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Basics of Secure Gaming for Your Live Dealer Casino

Live dealer casinos have enjoyed an incredible surge in popularity over the past few years. Recent developments in technology have paved the way for operators to be able to provide fully immersive, highly engaging live casino experiences. Players can enjoy a number of different classic casino titles, with all the atmosphere and excitement of a real casino from the comfort of their own home.

However, as with any kind of online service, you must be able to ensure that the experience you are providing is safe and secure for your customers. For live dealer casinos, this is even more important. Establishing a secure gaming environment is absolutely paramount; it can work to create positive brand reputation and will encourage players to return to your live dealer tables in the future.

If you’re looking to introduce a live dealer casino to your online platform, you need to know how to protect your players and provide a safe gaming environment. We’ve put together a guide with some of the most important factors you need to consider. Check it out below.

Payment Methods

In order for your customers to play and spend money at your live dealer casino, you will need to offer them a range of payment methods through which they can deposit money into their accounts and hit the tables.

Providing players with a range of methods is the best to guarantee that they can deposit their money safely and securely. Offer options including debit card, credit card, mobile payments, and bank transfers. Make sure to include e-wallet options as well, these can offer improved player safety measures.

Software Systems

While live dealer casinos offer players the social benefits of a real casino experience, they rely on modern, cutting-edge software to deliver this service.

This software must be secure and able to deliver a safe and fair gaming experience to users. It must always adhere to fair play standards and will be regularly audited to ensure that it does. Live dealer software must be able to read game actions and outcomes accurately while securely processing things like wagers and pay outs.

Cloud Storage

Live dealer casinos need to handle large volumes of data, including game system and player information. Cloud servers and storage are used to ensure this data is handled and processed quickly and efficiently.

These can often prove to be weak points in a security system, so these cloud servers should always be encrypted with the most advanced security measures to keep them secure from hackers or cyber criminals.

Identity Verification

For any online service, correctly identifying user identity is vital. This is especially important for gambling operators, where customer accounts contain sensitive personal and financial information.

Identity verification procedures are crucial for operators to confirm that the correct account holders are accessing accounts, and that new players registering are of the legal gambling age. Processes for verifying identity are becoming more and more advanced, we’re seeing increased of biometric measures including facial or fingerprint recognition technology.

Equipment

Unlike other forms of online gambling, live dealer casinos make use of physical equipment on their gaming tables. These can include things like roulette wheels, cards, and dice.

In the UK, the Gambling Commission requires that all casino equipment be of commercial quality and needs to receive regular integrity monitoring to ensure it meets the required standards. These checks include things like how roulette wheels spin and how decks of cards are shuffled and are designed to guarantee fair play standards are met.

Equipment must be securely stored away when not in use, to prevent any unauthorised persons from accessing it.

Staff Training

Much like traditional casinos, live dealer casinos make use of staff including dealers and croupiers to deliver games at the tables and provide an entertaining and engaging experience for the players.

These employees must be given extensive and comprehensive training to guarantee that they are providing a fair and secure gaming experience for players. They must be able to operate all equipment and gaming machines in accordance with fair play regulations. Failure to do so can seriously harm your brand’s reputation and even result in regulatory action. Training should be ongoing with employee progress carefully monitored and logged for future reference.

Additionally, live dealer casinos must have video surveillance systems in place to ensure all staff are acting in a fair and reputable manner.

Conclusion

When running a live dealer casino service, ensure your games are secure, safe, and fair is absolutely paramount. Players should feel comfortable and at ease when enjoying your games. If they perceive your service as being unsafe or unfair this can have serious implications for your brand. Follow the tips we’ve outline above and guarantee that you are providing a secure gaming experience for your players.

Online Live Dealer Casino Trends That Will Define 2023

Live dealer casinos are just the latest in a long line of tech trends that stand to make online gambling an elevated experience, but there is more to come in the coming years. Live dealer casino gambling is about to go through a lot of fun changes, all of which you can use to create an elevated customer experience at your casino. Take a look at the various trends we expect to see in the coming months for live dealer casinos.

Online gambling expansion in the US

The dissolving of the United States’ Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act by the Supreme Court opened the doors for casinos all over the country. Online gambling could now be decided on a state level, and a lot of states welcomed the idea. Now 30 states have legal sports betting but only 21 have legalised online betting. But the battle isn’t over yet. There are still plenty of bills to be put through that might eventually legalise online betting. If you think the market is exploding right now, expect big things from 2023.

