The End of an Era: Live Casino Games That Won't Make It Into2025

The live casino landscape is constantly evolving, with new technologies and player preferences reshaping what's available at our fingertips. As we approach the middle of 2025, several once-popular live dealer games are heading toward extinction. The studios that once proudly broadcasted these games are quietly removing them from their portfolios, making way for newer, more engaging experiences. Let's explore five live casino games that will soon become memories of an older era in online gambling.

Evolution Gaming, the undisputed leader in live casino entertainment, is preparing to retire its once-innovative "Double Ball Roulette" from its extensive portfolio. Launched in 2016, this variant introduced a novel twist to the classic game by featuring two balls instead of one, dramatically increasing the potential payout opportunities and creating exciting new betting combinations.

Despite its initial popularity among risk-taking players seeking higher-than-standard roulette payouts (up to 1,300 to 1 for hitting the same number with both balls), the game has seen steadily declining player numbers over the past two years. Industry insiders suggest several factors behind Evolution's decision:

• Operational complexity and higher running costs compared to standard roulette tables
• Difficulty in explaining the additional betting options to new players
• Cannibalization from Evolution's newer, more visually stunning roulette variants

The game is scheduled to disappear from Evolution's live lobbies by Q2 2024, with the company redirecting resources toward its immersive Live XXXtreme game series and augmented reality offerings that have proven more appealing to today's players.

Light & Wonder (formerly Scientific Games) is preparing to discontinue its "Dual Play Baccarat" from its live casino lineup by early 2025. This innovative game, which bridged the gap between land-based and online players by allowing them to play at the same table simultaneously, was initially hailed as a revolutionary step in creating a unified casino experience.

The game featured cameras installed at physical casino baccarat tables, allowing online players to join real-world games in progress. Despite the concept's promise, the product has struggled with:

• Technical challenges maintaining consistent streaming quality from partner casinos
• Scheduling conflicts between physical casino operating hours and online demand
• Limited scalability compared to fully digital live dealer solutions

While moderately successful in Asian markets, the game never gained the traction Light & Wonder had hoped for in European and American markets. The company has indicated they're pivoting away from dual-play concepts to focus on their pure online live dealer products with more controllable environments and enhanced production values.

Ezugi, now part of the Evolution Gaming Group but still operating as a separate brand, is quietly phasing out its "Bet on Numbers" game. This lottery-style live game was Ezugi's attempt to capitalize on the popularity of lottery products in a live casino format, featuring live draws conducted by presenters in a studio environment.

Despite initial interest, "Bet on Numbers" failed to maintain a consistent player base for several reasons:

• The game lacked the social interaction elements that make most appealing live casino games.
• Draw frequencies couldn't compete with the rapid-fire pace of virtual lottery games.
• The format proved less engaging than Ezugi's table games with direct dealer interaction.

The game currently operates on a reduced schedule and will be completely removed from Ezugi's portfolio by the end of 2024. The company has already begun reallocating studio space and dealer resources to expand their more successful offerings like live blackjack and their localized games for emerging markets.

Authentic Gaming's Live Auto Roulette, once a pioneer in streaming real casino floor roulette wheels to online players, is another casualty of evolving player preferences. This product differentiated itself by featuring actual physical roulette wheels from prestigious European casinos without human dealers, using automated mechanisms instead.

The concept initially attracted purists who appreciated the authenticity of real wheels but disliked the slower pace of dealer-operated games. However, the product has seen steadily declining interest because:

• Players increasingly prefer the human element and interaction of dealer-run games
• Evolution's and Playtech's more technologically advanced auto-roulette products offer superior camera angles and betting interfaces
• The operational costs of maintaining physical wheels in casino partnerships has become less economically viable

Authentic Gaming has already reduced the number of streams available and plans to completely discontinue the product by mid-2024, focusing instead on their "Skyline" studio offerings that feature live dealers and more interactive elements.

NetEnt , now fully integrated into the Evolution Gaming family, is discontinuing its "Common Draw Blackjack" product. This game took an unconventional approach to live blackjack by having all players use the same hand, removing the traditional seat limitations of blackjack while maintaining the core gameplay.

Despite the clever solution to blackjack's limited seating problem, the game never achieved the popularity of traditional seven-seat blackjack tables for several key reasons:

• Players missed the personal connection of having their own dedicated hand
• The strategic element was diminished without individual decision-making
• The format created confusion among traditional blackjack players

The game was already operating with reduced hours before Evolution's acquisition of NetEnt, and it's now scheduled for complete removal by Q1 2025. Evolution has indicated they will focus on their "Infinite Blackjack" and "Power Blackjack" products instead, which solved the same scalability problem while maintaining individual player hands.

While these five games are heading toward retirement, this doesn't signal a broader decline in live casino gaming. In fact, the discontinuation of these products reflects the industry's healthy evolution rather than contraction. Live gaming providers are becoming more selective about which games earn valuable studio space and development resources, focusing on products that resonate with today's players.

The live casino gaming sector continues to grow at an impressive rate, with providers introducing innovative new concepts like game shows, augmented reality experiences, and multiplier-heavy variants that appeal to younger demographics. What we're witnessing isn't the decline of live casino gaming, but rather its refinement – out with the underperformers and in with the next generation of immersive experiences.