The three flavours of live casino

July 10 2009, Staff writer

Introduction

In broad terms, live casinos can be categorized as one of 3 types...

1. those taking vision streamed from a purpose built dealer studio;

2. those taking vision streamed from an actual casino; and

3. those taking vision streamed from a television studio for broadcast on cable television as well as web.

Each offers a different gaming experience that may or may not appeal depending on your playing preferences.  Set out below are some of the key strengths and shortcomings of each of these options as we see them.

  1 - Vision from a purpose built dealer studio

Here the platform provider (or casino for proprietary offerings) builds a special purpose facility that houses the dealers, tables and cameras.  It is not a casino that patrons are able to enter.

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These facilities and the associated streaming technologies are designed to produce as realistic a casino gaming experience as possible.

Attention to detail in efforts to replicate a real casino experience are readily evident playing at some of these casinos. Vision quality, view customization functions, the ability to interact with the dealer and other players via chat facilities all enhance the overall playing experience.

Of course the above strong points are exhibited to varying degrees by different platform providers.  One of the more impressive ones is Evolution Gaming who power Unibet and VC Live.  Playing here (interface screen grab provided) you can be forgiven for feeling as though you are sitting at the blackjack table.

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While purpose built studios seek to replicate a real casino environment, the fact remains that they are not.  The hustle and bustle of a real casino environment is missing and replaced by a very well presented, some may say sterile gaming experience.

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  2 - Vision from an actual casino

Here vision is streamed from an actual terrestrial casino.  In the case at left, the casino is Dublin's Fitzwilliam Card Club and Casino streamed by Vuetec at Lucky Live Casino. 

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This is an actual casino frequented by casino gamblers.  You are playing the same games that players within the casino are playing.

Note at left the mad scramble by players at the roulette table to place their chips as last bets are called. Further, the croupier's conducting the games are casino employees.

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There are obvious limitations on the platform provider's ability to tailor the games to enhance the virtual offering.  Dealer interaction is not possible and there are limitations around the customization of camera orientation to suite viewers of the web stream.  The quality of the vision also seems to be notably inferior to vision at purpose built studios.

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  3 - Television broadcast games

Here vision is broadcast for view over both television and web-cast from a purpose built TV studio.

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The fact that the game studio and  broadcast are subject to Gambling Commission of UK regulatory and probity requirements.

While the game rules employed here are consistent with standard blackjack, baccarat and roulette, the way the games are conducted feels more like a television game show than a casino.  Consistent with this show biz theme, the casinos actually call their croupiers 'casino presenters' rather than dealers.

Other unique features include a display of winners on the screen after each bet round, and the ability (in roulette) to view bets placed by other players during the time given to place your bets.

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With regard to blackjack, the presenter deals a single hand to many viewers.  Your bet decision is reflected on the interface graphic, but not the actual table.  Player 'hit' cards are dealt into the middle of the table as shared cards assigned to participating players in accordance with standard blackjack rules.  For a more detailed discussion of television blackjack click here.

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