The live dealer casino will expand

With it, live dealer casino games are expected to gain traction. Right now, they are the little something extra added to a catalogue of slot machines, but as the industry expands and tastes change, live dealer casinos are expected to be the next big thing that is why customers come to the online casino.

An uptake in VR experiences

Part of the appeal of live dealer online casinos is the immersive experience and it’s clearly a concept that customers respond to because there has been a distinct uptake in people accessing online casinos via virtual reality headsets. Virtual reality is still very much for the gamers, and that includes casino players. The combination of a gaming headset and an online casino game format that focuses on immersion is sure to be a bestselling partnership. And the best part is that game developers and casino operators barely have to do anything. A lot of VR headsets are operated from a smartphone via a smartphone screen. So, a game optimised for a smartphone is a game optimised for a VR headset.

Wearables will take off

Along the same lines, there are also a lot of people accessing their favourite games via wearable smart tech: namely, smart watches. If your watches can do everything your phone can, it was only a matter of time before customers found that they didn’t even need their phone to enjoy their favourite games. In order to keep up with this trend, however, games might have to be created with smartwatch optimisation in mind on top of smartphone optimisation. Different controls and a smaller screen should be kept in mind while creating them.

NFTs as prizes

It’s no secret that cryptocurrency is gaining momentum as governments either embrace or regulate the system. Either way it points to more people using digital assets, and online casinos are the pioneers of where they can use them. But can they also gain digital assets? We foresee bonuses in the future involving valuable NFTs and other digital assets as an impressive and forward-thinking change to the usual free spins or expensive electronics.

Better chatroom experiences

The thing that really sets live dealer games apart from slot machines and table games is the community aspect. Playing online casino games can be isolating when they are missing the social element, which live dealer casinos can offer. Chatrooms are a big part of this and they allow bingo rooms to become a social game again when playing online, but they are also a big element of live dealer table games, where players can interact with other players at the table. As live dealer games continue to improve, no doubt this element will improve with it, attracting more players not just with the games and the winnings but the chance to play with others.

Expanding table games

There are a lot of classic casino table games out there, but criminally few options found on online casinos. The thing that’s going to make online casinos stand out is to offer something more than just blackjack and roulette. VIVO Gaming offers more niche but still well-known classic table games like baccarat, dragon tiger, sic bo, andar bahar and teen patti. Not only will these games impress if they are a part of your table game selection, but they especially impress if they are included in your live dealer casino game options, attracting customers from all around the world or who simply want to try something new.

Why you need Sic Bo and Teen Patti in your online casino

If you’re thinking about opening your own online casino, or are already running one, no doubt it’s full of the usual suspects: slot machines, poker tables, blackjack, roulette. But what if you wanted something a little different? Is there anything out there that still fits the bill of a classic casino table game, but is not the same old, same old, that is in every other online casino? Well, it turns out there are a couple of options that fit that description to a T: sic bo and teen patti. Both are classics casino table games, but they haven’t had the same exposure that the likes of poker and blackjack have enjoyed. And yet, they’re immensely popular. Read on to see our explanations for why sic bo and teen patti are a great addition to any online casino.

What is Sic Bo?

Sic bo goes by many names, including “tai sai”, “dai siu”, “big and small” and “hi-lo”. The point of the game is to guess the combination of three dice in a chest. The dealer shakes up the chest, players make their bet, and the chest is opened to reveal the winner. It’s comparable to craps in its many betting options that range in odds for bigger wins. Betting options include specific numbers, combinations, odd or even numbers, doubles, or triples and more.

Sic Bo is popular in the Asian market

Although there are English-origin variants like grand hazard and chuck-a-luck, sic bo is of Chinese origin. By that mention alone casino operators should get excited. Even with China’s strict ban on gambling, there is a huge market to take advantage of. Sic bo gained popularity when Chinese immigrants introduced it to the new world, where it is still popular. If you’re opening or operating an online casino, sic bo is a great addition to your repertoire of online casino table game options that will appeal to a demographic that you perhaps haven’t tapped into yet.

What is Teen Patti?

Teen patti is an Indian take on the English game three-card brag that is highly popular in South Asia. The idea, much like with poker, is to create a combination of cards that is the highest ranking of all the players at the table. Whoever has the best hand wins the pot.

