The past couple of years have been hugely exciting for the online casino industry, with operators benefiting from significant changes in the way people live their lives.
‘Stay home, stay safe’ has become a mantra that millions of people have adopted, thus creating massive opportunities for the online casino sector.
Casino firms have leveraged technology expertly to their advantage during this period by introducing innovations which have taken the gameplay experience to a whole new level.
This has included adding more live games into the mix, which closely replicates the experience of playing in a brick-and-mortar casino establishment.
But why have live casino games become so popular? We take a closer look at how they work, the technology that powers them and why players love live games.
Introducing live casino games
Online casinos traditionally feature digital variants of blackjack, roulette, and other games, each of which are powered by a random number generator.
Although these have proved to be extremely popular, the absence of the human element of going head-to-head with a dealer or croupier removes much of the skill element.
Live streaming technology has provided a solution to that issue by allowing operators to stage immersive live casino games that they broadcast online.
These effectively replicate the experience of visiting a land-based casino, but with the bonus that they remove the need to travel to such venues.
The tech behind live casinos
Many online casino operators have plowed financial resources into building studios where popular table games such as roulette and blackjack are staged.
By using video technology, optical camera recognition technology, and a game control unit (GCU), operators can live stream games directly to a player’s digital device.
Up to three cameras are used to film the action which is streamed to the play in real-time, with a camera operator overseeing the studio to resolve any technical glitches.
The incorporation of instant messaging software allows players to interact directly with the dealer or croupier, thus recreating land-based play in an online setting.
Why live casino games are so popular
As we mentioned earlier, playing traditional online casino games is great fun but lacks some of the skill elements of their land-based counterparts.
The use of a random number generator renders most popular casino strategies redundant, as the outcome for each hand or spin of the wheel is unique each time.
Live casino games have reintroduced skill back into proceedings, thus tipping the odds more in favor of the players rather than the house.
Many online casino operators now generate more than half their revenues from live games, highlighting how popular they have become with players.
