William Hill Bets On Virtual Reality Racing
William Hill bets on virtual reality racing
1 October 2015
Anyone who has been to a racecourse will know the enjoyment when the horses pound towards the surface line.
But this thrill of the trip is something that numerous customers who bet in stores or online do not experience.
Bookmaker William Hill is keen to recreate it with virtual reality innovation.
The UK's Gambling Commission stated that it would be monitoring developments such as virtual reality to ensure that they did not encourage extreme betting.
Using virtual reality headsets, combined with GPS racetrack information, it is offering consumers the opportunity to view the race from the jockey's viewpoint.
"Currently you place a bet and very little takes place in between that and the result," stated Crispin Nieboer, William Hill's director of innovation.
"We wish to bring consumers closer to the sporting action, to experience the thrill of the trip."
To test the possibilities, the group at William Hill laboratories built a 3D mock-up of Kempton Park racecourse and collected live information, through GPS trackers fitted on horses, during a training race at the course.
Combining the information developed a virtual race users can view by means of either Google Cardboard or an Oculus Rift.
The technology is not yet readily available to the public however was on show at an open day at the company's technology laboratory in Shoreditch.
Users initially pick the horse they wish to race on. Accompanied by live commentary, wearers can turn and look at other horses along with triggering an information display screen about the horse's heart rate, stride and race position.
William Hill prepares to add more courses and live races next year.
William Hill bets on virtual reality racing
1 October 2015
Anyone who has been to a racecourse will know the enjoyment when the horses pound towards the surface line.
But this thrill of the trip is something that numerous customers who bet in stores or online do not experience.
Bookmaker William Hill is keen to recreate it with virtual reality innovation.
The UK's Gambling Commission stated that it would be monitoring developments such as virtual reality to ensure that they did not encourage extreme betting.
Using virtual reality headsets, combined with GPS racetrack information, it is offering consumers the opportunity to view the race from the jockey's viewpoint.
"Currently you place a bet and very little takes place in between that and the result," stated Crispin Nieboer, William Hill's director of innovation.
"We wish to bring consumers closer to the sporting action, to experience the thrill of the trip."
To test the possibilities, the group at William Hill laboratories built a 3D mock-up of Kempton Park racecourse and collected live information, through GPS trackers fitted on horses, during a training race at the course.
Combining the information developed a virtual race users can view by means of either Google Cardboard or an Oculus Rift.
The technology is not yet readily available to the public however was on show at an open day at the company's technology laboratory in Shoreditch.
Users initially pick the horse they wish to race on. Accompanied by live commentary, wearers can turn and look at other horses along with triggering an information display screen about the horse's heart rate, stride and race position.
William Hill prepares to add more courses and live races next year.