Teen Patti is popular in the Indian market

As mentioned, teen patti originated in India, and is still popular there today, but it’s easy to see why a western audience might pick up on it. The similarities to poker go further than the summary given above, and western audiences might be intrigued enough by the idea of a new challenge to try it out.

Even if they aren’t, Indian populations are high across the western world, especially in the US and UK. Appealing to this vast population that is known to appreciate a good game is a good way to expand the demographic of your players and grow as a casino.

They’re both popular in the West

But the best thing about both sic bo and teen patti is that appealing to one audience with these games doesn’t mean alienating another audience. Both of these games have western variants. The English have grand hazard to the Chinese sic bo, and teen patti has been compared favourably to poker, which is obviously a huge hit in the western world.

Adding sic bo and teen patti to a western-targeted online casino isn’t about to be seen as a negative by the audience. In fact, they are likely to appreciate the variation on games they’ve probably known their whole lives. You could find a lot of your existing players are excited to try something new but familiar.

But still niche

However, that’s not to say that sic bo and teen patti are common. They’re both likely to be seen by a western audience as the foreign alternative they have to try and are quick to love. Something that elevates the casino experience.

Global appeal

But the truth of the matter is that with the right licenses, an online casino can be a global company. You could have players from all over the world visiting your online casino and sic bo and teen patti would be just the way to get there. If you’re looking to expand, you can add sic bo and teen patti to your choice of games for a chance to grow your appeal globally and gain more players.

Compliance Issues for Live Dealer Casinos

The online gambling industry has boomed in recent years. New developments in technology have allowed online operators and providers to offer players far more engaging and enjoyable experiences, with better performance, more features, and improved visuals. However, for some players iGaming just doesn’t have the same magic as gambling in person does. It can seem slightly cold and automated, lacking the social aspect and sense of camaraderie you would expect at a real table. The rise of the live dealer casinos has promised to bridge this gap and offer these players an immersive, realistic gaming experience without forgoing the benefits of remote, digital technology.

However, like all types of gambling, live dealer casinos are subject to compliance rules and regulations. Let’s take a look at some of these in more detail.

What is a live dealer casino?

A live dealer casino is an online emulation of a real-life table game that is designed to offer players the most realistic and immersive possible gaming experience. Live dealer casinos will feature a real-life dealer operating a casino game, much like you’d see in a real casino. Blackjack and roulette are the most commonly seen live dealer games, but the format is branching out into other games including baccarat, sic bo and teen patti.

These games are streamed live to an audience of remote players who can place wagers just as if they were physically sitting at the table. Live dealer games also offer social interaction opportunities, with players able to communicate with the dealer and other players at the table.

While live dealer casinos will obviously need approval from the relevant authorities to run, they are also subject to numerous rules and regulations regarding their particular operation as well.

Casino Equipment

Live dealer casinos operate in an area somewhere between online gambling and traditional casinos, and as a result they are expected to comply with regulatory requirements from both sectors.

Much like their physical counterparts, live dealer casinos make use of casino gaming equipment such as cards and roulette wheels. Rules set out by the Gambling Commission in the UK stipulate that this casino equipment must be of commercial quality and should undergo regular integrity monitoring by a dedicated team of staff. This monitoring can include fair operation checks such as how cards are shuffled, or roulette wheels spun.

Gambling machines, equipment and consumables must be installed correctly and stored in secure areas to prevent any unauthorized person from gaining access to it.

Staff Training

Another characteristic that live dealer casinos share with physical casinos and one that sets them apart from other types of online gambling is the use of live members of staff to operate their games.

Staff, including dealers and croupiers, must undergo extensive training to ensure they are operating gaming machines fairly and in accordance with game rules and established regulatory procedures. Evidence of initial and ongoing training should be recorded for posterity.

Furthermore, there should be procedures in place whereby live casino staff can observe dealers and croupiers as they operate gaming tables to guarantee integrity and fair play. Live casinos must have video surveillance systems in place to record dealer activity and ensure everything is above board.

Software Integrity

Where live dealer casinos differ from their traditional counterparts is through the use of software to facilitate their games and allow for player interaction.

This software must be secure and adhere to fair play standards at all times. It must be able to read game outcomes accurately and efficiently before performing functions such as wager acceptance and player payouts. Live dealer casino software is regularly audited to ensure it is performing correctly and providing a fair gaming experience for players.

