If you’re looking to get started at metaverse casinos straight away, we’re happy to help. Below you will find a quick run-through of the leading metaverse casinos worth their salt. These are mainly mainstream casinos, but they are trustworthy and the primary sources of metaverse gambling opportunities right now.

Decentraland Casinos

We’ll begin with what we already know! You can find Decentraland’s casinos on Decentraland.org, where both MANA and DAI are used. Decentraland began with Tominoya Casino and has since expanded to include Atari Casino and Serenity Island. Launched in 2015, it is arguably the oldest and most experienced site in the metaverse. There are even learner’s tables here, so you can ease into betting gradually.

Decentral Games

If you want to go with another behemoth, consider Decentral Games and their Chateau Satoshi casino. The Chateau Satoshi is among the most prestigious and exciting metaverse casinos. This is still in the Decentraland metaverse, so you must go through them to get to it. It does, however, use its own native token (DG), and its users own and govern it.

Metahero Casinos

If you can do it in the real world, you can do it in the Metaverse! Metahero may be a work in progress, but, oh my, is it ambitious. Launched in 2021 (at metahero.io), this metaverse world wants to be the premier venue for lavish, stylish lifestyles. We’re talking about casinos, shops, bars and even houses. You’ll currently find blackjack and roulette games (played with the HERO cryptocurrency), but expect proper, fully-fledged casinos to debut in the immediate future.

The Sandbox

The Sandbox was established in 2021 and uses its own currency, SAND, in addition to NFTs. This metaverse, accessible via Sandbox.game, is home to the Sand Vegas Club. The casino will have a stake in NFT owners, but it is not (yet) fully operational. The Sandbox does have other casino venues and games to try your hand at, so it is still an ideal place to start before moving on to larger, more renowned platforms like Decentraland.

Bloktopia and Highstreet Casinos

We know we’ve included two, but they’re both under construction, and we couldn’t decide between them. Bloktopia is envisioned as a 21-story skyscraper with a plethora of top attractions, including a Penthouse and Gaming Level. There will be poker rooms and other BLOK-friendly gambling games. On the other hand, Highstreet Casinos may give Bloktopia a run for its money. Here, we see a high-street, city-like world dominated by e-commerce centres. NFTs can be used to place bets in the casino of this new world.

As you can see from the list above, there are plenty of fledgeling metaverses where casinos and entertainment venues are making an appearance. However, if you want to play right now at established metaverse casinos that offer you a wealth of games, the Decentraland is the place to bet. This may not always be the case, though, and it won’t cost you a token to have a look at some of the other up-and-coming venues.

The Benefits of Gambling in the Metaverse Casinos

Metaverse gambling is unquestionably fun and totally different from anything else you’ll experience in the online gambling industry. There is no doubt about it. We certainly wouldn’t want to miss out on these gambling opportunities. However, many users believe that it will eventually revolutionise online gambling. For metaverse betting to achieve that level of success, it will need to improve upon the already existing approach of online, mobile, and crypto casinos. Join us as we explore some of the benefits of gambling in the Metaverse:

• The COVID-19 Pandemic shook up the world. Physical venues were some of the hardest hit businesses, and some went bankrupt. Casinos were no exception, with many sold off. What the pandemic taught us, though, is that playing poker games or placing bets on other gambling options online is a timeless activity. We’ve seen a change in the way that players view online gambling – and more specifically, how the casinos present the gaming opportunities. By supporting gambling in the Metaverse, fewer casinos are likely to suffer from the negative impact of similar events in the future.
• Betting in the Metaverse will represent a lifelike way to gamble. This realism may stop people from venturing into land-based casinos. Doing so could see you save money. Without the cost of hotels, food and amenities, bettors will have more cash to splash on games.
• Metaverse gambling is open to anyone. Because of the anonymity that avatars provide, those who aren’t normally permitted to gamble (for example, for religious reasons) would be given a gateway to doing so. In the Metaverse, anyone can be free to do anything.
• By using blockchain technology, the Metaverse ensures that no one person owns casinos and their games. Everything is decentralised and owned as a group. Many theorise that this social casino model could be the ideal way to ensure effective regulation of games.
• While most online casinos already operate around the clock, they are still online affairs and not overly realistic unless you’re playing with live dealers. Metaverse casinos would easily remain open around the clock, giving all players the chance to bet and socialise in person whatever the hour.

Aside from the security advantages of betting on the blockchain, we could be seeing the launch of Play to Earn Games (P2E). These blockchain-based games effectively offer you rewards that are valuable in the real world, such as NFTs and cryptocurrency. These could then be sold or traded for better rewards outside of the casino sphere.

