William Hill to unveil Google Cardboard VR app
Prototype of 'Get In The Race' virtual reality app to be launched at Digital Shoreditch festival as operator pledges to drive industry innovation
William Hill will today unveil a new app for Google Cardboard as it makes the first move by a major operator into the virtual reality (VR) channel.
The ‘Get In The Race’ app is currently only a prototype, but allows users to experience a 3D horse race from the perspective of a jockey.
It utilises Google Cardboard, which turns an ordinary smartphone into a basic VR device and is available for as little as £8.
The app combines the raw GPS race track data which William Hill gathers at courses with VR technology to recreate races, and allows users to navigate data and place bets by moving their eyes.
In a preview given to eGaming Review, the app appears to be well down the development line, with good functionality and extra features already implemented, such as the ability to check race data by looking down at your horse’s saddle.
The firm is weighing up a number of possibilities for the product, including installations in retail outlets.
“We don’t think the industry is doing enough when it comes to innovation,” Crispin Nieboer, director of corporate development and innovation, said.
“Get In The Race is all about the thrill of the ride and giving customers the best experience,” he added.
The app was developed by William Hill’s WH Labs Shoreditch tech hub, alongside production studio Unit9, and will be debuted at the Digital Shoreditch festival later today.