We are living in the era of technology, where anything can be automated, developed, and optimized. The iGaming industry is one of the sectors pushing tech progress with new solutions.
Today, we will explore how VR technologies meet iGaming and complement each other.
Daniel Gunba is the Founder and CEO of TRIION Gaming, a company specializing in creating immersive experiences specifically for the iGaming industry. In 2023, Daniel started the company in Malta and is now opening a new branch in Estonia. The original idea was to enhance all existing casino games to attract a new audience that values quality and balances traditional customers with a potential wave of advanced gaming users.
Daniel:
“I was working as a UI & UX designer and freelance photographer when I came up with the idea of a casino while sitting on the couch at my friend’s place. At that time, everybody told me that it was too hard and almost impossible to enter this industry without proper financing. Today, we are based in two countries, Malta and Estonia, and winning awards at international conferences.”
The plan was clear: we had all the pieces, VR, AI, and a basic understanding of game development. We wanted people to feel the same experience as playing in land-based casinos, where they can see each other and share experiences. Initially, we aimed to bring live dealers into virtual studios using AI and computer vision, tracking their bodies, and streaming the movements to virtual avatars. This product is extremely advanced and currently still in development. After some time, we realized that AI body tracking systems require significant development attention, so we decided to shift our focus from a tool for casinos to a tool for casino players.
Daniel:
“That was our best decision. The market was clear, and we had enough experience and knowledge to serve the industry with the right product.”
We decided to develop VR studios where we integrate existing casino games that players already love but with a new experience. Instead of clicking a browser button to spin the slot, you can now use your VR avatar to go to a slot machine, play, and see other people playing around. We call this the Land-Based iGaming Experience – Online.
To provide the best optimization and advanced mechanics, we decided to develop our studios using Unreal Engine and Blender for designing and prototyping.
Daniel:
“Fun fact: I never had experience in game development before I started learning it on the go. And my friend, who thought it was an impossible idea, is now Head of 3D Design and building studios.”
As with every startup, we began with a demo and attended every possible iGaming conference to showcase the product. After a couple of conferences, we signed our first contract, and the fun started.