Identity Verification

All online gambling businesses, including live dealer casinos, are required to verify the identity of players before allowing them to place bets. This is done to confirm that players are of the legal gambling age and to check whether that player has self-excluded in the past.

Processes for verifying identity are becoming more sophisticated and can usually be done instantly. We’re seeing an increase in the use of biometric verification methods such as facial or fingerprint recognition technology.

Performance Monitoring

Generally, performance monitoring is used for random number generation (RNG) software to ensure it is performing correctly and fairly. However, regulators maintain that performance monitoring is still useful for live dealer casinos and that they should be measuring and logging results distribution or time to check for acceptable levels of randomness.

Conclusion

Live dealer casinos are becoming more and more popular with players, as they realise the unique benefits they can offer over other forms of online gambling. However, they toe a fine line between the physical and virtual gambling sectors and, as such, are subject to a raft of compliance measures from both sides of the industry. What this means for the player is a guaranteed fair and safe gaming experience. To learn more about compliance issues, contact us today.

How can you benefit from adding sports betting to your casino?

The online gambling industry has boomed in recent years. Fuelled in part by technological developments and optimised mobile devices, and by increasing legalisation and regulation in global jurisdictions, online casinos have flourished and now account for the largest sector in the overall gambling industry. While online table and slots games are as popular as ever, more and more casinos have begun to integrate sports betting services with their platforms. Sports betting is one of the oldest and most popular forms of gambling and there are a number of ways that you can benefit from adding sports betting to your casino. Read on to find out more.

New Markets and Demographics

Successfully identifying and targeting the right markets and customer demographics is essential for the success of any modern business. Casinos are no exception, they must be able to effectively appeal to their intended markets to attract and retain customers and players.

To do so, many casinos take a open, general approach. By offering players a wide selection of games with various themes, styles, formats, and prizes, they hope to attract a broad audience made up of players from all walks of life. On the other hand, some casinos use a more specialised method. For example, some may focus on live dealer casino games in an attempt to attract players who are looking for realistic immersive gaming experiences, while some will focus on slots to attract slots fans.

If you choose to add sports betting services to your casino, you will give yourself the opportunity to attract an entire new market to your platform. Much like some slots players will not bet on sports, many sports bettors will not wager on other types of gambling. Adding sports betting will drive traffic to your casino and will help you see greater profits and revenues.

Special Events and Occasions

Almost every global sport revolves around a few major events, with smaller events and tournaments held throughout the rest of the year. Some of the obvious examples include the World Cup, the Six Nations, the Superbowl, and Wimbledon.

These events can offer unique opportunities for your casino. Marketing strategies can be tailored and optimised to reflect ongoing or upcoming sporting events, which can help attract players looking to wager on the event to your casino.

Tournaments like the World Cup are major global events and offer a range of opportunities for casinos. The tournament will attract both new and regular gamblers, so ensure your marketing and advertising campaigns are focused on targeting these demographics.

Exclusive Promos and Offers

Choosing to add sports betting to your online casino will also give you the opportunity to implement unique promotions, offers, and bonuses for customers.

Welcome offers such as free bets can work to attract new customers, while reward and loyalty systems can help you retain the players you already have. Seasonal promotions that run concurrently to sporting seasons can work to ensure customers return to your platform for each game, while special offers to celebrate major events are effective at driving new business.

While it’s important to include major sports like football, tennis, and horse racing, running markets on niche or specialised sports can be a good way to set yourself apart from the competition and attract customers from outside of the mainstream sports teams and leagues.

It’s Only Going to Get Bigger

The sports betting industry is already enormous, so it may come as a surprise to learn that it is only expected to get bigger in the near future. In 2018, the US Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on sports betting, which opened the floodgates and allowed the industry to expand all over the country.

More and more states are continuing to legalise sports betting after realising the benefits for the economy and employment rates that it can offer, resulting in exponential growth for the industry as a whole. Previously only allowed in Nevada, sports betting is now seeing widespread acceptance across the US and is attracting more players than ever before.

To take advantage of this burgeoning industry you should strive to add sports betting services to your casino. It is one of the most effective ways to maximise your business and boost your profits.

Conclusion

While sports betting has always been a popular form of gambling, the industry is subject to much media attention currently due to its rapid expansion in the US. The sector is expected to see continued growth as more states legalise the activity.

