The Wild World of Live Streamed Casino Games

Online casino games are no longer just digital representations of table games played on a device. They can now be streamed in real time, using technology that facilitates interactivity and social concepts of play.

Most people assume game streaming takes place on Twitch or Kick, and that it involves popular console games or PC co-op games. Yet it is not the case. Live casino games have been streamed for some time, and in the modern age, they have a level of interactivity unseen elsewhere. This has turned many of them into hybrid gameshows, far beyond what has even been imaginable in the hallowed halls of the casino.

What Is a Live Casino Game?

When you play a casino game, it is usually a digital representation of a real casino. This is realised on screen through graphics, and the outcome uses a random number generator to determine what cards are dealt, where dice land or where balls fall on the roulette wheel. This is not the case with live casino games.

Instead, they are overseen by a real croupier in a studio. They do all the dealing and spinning of wheels, and this is then streamed to players at home, who can see the events taking place. Using the software, they can then place bets on these events, and even communicate using chat functions.

Most quality casinos now have live casino games. Joe Fortune is one casino that serves those in Australia. It has a huge range of pokies, well over 1,300. Each has a unique flavour, from classic three-reel affairs to ones with complex hold and win or cascading reel systems, along with massive jackpots. Added to this are table games, crash and arcade-style gaming created by the world’s top developers, from Rival Gaming, RealTime Gaming and iSoftBet. Yet it also, like many, has live casino games including blackjack, roulette and baccarat.

The Types of Live Casino Games

Live casino games can be broken down into two camps. The first are those that are classic table games. They can include blackjack, roulette, and poker amongst others. Even many obscure region-based casino games have now been transferred to live formats, such as Teen Patti and Andar Bahar from the Indian subcontinent. Games can often be found in a range of adaptations and variations, like different types of poker, or with interesting side bets. Some games have even been designed to have quicker play modes, such as Lightning Roulette.

The second type is an offshoot of this. Realising how popular these live experiences were, developers began to pull away from the table game formula into gameshow territory. These types of games generally involve chance elements at the start, such as a wheel spin, which modifies the wager made. However, in certain circumstances, players get entered into a bonus round that themes the game and gives the most interest.

Take Adventures in Wonderland by Playtech. Using the imagery of the Lewis Carroll classic, people then win prizes and multipliers by following the White Rabbit and utilising the Mad Hatter. Even real-world franchises like Deal or No Deal have these games, in which people have to choose a prize box or take the banker’s offer.

The History of Live Casino Games

Live casino games have been around longer than people realise. They emerged in the nineties, when people still had dial-up internet. As a result, the technology and connection speed were just not there to facilitate this, and the concept vanished for a time. The first live poker room actually emerged in 1998 and was created by Planet Poker. Dealers would have a TV behind them showing the news, so that people could see the games were happening at that exact time and date.

With the push forward in smartphone technology and connection speeds, live casino made a comeback. Today, this is evidenced in games like Crazy Time by Evolution, a title that currently boasts 14,640 average monthly players or around 351,365 per day. For many, it is the bonus rounds that they find attractive, as a range of four different games are playable that add to people’s bets.

Table games and their variations also remain popular. Live Lightning Roulette, also by Evolution, is massive. It adds to the classic game with exciting twists and turns, including multipliers with around 500x. It has an average of 2,372 per hour and 56,938 in a day.

With so many, choosing the one that is right for you is tough. Luckily, many of these streams are viewable even without signing up to play. That gives people a chance to see how the games operate and what type of pace they are played at. This is important, as unlike digital games, you are with others, so games are generally moving at a quicker pace. Luckily, you can use casino bonuses and deposits to play, meaning you don’t have to spend your budget during the training period.