In the past few years, the popularity of live casino games has boomed, with more developers delving into the live dealer industry and more players discovering the fun of live casino. Live casino games are a unique form of online gambling where games are streamed in real-time and always feature a real-life, human dealer.
Today, live casino games have become incredibly popular, but they weren’t always so. In fact, online casino games have been around as early as 1998, but it’s only in the past 10 years or so that they’ve really picked up. The first live casino games faced several problems and a lack of response from players, mainly because games were interrupted by slow loading times and unreliable internet connections.
Let’s take a closer look at the history of live casino and how it evolved into one of the most popular types of games at any online casino today.
The Birth Throes of Live Casino: The Very First Live Platform
Planet Poker is considered to be the first real live platform in the casino industry. Launched in 1998, Planet Poker was one of the very first live poker platforms. However, slow loading times and weak internet connections meant that the games were low in quality and full of interruptions. Despite the poor quality, Planet Poker’s first attempt at a live poker game showed other operators what could be achieved with faster and more reliable internet connections.
The Next Stage in the Evolution of Live Casino
Fast forward to 2003, Playtech was the next software developer to create a live casino with a real dealer. Unfortunately, Playtech’s live casino, which offered games like baccarat in a live casino setting, also wasn’t as successful as expected. Playtech faced several issues due to slow internet connection which also disrupted the game. Internet connection around this time wasn’t as reliable and fast as it is nowadays, so Playtech’s live casino couldn’t offer a seamless streaming service without any interruptions.
Live Casino Today: Why It's One of the Most Popular Gambling Methods
The idea of live dealer games combined all the best elements of playing in a real-life casino and removed all of the downsides. Players could enjoy a similar casino atmosphere that a real casino offers, without the queues, crowds, and of course, dressing up for the part.
This unique combination of online gambling and land-based casinos was too good of an idea to let go, so operators kept working to find a better way to make live casino games work. As technology evolved and improved, operators had a lot more to work with to provide the quality of live casino games they wanted to. When smartphones were introduced along with faster and more stable internet connections, operators could offer a real-time gaming experience with high-quality video and sound and no interruptions.
Today, live casino games are a hugely popular activity in online casinos all over the globe. Let’s take a look at some of the top reasons and advantages that live dealer games offer.
Convenience
There’s no denying that live casino games offer the convenience of playing from any location and any device. You can play from the comfort of your own home without having to follow a fancy dress code and you can play from desktop or mobile.
Wide Selection of Games
Most online casinos offer a large portfolio of live games with many having up to 100 live casino titles and more. In comparison, land-based casinos are simply unable to offer the same variety of games because they’re limited in space. Typically, you can find a few selections of the most common casino games like Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, and Baccarat. On the other hand, you can find multiple variations of the same game when you play in a live casino.
The Most Interactive Online Gaming Experience
Live casino games allow you to interact with the live dealer through the live chat box which can be found on all live tables. The dealer won’t be able to see or hear you, but you can always see and hear them. You can also ask questions or write comments in the chat box and many times, the dealer will reply to you on camera.
Authentic Casino Atmosphere
Live casino games are streamed from high-end studios that are designed to look like real casinos in every way. The dealers are dressed elegantly just as they would be in a real casino and the casino equipment they use, such as the cards, tables, and Roulette wheels, are all real. Live casino games are as authentic as they can get in the online world!
Where Can You Find Live Casino Games?
Considering the huge appeal that live casino games have, you can find live casino games at any top online casino who keeps up with the latest trends in the gambling industry. Online casinos like Mr Mega offer more than 150 live dealer tables powered by the best live casino software supplier in the industry.