Adding sports betting to your casino will offer your business a range of benefits. It will give you access to new, untapped markets and demographics, will allow you to take advantage of major global sporting events and occasions, and can help you boost profits through the implementation of unique promos, offers, and bonuses. 

Best Software to Use for Your Live Dealer Casino

If you’re looking to expand your iGaming catalogue, you might want to look into a live dealer casino. The live dealer casino format allows players to enjoy a classic casino game directly from the casino. The dealers are streamed in from their land-based casino straight to the players’ phone or laptop, allowing them an immersive experience that the typical online slot machines and table games do not allow for.

But the more technology advances, the more it finds problems. How do you ensure that you are going in with a live dealer casino provider that will do the job and do it well for years to come? Well, that all starts with the tech behind the live dealer casino. Take a look at our tech solutions that make VIVO Gaming software the superior option.

What are the benefits of a live dealer casino?

Live dealer casinos are a great way to expand your gaming options in your online casino. The classic table games are something that will never go out of style, and live dealer casinos are perfect for bridging the gap between online and land-based gaming. The elements that customers miss from the land-based casino playing, such as the social aspect and the immersive experience, are available on with live dealer casinos.

But in order to do it right, there are elements to the VIVO Gaming software that will make sure that it runs well and easily. Take a look at the features of the VIVO Gaming software that allow it to be the superior option for live dealer casinos.

Data Feed API

VIVO Gaming’s data feed interface is designed to work without the need of any extra technologies for an exceedingly simple interface that is controlled from one place. Stay organised as you control multiple studio locations from the one place. Integrate our API with your own interface, which will allow you to offer VIVO table games in your brand. The data feed API is created to offer as little distinction between VIVO games and your brand as possible, so that the games and the API is seamlessly integrated into your brand. This will allow you more freedom to expand your library or develop your live games further.

VLB InResort

Blackjack and poker are fairly similar in practicalities. You have a dealer controlling the cards at a table while the player dictates the actions they want to make. However, roulette is a whole different kettle of fish. The wheel, the player rolling the dice, it all requires a bit of rejigging to get into the live dealer casino format.

VIVO VLB InResort allows you to integrate roulette into your catalogue with an easy-to-implement solution. Connect phones, tablets, smart TVs and even cruise ship infrastructure to a feed that expands across the entire casino floor. Give your players more gaming choices with dedicated tables, higher immersion, and tables that are personalised to the player or localised to dedicated tables.

Land-based office and retail

But if you thought VIVO Gaming forgot about the land-based casinos of the world, you’re wrong. VIVO Gaming understands the intricacies and different circumstances of live dealer casinos and land-based casinos and strives to meet all needs.

In fact, VIVO Gaming allows you a best of both worlds situation, where you can connect your existing land-based casinos seamlessly with a live dealer casino. The VIVO Gaming’s VLB InResort solution to allow your players in your retail stores to access live table games, giving your customers multiple ways to enjoy their favourite table games and allowing you to expand your gaming catalogue. Maybe you simply don’t have the space for three table games, but you have the space for a flat screen TV in a communal area. You have seamlessly integrated retail and live dealer casino gaming for an easy solution.

Back office

The best solution VIVO Gaming has from an operator’s perspective, however, is its stellar one stop management system. The platform can be accessed from any device and is ready with a range of tools to make managing various live dealer casinos as easy as possible, including real time monitoring and notifications from the system to make sure every problem is solved before it becomes an issue.

White label

Grow your presence online with the VIVO Gaming white label solution. Promote your live dealer casino with a fully customizable and bespoke white label – which you will own – complete with mobile optimization and language support for your international players. Use data analytics and visual player reports to understand the activity on your platform, and if you’re lost, you can always contact VIVO Gaming for standby support as you need it.

Opportunities for Online Casino Operators in LATAM 2022​

Latin America is an untapped market when it comes to iGaming, and it’s a market that has a lot of potential. There are an increasing number of sportbooks and online casino operators opening up every year in an area that shares a culture that involves an appreciation for gambling. Mobile gambling is especially popular nowadays, as it is the world over. A majority of Latinx residents use mobile internet access as their primary, or even sole form of accessing the internet. Slots, bingo, and poker are all very popular and of course they’re not about to hide their love of sports by avoiding sports betting. So, the potential for development is definitely there in these countries.

So what countries are we talking about? What countries are more susceptible to the impact of the gambling industry? What ones are ripe for the picking for a new iGaming business to infiltrate? We explore in this guide.