The Risks of Gambling in the Metaverse Casinos

We’re not going to sit here and pretend that everything is going to be rosy in the Metaverse. The path ahead is filled with plenty of pitfalls. Risks could be exacerbated easily. We wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t at least point out some of the “potential” risks in the road ahead. Of course, given the fresh nature and youth of the Metaverse, we can’t possibly foresee every hiccup that could emerge. Nonetheless, there are already some telling things to make a note of. For instance:

There are loopholes around problem gamblers that would require attention and need plugging:

Problem gamblers could (with our current technology) find it easier to slip back into gambling, creating new avatars and identities for gambling as sites that they are blocked from. Current casinos are signed up to problem gambling programs which act as a guarantor against relapsing, offering a nearly irreversible block even if the casino chooses to reaccept a problem player.

Cryptocurrency gambling, in general, also has its risks:

While it can pay dividends for some, many see it as nothing more than an investment. When things turn sour, and challenges emerge, many people sell their cryptos. This can result in an epic loss of value. If this happens, metaverse casinos would be one of the first types of digital venues to suffer. If a cryptocurrency is essentially worthless, if the bubble bursts, few will choose to bet with it.

The blockchain itself can be problematic:

Even Ethereum, with its decentralised apps and smart contracts, is not immune from being hacked. One of the problems with having so many casinos running in the same virtual space (such as Decentraland) is if that goes down, we’re talking about losing a few top betting sites. Players with a casino account at any number of sites could be locked out. This is less likely when there are many independent casinos, each with their own servers.

The current system of online and mobile gambling works for most people:

It is foolhardy to say that everyone is going to want to join the Metaverse. Many players may still prefer browser-based gambling sites available through their phones or computers. We must remember that cryptocurrencies themselves are still used by less than 15% of the Western world. They haven’t taken over in the way many expected.

There’s no symmetry here. Many people in the Metaverse currently gamble, but not many gamblers are currently involved in the Metaverse. The match has barely started, and it is far from a guaranteed result that metaverse gambling will do so, either.

Understand the Metaverse

Before you even think of gambling in the Metaverse, be sure that you understand what it is!

Many people think they know and are surprised at how it works once they get started. Unquestionably, you do not want to be surprised when gambling. Don’t waste your chance to learn about it before continuing with these steps.

Find Your Ideal Casino

As touched on, Decentraland is the biggest metaverse gambling space right now, but there are many others out there. We’d suggest heading to the Sandbox and looking from there. Before deciding on a casino, be sure that you understand how you will fund your account. Some require cryptocurrency, such as Ethereum. Others use NFTs or digital currency tokens for transactions.

Get the Correct Wallet Setup

You’re going to need a crypto wallet of some kind to store cryptocurrencies and winnings. Metamask is one option, but exchanges like CoinBase and Binance can offer you ETH, Dai, Mana and others. You can even purchase these with FIAT options, including conventional payment options like credit cards or Apple Pay. OpenSea is a top NFT marketplace to head to if you prefer to gamble with those. There will likely be fees involved in whatever you do.

Create Your Digital Self

Aside from topping up your balance, you’ll also need to prepare yourself for the metaverse experience. This means creating a personal avatar and customising it. There are plenty of tools out there to help you with these steps, and part of the fun of the Metaverse is being creative and learning as you go. We’ll let you handle that part.

“Step” Into A Metaverse Casino

Once you’re ready, enter the Metaverse and head over to the metaverse casino you wish to play. From there on out, things work in largely the same way as a land-based casino, albeit in a fully virtual environment.

How to Stop Gambling in the Metaverse

The metaverse experience changes every day. New technology improves what you can do, and other tech limits things. Officially, there are many metaverse casino sites that are currently supporting a wealth of responsible gaming options. However, this isn’t that big of a surprise.

Firstly, because they run on the blockchain, metaverse gambling is considerably safer than betting at many conventional casinos. However, if metaverse gambling is going to make it into the big league, we are going to need to see ways for players to put some limits on the funds they stake.

In the current gambling world, responsible gambling tools can limit what you deposit, spend, and lose. It isn’t just your money they protect either.

Many players can limit their experience by self-excluding from the site for a bit or can use a selection of reality checks to restrict their gaming time. They can also press the nuclear button and fully block themselves for months or years at a time.

So far, cryptocurrency holders don’t quite have those options open to them. As we see more crypto casinos create custom, in-house solutions for responsible gambling tools, we’d expect those to be brought over to the metaverse gaming experience. For now, though, metaverse bettors are mostly left to their own devices when it comes to gambling responsibly.

The Future of Metaverse Gambling

We have no doubt that metaverse casinos are going to become more popular. The Metaverse, in general, looks set to give conventional social media a run for its money at the very least. As touched on at the beginning of this metaverse gambling article – wherever there is competition, there is gambling. We have no doubt that gambling will find a home in the Metaverse. To what extent, though, remains to be seen.

