As is the case in the RNG gaming world, few casinos offering live gambling do so with an ‘in-house’ developed software solution. In most cases, the live dealer software platform and all associated services like the video feed technology, dealer studio and dealers themselves are outsourced to a third party provider. Of course, there are exceptions but in the main, the interface and dealers you find at one casino are unlikely to be exclusive to that casino.

In many aspects, your choice of live dealer casino should hinge largely on the platform provider and the attributes of its offering.

Two of the large RNG software developers, Microgaming and Playtech aggressively entered the live gaming space in the niche’s infancy.

Playtech continue as a major player in this space. As live dealer games have grown in popularity, other RNG providers like NetEnt and Pragmatic Play have added live tables to suite of games.

But this niche has largely been driven by live dealer ‘pure plays’  – organisations specialising in this technology to the exclusion of any RNG games. Evolution Gaming, Authentic Gaming and Ezugi are notable examples.

Having closely watched the development of live dealer gaming over the last decade or so, there is an observation that may be made. Early on, games from different providers were easily distinguishable. Very different looking tables, studio backgrounds, dealer uniforms, playing interfaces etc.

As leaders have emerged in the vertical, other providers have understandably sought to go with the winning formula so to speak. Stopping short of total replication, similarities in some instances are uncanny. Pragmatic Play’s recently launched baccarat tables, compared with those of Evolution Gaming are an example of this.

As a result, there is more uniformity in the games across all the providers now.

The below table takes a brief look at the different providers in live dealer gaming and what we like/dislike about their offerings.
[Note: the below are Livedealer.org editorial ratings. For casino player ratings click here]