Argentina

Argentina has the 3rd largest economy in all of Latin America, with a population of around 50 million permanently living there. That is a large market that is likely to reward you with a return on investment.

More than 15 of Argentina’s provinces have legalised online gambling, giving you a boost over a few other Latin American countries. However, the regulation might hold you back. Argentina’s regulation is done province by province rather than on a national scale, which means adhering to 15 different set of rules and residents need a permit to gamble.

Belize

Belize is an English-speaking area, making basic business operations a lot easier than in other countries and making it appealing to US, Canadian and European investors. Gambling in Belize is regulated by the Gambling Control Commission, with a license fee of a relatively good $10,000, making it attractive to offshore companies and real world and online casino operators looking to open a physical location.

Brazil

Brazil’s love of soccer is no secret, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Brazilian sports fans, making it a prime location for any online casino operators looking to open a sports book. With that in mind, it will be no surprise to say that Brazil is the biggest gambling market in Latin America. A population of over 200 million, half of them with mobile access, plus a passion for soccer, makes for a great location to start an iGaming endeavour.

Colombia

Colombia is right behind Argentina as the 4th biggest economy but it really makes its mark as one of the largest gambling markets in Latin America. All types of gambling is legal in Colombia, making for a population that roughly 60% of which are involved with or interested in gambling. With a population of 50 million, that’s a large market to infiltrated. But get in there fast because the market is developing quickly, and with online, real world and sports betting all legal, there is a lot of opportunity here.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is an interesting option for online casino operators due to its unique approach to licensing. It is a hub for foreign online casino operators due to its approach of foreign companies offering Costa Rica citizens a “data processing” license, making Costa Rica one of the biggest offshore regulators in the world.

However, offline casino gambling isn’t easy for the typical Costa Rican. Land-based casinos are few and far between, and they can be limited to only a few table games and slot machines. Maybe this is an opportunity to expand?

Mexico

Mexico is right behind Brazil as the second biggest economy in Latin America and with a population of 120 million, the gambling market is thriving, bringing in $300 million in revenue every year.

Sports and table games are both very popular here. Baccarat and blackjack in particular are a big hit in Mexico, as is, famously like Brazil, soccer and boxing. But its regulations are mixed across regions. Just about everything has a nuance to its regulations, like poker being only allowed in physical casinos and fantasy sports allowed but not written into legislation. Every form of gambling is prohibited, but with legal go-arounds in every instance.  

Panama

Panama has a long history of loving gambling right down to the legislation. Since 1941 the gambling industry has been legalized and the State Council for the Control of Games was created.

What might put off online casino operators is the cost of a license. $50,000 is arguably valuable or not, depending on what you think of the lack of tax for online casino operators targeting foreigners and the fact that the authorities lack of oversight has tarnished the market’s reputation.

A Guide to Live Dealer Casino Games for start-ups

Live dealer casinos can be hugely beneficial to an online casino. Your catalogue of games will expand with an injection of games that put the thrill and the human experience back into online casino gaming. Take a look at our suggestions to see how live dealer casino games can aid your online casino start-up.

What is a live dealer casino?

A live dealer casino is a variation on the online casino table game experience. Rather than playing at a programmed table that is virtual from the ground up, a dealer is standing at a casino table and being live streamed to your phone or laptop. A real person is dealing you in, controlling the game, and offering a friendly experience while you play through the power of livestreaming. They can come in a lot of classic casino game forms, like poker, blackjack, craps and roulette, as well as a few new additions to the casino.

A new experience

Technology today can do a lot of wonderful things. Wearables are informing the health industry, smart tech is revolutionising our homes, and games of all kinds are aiming for as much of an immersive experience as possible. Online casinos are no different and the obvious next step in technology for online casinos is the live dealer casino. Whether you’re accessing the live dealer casino via your phone or going full immersive with a VR headset, you are instantly transported to the casino. A real casino, with a real dealer, at a real table, giving the player a real casino experience.

This is a great way to elevate your iGaming brand above all the various slot machine casinos to offer the player something more than the online casino experience that has been the standard for years now.

A social element

One thing that online casinos have been missing since their inception is the community feeling. Online casino gaming is typically a solitary activity, sitting alone at the computer while you play, but live dealer casinos offer players a chance to inject some more of that fun that makes the real world casino so enticing. Casinos are part of the party scene, and what is a party without guests?

