The technology powering live casinos
In the early days of the internet, while some people were still trying to grasp the concept of a connected network of computers, other visionaries were already imagining what this new technology would be able to do in the future. If you can use ones and zeros to share words and pictures instantaneously, then surely a live video would be the next logical step.
While the reasoning was sound, the technology needed a little time to catch up to the imaginations of those who could see its potential. Attempts to launch a live casino in the late 1990s were thwarted by the limitations of the technology available which simply wasn’t up to the job of maintaining a reliable live video feed.
The growing success of online casinos at that time was matched by enthusiasm for televised games, such as roulette, with a live host. The success of both clearly demonstrated the potential demand for a live casino environment that was accessible online.
Live casinos – the dream realised
Fortunately, the swift pace of technological evolution delivered solutions to all the previous problems faced when trying to stream casino games. Streaming quality improved, and live-chat functions were established via both voice and text meaning that players were finally able to interact with croupiers and dealers in real time.
Live casinos were finally able to rival both the atmosphere of a traditional casino and the convenience of online gaming. Players could enjoy a much more authentic playing experience when they were able to chat to the dealer and other players.
Two-way communication also added another layer of engagement with games such as poker where bluffing, banter, and psychology come into play. Rather than just playing a computer game, live casino goers were enjoying a virtual casino environment that had an appeal far beyond simply playing cards.
As smartphones became ubiquitous and internet coverage improved, gaming apps were able to deliver high-quality live streams to mobile devices, making live casino gaming easier and more accessible than ever before. With players able to enjoy their gaming on the go, it was like having a pocket-sized casino ready and waiting to start a game whenever and wherever they wanted!
Live casinos – the ultimate gaming environment
Live streaming technology has become such an integral part of daily life that it is hard to believe we survived without it for so long, and live casinos have proved a hugely popular use of the technology. Sites have their own studios from which their expertly trained dealers and croupiers host games around the clock, streaming video footage all over the world.
To facilitate this, cutting-edge cameras are used to provide high-definition images that make players feel like they are at the table. The playing area is shown from a variety of angles, to give the sense of being right there in the game, and the dealers have access to the messages coming from players, so they can respond as soon as possible.
The cameras used also have Optical Camera Recognition (OCR) which is able to digitally ‘read’ the cards and symbols in the game. It stores information about players’ hands and bets, keeping track of who has won and lost so that bets can be deducted, and winnings paid out instantly.
This adds to the realism of playing in a live casino as players can experience everything they would in a land-based casino without having to find time to travel. Live casinos offer all your favourite casino games such as blackjack, poker, and roulette, as well as craps and sic bo for those that like to shake things up a little.
The future of live casinos
The gaming industry is famous for embracing new technology with gusto, incorporating the latest cutting-edge systems into games as soon as they are available. Online casinos are usually early adopters of new security features and authentication methods, and many use artificial intelligence to identify suspicious playing behavior and reduce the risk of fraud.
Casinos also use AI to give each player a personalised experience, tailor games to suit their playing style and ensure that everything is fair and transparent. The next ‘big thing’ in online casino gaming is likely to make use of virtual reality to deliver the most realistic casino gaming experiences yet.
Players will soon be able to enter an entirely digital casino and interact with everything, not just the dealers. Hand-tracking technology has already advanced to allow users to interact with in-game elements without the need for controllers, so it won’t be long before playing cards or rolling dice will be as easy in VR as in real life.
As technology continues to evolve and offer more realistic immersive and interactive gaming, it seems likely that online casino developers will follow suit with new worlds that can only make casino gaming more varied and interesting.