Live casino gambling is by far the most popular way to gamble on table games (blackjack, baccarat, roulette) right now. The added realism and atmosphere you get means RNG table games are left in the dust. However, a few false predictions have occurred in the past decade, too. Mobile gambling hasn’t eradicated online gambling (via your browser) as it was much hyped to do.

Similarly, cryptocurrencies have not taken over the West as many insiders thought they would. In fact, cryptos and NFTs have had a bit of a bad year. What does this mean for the metaverse gambling sector, then?

Ultimately, it is far too early to say. Wearables like VR headsets will continue to prove popular. People will play games in virtual worlds with each other and meet up for events with their company. There will be a wealth of content and possibilities for metaverse users, and there will be organisations that launch gambling projects and casinos.

However, casinos seldom tend to remain unregulated for long. Even if Bitcoin (or other currencies) were to go on to dominate the betting world and smart contracts become the norm, the rules regarding gambling in modern countries could change before metaverse gambling truly kicks off.

Is it possible to land your next big win in the Metaverse? Absolutely. But if there is one thing that has been true of gambling going back to the ancient Egyptians, it is that gambling is unpredictable. What’s next for digital gambling? We’ll sit on the fence for now and wait and see.

The Metaverse is new, it is expanding, and it is complicated. Understandably, you may still have a lot of questions about metaverse and metaverse gambling in general. If this is the case, allow us to assist you with a brief FAQ (frequently asked questions) guide.

The Best Metaverse Casino Alternatives

So far, metaverse casinos have had limited popularity, but this may change in the near future as more people begin to explore this topic. If this topic seems too abstract for you, you can always try out some of the best Metaverse casino alternatives, such as real money online casinos, social gambling games, or sweepstakes.

Online Casinos

Online casinos are the closest thing to metaverse casinos that currently exist. They are properly licenced to operate and usually offer a wide range of popular casino games that you can play for real money, including slots, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and poker. You can also try online casinos that accept bitcoin and other crypto payments. See more details below.

Social Gambling Games

Social gambling games are casino-style games that you can play for free with your friends on social media platforms such as Facebook. Some of the most popular social gambling games are Slotomania, myVegas Slots, and Zynga Poker.

Sweepstakes

Other types of gambling include sweepstakes. The prizes on offer can range from cash to cars and vacations. Some companies usually run them to promote their products or services.

Gambling in the Metaverse FAQ

What exactly is Metaverse?

The term “Metaverse” was introduced by science fiction author Neal Stephenson in his novel Snow Crash. Today it is known as a three-dimensional (3D) virtual world in which people can interact with each other.

Are metaverse casinos safe and secure?

Metaverse casinos are just as safe and secure as conventional crypto-accepting gambling sites that run on Ethereum’s blockchain. The use of smart contracts makes decentralised crypto gambling in the Metaverse even more secure than many conventional casino sites.

Can I obtain customer support at a metaverse casino?

It is possible to obtain technical support from metaverse casinos. The exact nature of the support you receive will vary from venue to venue. This is no different than most regular online casinos, though.

How do Metaverse casinos differ from traditional casinos?

The primary difference between a metaverse casino and a traditional casino is that the former exists in cyberspace, whereas the latter exists in meatspace (the physical world). It means that you can access a metaverse casino from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. It also implies that the casino can take any shape or form imaginable. In other words, it’s not constrained by the laws of physics. So, a metaverse casino could be a space station, an underwater city, or even a floating island in the sky that utilises digital environments through avatars and virtual reality for immersion.

How are metaverse casinos faring so far?

One of the more successful metaverse casinos, ICE Poker, managed to raise the equivalent of $7.5 million in its first three months. We’d say that this is pretty successful for a new venture and potentially a sign of things to come.

Who owns metaverse casinos?

Many metaverse casinos aren’t owned but overseen by non-profit communities, organisations, and foundations. Of course, there is nothing to stop some metaverse casinos from being privately owned.

How do you gamble in a metaverse casino?

As you walk around the casino, you can pick any game you want to play. You’ll then be taken straight into the action. NFTs aren’t just currency. They can even be wearables in the Metaverse, which opens all sorts of possibilities.

What impact do metaverse casinos have on the economy?

At the moment, their impact on the economy is negligible. They haven’t taken a massive chunk out of the online or land-based gambling sectors. That could change in the future, though, as metaverse bettors will likely come from one (or both) of those markets. Of course, cryptocurrencies and NFTs do have an impact on the economy and the environment, but that’s another issue.

Where are metaverse casinos physically located?

Each metaverse casino may be located somewhere totally different from its counterparts. However, the casinos in Decentraland virtual world (for example) are built and maintained on Ethereum’s blockchain.