Live dealer casinos allow players to have someone to play with since a live dealer is available to play with you, but there are also the other people at the table to consider. If the game is advanced enough with the right features, you can incorporate a chat or a livestream so that the players at the table can all communicate.

The social element is one of the main reasons that people might still favour the land based casino over the online equivalent, but live dealer casinos allow the player to play online and still keep that social aspect. It makes for a gap in your online casino getting effectively filled.

A unique experience every time

The nature of the live dealer casino being streamed straight to the player means that no two games of poker, baccarat, blackjack, or anything else, are going to be the same. There is the thought with automated games that there is no human interaction element so you journey is predetermined.

With live dealer casinos, there is an extra thrill in wondering what could possibly happen again with the human element put back into the game. Your players will not have an automated experience they might suspect has occurred plenty of times before, but instead will enjoy the excitement they get from the real world casinos streamed straight to them.

More trust in the brand

Because of this automated nature in online games a little trust and loyalty might be lost from your customers who perhaps wonder if online games, like claw machines are setting them up to fail. Whether there is any truth in that or not, live dealer games are a good way to regain trust from the player. There is nothing programmed beyond the camera pointed at the dealer, so there isn’t any room for playing with the chances of winning. Your odds are as much as they would be in any land-based casino.

The industry as a whole lives by the phrase “The house always wins” and in a capitalist, digital, world your customers are bound to be a little cynical about their chances of winning. You can improve your brand loyalty and trust from your customers with a live dealer casino alternative.

It offers something else

The best online casinos offer variety first and foremost. It is why most online casinos boast on their homepage about their thousands of online slot machines and the different games they offer. Live dealer casinos offer you yet another form of playing to add to your catalogue with variations of many different games within the concept itself. Your casino is sure to rise above the rest in an overcrowded market with the use of live dealer casinos.

European roulette vs American roulette: What’s best for your casino?

Roulette is one of the oldest casino games that is still played today, and it remains as one of the most popular games in casinos and on online gambling platforms across the globe. After first appearing in Europe approximately 400 years ago, the game has seen numerous iterations, tweaks, and adjustments to its rules and systems, however, the core of the game has always remained the same. For a game that has been around for four centuries, its to be expected and entirely natural that new versions will appear, branch off, and develop independently, giving rise to new forms and ways to play the game. From double ball to triple ball roulette, rapid roulette to mini roulette, each version offers slightly different systems of play and ways to win. In this article we’ll be discussing and comparing the two most popular versions of the game – European roulette vs American roulette, and asking which is the best for your casino.

The History of American Roulette

According to the history books, roulette was first brought to the US by settlers from Europe who arrived in the state of Louisiana in the early 1800s. Casino operators in New Orleans soon took notice of this exotic new European game, installing it at their venues to attract interested guests and players. However, they soon came to realize that roulette offered players a higher chance of winning than they were used to. This wasn’t good enough in the eyes of these southern casino proprietors, and the standard form of roulette was soon sidelined in favor of more house-friendly games.

However, the casino owners soon devised a way to turn the roulette odds back in their favor. By simply adding a second zero to the wheel they made a significant improvement to the house edge and made the game much more financially lucrative for themselves. The new American roulette was met with incredible success as it was rolled out across US casinos, and the game continues to be one of the most popular at casinos to this day.

How Does it Compare to European Roulette?

The difference between European and American roulette is subtle but makes all the difference for both players and casino operators alike.

For players of the standard European version of the game, they will be playing against a modest house edge of 2.7%. However, through the addition of that second zero and making an extra notch on the wheel, American roulette bumps up the house edge considerably, from 2.7% to 5.26%. This difference means that, in American roulette, your odds of landing a chosen number are one in 38 times, compared to one in 37 times on a European roulette wheel.

Additionally, European roulette offers players a feature called En Prison. With En Prison, wagers on the even money bets 1-18, 19-36, Red, Black, Odd, or Even, will remain in place should the ball land on zero. This does not happen in American roulette, where players would lose their bet even if it placed on an even money option. 

Furthermore, American roulette offers players what is known as a Five Number Bet, which is the name for a bet that covers numbers one, two, and three, as well as both zeros. On the surface, this may seem like an attractive option for players at the table, with potential payout odds of six to one. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that the Five Number Bet is not as profitable as it may seem, with a significant house edge of 7.9%.

Which Version of Roulette is Better for Your Casino?

