A live casino definition is simply an online casino that allows gamers to play against other players in a realistic setting. Live casino studios are managed by professional card dealers and presenters, with hawk-eyed omnidirectional cameras giving players a complete video of the studio.
But how far has the live casino industry come? What is the present state, and how does the future look? This quick read answers all these questions, plus many more. But before anything, read the in-depth live casino review here at LiveCasinoRank to find the most reliable gaming site.
The live casino market is a relatively new idea. If anything, the industry traces its roots back to 1994, when Microgaming launched the first online casino game. Three years later, the first attempt to establish a live casino was made. However, the computer and internet technologies were still in their baby steps, making the idea unrealistic.
But despite the apparent challenges, the industry didn't give up. As technology continued to advance, the first full-featured live casino game was launched in the early 2000s, paving the way for the explosion of the iGaming industry. But still, players could only access a handful of table games, specifically blackjack and poker.
Today, the live casino industry has grown to become a multi-million-dollar market. Any self-respecting online casino will allow gamers to play live casino games by top software providers like Evolution, Ezugi, NetEnt, etc. It's even correct to say live casinos were 'life savers' when most land-based casinos were closed at the peak of Covid-19.
History aside, it's time to look at one of the most significant driving factors behind the rise of live casino games, mobile technology. Interestingly, the first cell phone was introduced in 1973 by Motorola. But this phone was heavy, weighing 2 kilograms.
Meanwhile, the first generation network (1G) was commercially rolled out in 1979. This technology later improved in 1991 with the launch of 2G or GSM. But even with 2G, gamers couldn't play online casino games due to the low latency and download speeds. This led to the 3G rollout in 2001, which offered higher data capacity and transfer speeds.
Along the way, it was evident that 3G was overwhelmed by the bandwidth-hog mobile apps. Solution? The release of 4G in November 2009. This fourth-generation network offers peak download and upload speeds of 100 MB/s and 50 MB/s, respectively. Remember, the game-changing Android and iPhone devices were released in 2008 and 2007.
It didn't stop there; 5G was launched in 2019, promising faster download and latency speeds than even home Wi-Fi. The peak download speed for 5G is a massive 2.5 GB/s with a 1.25 GB/s peak upload speed. This is definitely good news for online casino players and operators. And guess what? 6G is already cooking!
Even with the advanced mobile technology, the live casino market wouldn't be where it is without government backing. Previously, it was 'taboo' to gamble online or at a land-based casino. But with governments looking for extra revenue streams, it's becoming clear that legal gambling is here to stay.
Take the United States, for example. Any form of gambling has been illegal since PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) in 1992. But in 2018, the judiciary overturned this law, citing gambling discrimination against most states.
The ruling meant that gambling was now legal at the federal level, although individual states could legalize or criminalize it. Currently, online gambling is legal in at least 20+ states, with online casinos legal in six. Now that's tremendous progress for a country known to be hostile towards gaming.
Besides mobile technology and legal gambling, other vital developments have led to the growth of the live casino industry. To begin with, most online casino operators are incorporating cloud-based infrastructure into their systems. This technology delivers greater scalability and performance and allows gamers to play anywhere on any device. In short, players can continue spinning the reels on different devices without losing their game progress or installing any app.
Virtual Reality (VR) is another game-changing innovation that will take the industry further. With a VR headset, players are plunged right into the center of the action without setting foot at the land-based casino. Gonzo's Quest Treasure Hunt by Evolution Gaming is an excellent example of how immersive VR games can be. With the game's VR mode, you'll feel like you're running alongside the Spanish explorer, boosting your performance.
In the meantime, funding a live casino has become super simple, thanks to the myriad of new payment options. Whether using e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, deposits are instant without any questions. And if you're a new customer at the casino, you'll likely receive a generous welcome package.
Evolution is a hugely successful content aggregator with up to 11 studios. Evolution also purchased top live casino aggregators like NetEnt and Ezugi recently, eliminating fierce competition from these two. Another thing, the company's Lightning Roulette is considered one of the most successful live casino games.
But Evolution isn't the only successful live content developer. Play live games like Bonus Baccarat and Sic Bo from Microgaming. Playtech, believed to be the first to launch a live casino room, is another excellent option. Overall, there are many live casino games to choose from these days. That's another evidence of the thriving live casino market.
