Are Live Casinos Widely Adopted Throughout the igaming Industry?

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

 

In recent years, the live casino industry has boomed worldwide. Today, players can sign up to some of the biggest global gambling brands online and wager on new and classic casino games. The likes of online poker, blackjack and roulette are all readily available, as are thousands of popular slot games.

Due to the recent popularity of live casino games, players continue to look for their best games, competitions, and promotions. Betting brands also invest huge amounts in providing top-quality gaming options for customers.

But, after years of growth, is the online live casino service starting to decline? Or will it maintain its popularity in the coming years?

Live Casino History

The first live casino platforms launched in the mid-1990s. Ultimately, the early versions of online casinos revolutionised ways to play table and card games. Players could deposit real money and wager on computerised deals and hands for mostly poker. However, in the 2000s, the industry grew rapidly and more games, like slots and variations of poker and blackjack launched.

However, the early platforms for online casinos were untested and issues with load times due to poor internet and the safety of funds through unverified sites started to cause problems for customers.

Recent Popularity

But, over the last 15 years, more in-depth security procedures are required for bookmakers and bettors. In addition, the improvement of the internet and gaming software worldwide has improved the players’ playing experience.

As a result, betting sites invested heavily in their live casino sections. The aim was to provide the best selection of slots, table, and card games in one place to give players complete convenience. Also, brands started to expand their online offers to include live dealer games, spin and win selections and lotto draw games.

The appeal also grew for full-time poker players and enthusiasts. Improvements in gameplay speed, reliability on live dealers and developments in live streaming mean that some of the biggest poker tournaments worldwide are now played entirely online. Moreover, fans and spectators can watch and follow the action live without interruption.

The Future of Live Casinos

Online casinos have come a long way in just a few decades and better technology means more could come from this popular activity. Gaming experiences are likely to be improved further by the invention of virtual reality headsets, which can produce a cleaner playing option. Similarly, the use of HD cameras and high-tech streaming equipment can further live casino services moving forward.

Yet, such technology is not available for all betting providers. The significant costs for buying and producing high-quality live casino experiences are huge and may lead to a decline among some of the less established betting sites.

In addition, the tightening of regulations and licencing in the online casino space means that brands could start to offer fewer live casino experiences. Not every brand currently has a live casino option and some new companies entering the scene might put more resources towards building a sportsbook or non-live casino platform, rather than a live casino option.

Gáspár Incze is the youngest member of the team. Currently a university student, he is studying management at Babeș-Bolyai University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. Gáspár participated in several social initiatives, having volunteered as a tour guide at the Teleki Castle in the village of Gornești and currently working at ÉRTED, a Transylvanian Hungarian student initiative committed to community work, mainly in the cultural, scientific, economic, and environmental areas.