When it comes down to deciding whether European roulette or American roulette is better for your casino, a number of factors must be taken into consideration. While the American iteration promises greater returns for the house due to the increased edge from its extra zero, players could potentially grow tired of winning fewer spins, choosing to focus on other games or even stopping entirely.

Deciding which version to choose for your casino is a careful balancing act. By offering the reduced house edge of European roulette you may see less returns in the short term, but revenue may increase in the long term as players are encouraged by their increased chances of winning, playing for longer and returning to the table in the future.

Conclusion

Roulette has been and continues to be one of the most popular casino games worldwide. Its historical reputation and place in popular culture have made it synonymous with the casino experience. European roulette vs American roulette is a huge debate, however, they both offer subtle but unique differences that can affect player behavior and patterns of play. Despite this, players seem drawn to the wheel regardless of what version may be on offer.

The History of Live Dealer Casinos

The popularity of live dealer casinos has been steadily rising since the concept’s inception. As Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions were put into place worldwide in 2020, the format saw an explosion in player numbers. As business and leisure facilities closed their doors, including casinos, and people were forced to stay at home, many turned to the live dealer casino for a sense of normality, and to feel the excitement of the gaming table and the joy of social interaction in what were rather dark times.

The format continues to see sustained success to this day, with more and more online gambling platforms incorporating live dealer games into their product offering. But where did it all begin? Let’s take a look at the history of live dealer casinos, what they have offered the industry, and where they could be heading in the future. Keep reading to find out more.

What is a Live Dealer Casino?

Before we dive into the history of the format, it’s important we define what live dealer casinos actually are. In an effort to create a more realistic casino experience, a live dealer game features a real person operating a traditional casino game, usually things like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. These games are streamed live to an audience of remote players who are offered full wagering options as well as social interaction opportunities. These games aim to replicate and emulate real-life casinos, personalizing the online gambling experience which, for some, can often seem overly digital, distant, and even lonely.  

When Did They Begin?

The first attempt at launching a live dealer casino took place in the late 1990s. However, due to substantial limitations on technology at that time, the format failed to make any meaningful impact, as internet speeds and quality simply weren’t able to cope with the formats traffic demands and requirements.

By the mid-2000s, advancements and developments in internet technology made the format much more feasible, and early versions launched in 2006 and 2007 were met with more success than their 20th century predecessor. Despite performing better than earlier iterations, technology still wasn’t quite at the standard required, and as less bandwidth-heavy online gambling experiences, online slots and iGaming for example, grew in popularity, live dealer casinos were again left behind.

However, technology still continued to come on in leaps and bounds, and soon enough live dealer casinos were back at the fore, this time with all the power of modern graphics processing and streaming quality behind them. It seems, this time, that the format is here to stay, their presence is ubiquitous across almost all major online gambling platforms. What’s more, they look set to continue to improve and optimize their service as the technology behind them gets ever more powerful.

What do They Offer?

Modern day live dealer casinos are a slick, engaging, and highly interactive gaming experience. They have all the hallmarks of a real-life casino game with the added advantages remote digital technology offers. Players can sit at and wager on a wide range of games, socialize with dealers and other players, and generally soak in and enjoy the atmosphere, all from the comfort of their homes.

Many live dealer casinos offer far higher bet limits than digital counterparts, while players often cite a preference for live games due to perceived feelings of greater fairness and legitimacy, playing against real dealers and other players rather than a faceless, digital algorithm.

The range of games available in live format continues to expand. No longer are players limited to casino staples like blackjack or roulette, they now have the option to play an array of different games, including dice games, poker, bingo, and lottery games.

What Does the Future Hold?

Live dealer games are built on technology and couldn’t exist without it. As this technology continues to develop, so too will live casinos, further improving and optimizing the services they offer.

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are two emerging technologies that some believe will revolutionize live dealer casinos.  By integrating AR or VR systems with their games, live casinos will be able to significantly improve how realistic and immersive their games are, making for a far more engaging and thrilling player experience.

Conclusion

Online gambling, once thought to be a passing fad reserved only for stay-at-home computer anoraks, has turned the industry on its head, and now accounts for the largest sector in the wider
gambling industry.

Technological progress has given rise to the live dealer casino, an immersive, interactive emulation of a physical casino, allowing players to enjoy the social aspects of gambling from the comfort of their own homes. The format is seeing continuing success and, as technology and expertise develop further, we can expect to see more in the future.