Platform provider: We like We don’t like Licensee Casinos
Evolution
  • impressive licensee base;
  • dedicated to live dealer gaming;
  • ‘TV’ quality large video stream;
  • stream tolerant to slower connection speeds;
  • player controllable stream views;
  • browser based games;
  • large table/dealer range 24/7 (700+ studio tables);
  • massive game range
  • many in-casino tables
  • studio ambience, variety;
  • fast deal tables;
  • iPad, Android  (4.1+) enabled HTML5 games;
  • large private casino branded rooms;
  • multiple simultaneous table play;
  • full disclosure of house rules & RTP %;
  • live studio support for players (rather than being referred to casino support)
  • robust license & regulation;
  • dealers
  • no free play option
888 Live
William Hill
Unibet
Grosvenor
PartyCasino
Bwin
Betvictor
Betsson
Paf
FullTilt
PokerStars
Genting
Playtech
  • impressive licensee base;
  • size, reputation, operating history;
  • browser based games available;
  • game range – blackjack, baccarat, roulette, sicbo, dragon tiger, poker variations, baccarat variations;
  • video clarity (when working) – especially from new European dealer room;
  • studio ambience, variety;
  • platform probity and security – TST audited and compliant;
  • large table/dealer range 24/7;
  • dual platform, Euro and Asian dealer games;
  • iPad, Android (4.1+) enabled games
  • multiple simultaneous table play
  • full disclosure of house rules
  • robust license & regulation;
  • dealers
  • no free play option
bet365
William Hill
EuroGrand
PaddyPower
Betfair
BetFred
Europa
Tropez
Titan
Ladbrokes
Ezugi
  • multiple studio and in-casino streams;
  • solid UI for smaller provider;
  • full disclosure of house rules and return to player rates;
  • first live dealer provider in the US (via Gold Nugget Casino, Atlantic City);
  • mobile compatible;
  • game range;
  • no free play option
888
Dafabet
Leo Vegas
Dublinbet
Gold Nugget
Authentic Gaming
  • in-casino streams;
  • multiple bricks and mortar casino options;
  • La Partage and En Prison rules;
  • mobile compatible;
  • playable at well known operators;
  • US based casino tables offered (Foxwoods)
  • limited blackjack/baccarat table range
888
Betsson
Leo Vegas
Mr Green
Pragmatic Play
  • user friendly UI;
  • great video/audio clarity;
  • nice looking studio;
  • mobile compatible;
  • playable at well known operators;
  • no free play
Leo Vegas
Betvictor
888
Mr Green
Betsson
OnAir Entertainment
  • user friendly UI;
  • great video/audio clarity;
  • nice looking studios/chroma key;
  • mobile compatible;
  • playable at well known operators;
  • no free play
Betway
Betvictor
Unibet
Betsson
StakeLogic
  • user friendly UI;
  • great video/audio clarity;
  • nice looking studios/chroma key;
  • mobile compatible;
  • playable at well known operators;
  • no free play
Betvictor
Unibet
Leo Vegas
Opus Gaming
  • massive game range (Asian flavour);
  • large table/dealer range 24/7
  • information rich lobby;
  • information rich, intuitive play interface;
  • other table state of play updates;
  • big limit range;
  • mobile compatible;
  • good video quality
  • no free play option;
  • no dealer chat;
  • no 7 seat blackjack
Dafabet
M88
Betgames.tv
  • robust certification and licensing;
  • unique list of games, point of difference;
  • mobile playable
  • no free play option;
  • no dealer chat;
  • low theoretical returns;
Leo Vegas
Betway
Dublinbet
Portomaso Gaming / Wirex
  • robust certification and licensing;
  • studio and in-casino games;
  • simple, uncluttered interface;
  • mobile playable;
  • high quality video for studio games
  • no free play option;
  • studio games not available 24/7;
  • video problematic on mobile
Leo Vegas
Betsson
Dublinbet
Visionary iGaming
  • free play option available;
  • browser based;
  • game range;
  • simple, uncluttered interface;
  • entertaining dealers;
  • Costa Rica based;
  • small, inset video;
  • not mobile compatible;
  • video low res and not tolerant to slow connections
Dublinbet
LiveG24
(Media Live)
  • reasonable game range;
  • extensive regulator certification;
  • simple, uncluttered interface;
  • very good video and audio quality;
  • mobile compatible (iOS, Android, Windows)
  • no free play option;
  • limited number of tables
Betvictor
Microgaming
(MG live)
  • size, reputation, operating history;
  • platform probity and security – eCOGRA audited and compliant;
  • game range – roulette, baccarat, blackjack, hold’em poker
  • play multiple games concurrently.
  • bet behind and fast play (15s b/w deals) for blackjack;
  • video quality adjustable, game view options.
  • robust license & regulation
  • no free play option;
  • studio ambience;
  • diminishing licensee numbers;
  • very limited geo-availability;
  • robotic dealers
Dafabet
Royal Vegas
PlatinumPlay
Dublinbet
Vivo Gaming
  • outstanding game range (including craps, they claim);
  • large table/dealer range 24/7;
  • mobile compatible;
  • multiple studios to choose from;
  • multiple language options;
  • consistent UI.
  • use of 3rd party operated studios;
  • no free play.
EveryMatrix casinos
Xpro Gaming
  • impressive game range;
  • large table/dealer range 24/7;
  • mobile compatible;
  • nice studio;
  • reasonable video and audio stream
  • no free play option;
  • game house rules not provided;
  • lack of transparency on regulatory license/certification credentials
EveryMatrix casinos
Amaya/HoGaming
  • reasonable game range;
  • simple, uncluttered interface;
  • good video and audio quality;
  • playable at well known operators;
  • reasonable table & dealer range available 24/7
  • no free play option;
  • studio ambience;
  • video not tolerant to slow connections
Intercasino
138.com
NetEnt
(discontinued)
  • size, reputation, operating history;
  • simple, uncluttered interface;
  • playable at well known operators;
  • free play available (on limited basis);
  • good video and audio quality
  • robust license & regulation
  • limited free play option for new players on roulette tables
  • limited game range
888
Betsson
Mr Green
Leo Vegas
Unibet
Netplay TV
(discontinued)
  • free play option available;
  • UK Gambling Commission regulated/licensed;
  • information rich lobby;
  • TV quality video stream;
  • mobile compatible (1st real money casino App in UK App Store);
  • playable at well known, reputable operators
  • roulette only;
  • game show look & feel;
  • not available 24/7
Supercasino
Jackpot 247
Actual Gaming
(formerly Vuetec)
  • free play option available;
  • vision streamed from a real ‘bricks and mortar’ casino;
  • able to preview games before registering an account;
  • video tolerant to slow net connections
  • limited game range;
  • size of video feed;
Dublinbet
EntwineTech
  • game range;
  • large bet ranges and bet limits for high rollers;
  • large table/dealer range 24/7;
  • playable at well known operators
  • no free play option
  • busy interface;
  • video quality and deal lag
188Bet
Bodog Asia
(discontinued)
  • free play option available;
  • game range (Asian flavour);
  • information rich lobby;
  • other table state of play updates;
  • mobile compatible;
  • fast deal options
  • no dealer chat;
  • no 7 seat blackjack;
  • average video stream
Vera&John
Extreme Live Gaming
(discontinued)
  • London studio;
  • platform probity and security – eCOGRA audited and compliant;
  • invite player ratings of their product…eager to improve;
  • full disclosure of house rules & RTP rates;
  • feature rich, intuitive UI;
  • video and audio quality;
  • robust license & regulation
  • no free play option;
  • published blackjack RTP rate wrong
Formerly at

Betvictor
Mr Green
Leo Vegas
Betsson

Smart Live Gaming
(discontinued)
  • ‘TV’ quality large video stream;
  • browser based games available;
  • free play option available
None
Global Gaming Labs
(discontinued)
  • reasonable game range;
  • good limit range;
  • busty dealers;
  • good video quality;
  • browser based games available;
  • no free play option;
  • Costa Rica based;
  • bad audio;
  • occasional bugs with interface selections (including bet placement);
  • not mobile compatible
None