Live Dealer games are a relatively youthful part of a relatively youthful industry. However, like iGaming itself, it hasn’t taken long for Live Dealer games to become a huge part of the gambling industry.

While the popularity has been there since the outset, recent technological advancements have given the opportunity for this game type to lift itself to a whole new level.

The History of Live Dealer Games

Since the inception of iGaming, the desire for players was to get that true to life casino experience from the comfort of their own homes.

It was, therefore, far from a surprise that the first Live Dealer games found an instant player base.

Live Blackjack and Live Roulette were the first two to appear, and while the games were limited, with one table, and a set time limit on playing time due to there usually only being one host, players loved them.

As is often the case with online casino games, it didn’t take long for evolution to take place, with the likes of Craps and Poker swiftly being added to the list.

As time went on, further developments took place, with more tables being added, more software developers creating their own Live Dealer offerings, and before long, Live Dealer games were available 24/7.

The Present of Live Dealer Games

In the eyes of many, Live Dealer games have peaked, and while there will undoubtedly be further evolutions, it’s hard to argue with that opinion.

The biggest change that has been made recently is the advancement of Live Dealer games from lifelike echoes of the real life casino experience, to games that use the online format to add extra dimensions to the gameplay.

Live Dealer games these days often offer intricacies and complexities that would not be possible in a brick and mortar casino.

As always, one of the biggest factors in the development of Live Dealer games being so swift, is competition, with several software developers battling it out for supremacy in this lucrative field.

NetEnt

NetEnt have historically been one of the first developers to step into a new section of the industry, but they were a little late to the party with Live Dealer games, launching their suite in late 2013.

Highlights of the NetEnt portfolio of Live Dealer options include multiple language options with dealers from around the world, and unlimited player Blackjack.

While there is less variation than from some other developers, NetEnt’s Live Dealer games often have a higher RTP than competitors.

Ezugi

Ezugi were a late entry too, but their focus on Live Dealer games has ensured a strong reputation has quickly developed.

Ezugi’s collection is headed up by a collection of innovative titles, they are one of very few developers to offer Live Keno, and have their own unique titles such as Wheel of Dice.

Playtech

Like NetEnt, Playtech is a developer that has made its name through other game types, primarily slots, before stepping foot in the Live Dealer world.

The fact that Live Dealers are not the sole, or indeed main focus for Playtech means they stand behind the big guns in this area of iGaming, but there is still a lot on offer here.

Games out of the Playtech studio in Latvia are available all across Europe and include all the classic games, as well as Unlimited Blackjack and a Dual Roulette game which allows for playing at two table at one time.

Evolution Gaming

While there are many pretenders to the throne, there can only be one King of Live Dealer games, and in the eyes of most, the crown rests firmly on the head of Evolution Gaming.

From Dual Play Roulette, which allows an unlimited number of online players to join a roulette game in a brick and mortar casino, to unique, branded titles such as Deal or No Deal Live and Monopoly Live Wheel, to the likes of Lightning Roulette and Lightning Dice, which bring unique gameplay aspects to Evolution’s games, it’s clear to see why this developer holds the top spot.

Evolution Gaming powered live dealer games are available at more than 100 online casinos and they hold a local license in almost all regulated casino markets. This includes the regulated USA states, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland and many more.

The Future of Live Dealer Games

As stated above, many believe Live Dealer games to have peaked, but as the popularity of this form of gambling keeps increasing, and technological advancement allow for further additions and progressions, we can expect more changes to come.

What these changes will be is anyone’s guess, but we can safely assume there will be more unique Live Dealer games, as well as further exciting tweaks on classic titles in the near future.

The Benefit of Live Dealer Games

While there are obvious advantages to Live Dealer games in terms of the excitement offered by the unique game types, there is a larger advantage for many players, and that is peace of mind.

For many players, even knowing a Random Number Generator (RNG) is exactly what it described, there are still concerns about how random these generators actually are.

It should be stated that these RNGs undergo strict scrutiny from regulators to ensure they are random, but to many, nothing ensures security in the random nature of a game like seeing a right in front of you.

This is where the benefit of Live Dealer games comes in, offering the same surety that one would get in a land based casino, but without the need to dress up smart and actually leave one’s house in order to play them.

With this added sense of comfort, the constantly evolving game types, the excellent designs and themes that the games have, and the ability to play them from home, and time of day or night, it is pretty much a guarantee that the popularity of Live Dealer games will not only maintain, but continue to increase over time.