Eve Luneborg
Live dealer software studios are the companies that deliver live dealer casino games. They create the technology, design the studios, and manage the dealers who host the games. Every element, from camera set-ups to betting options, is developed by the software studios.
The studio you choose will affect the variety and quality of games you have access to. Some focus entirely on traditional live dealer table games, while others also produce game shows and other innovative titles.
In this article, we’ll explore the creators behind live casino games, look at their licence requirements, and find out which game types you can expect to find when playing at the best Irish live casinos.
Live dealer software studios are the locations from which casino games are streamed in real time. The studios use professional dealers, physical tables, and real casino equipment. However, some combine this with computer graphics, for example, by using green screens.
Even though the game studios look like real casinos, they are built purely for streaming. They use multiple camera angles and specialised lighting. Games are run by professional dealers who follow the same rules as land-based casino dealers. The studio’s software links the video to the casino’s betting interface, so you can place your bets in real-time.
Note that most studios operate from dedicated locations; however, some are based inside real casinos. This allows you to play real casino games at a real casino — via your computer or mobile.
Whenever you enter a live casino, you’re likely to be met by games provided by many different game studios. There are some big ones that are present at almost all of them, and those are Evolution and Pragmatic Play. But there are also several other ones worth noting. Here, we’ll have a look at some of the biggest names in live casino game development. We’ll explore their game catalogue, history, and find out where they’re licensed.
Evolution, founded in 2006 in Sweden, is the largest live dealer provider in the world. They operate multiple studios across Europe, North America, and Asia, and hold a long list of gambling licenses. Some of the gambling authorities that are regulated by include the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, and Alderney Gambling Control Commission.
The game portfolio includes hundreds of live table games, covering roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, poker variants, and other card and dice games. They can also boast of a wide range of live game shows, such as Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, and Deal or No Deal, just to mention a few.
Evolution as a brand focuses exclusively on live dealer games, but as a company, they have expanded its game verticals through many acquisitions. For example, they are among the biggest ones in online slot games, thanks to their acquisitions of NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, Nolimit City and Red Tiger Gaming. Then, they got even bigger in live casino games by acquiring Ezugi.
Pragmatic Play launched its live dealer vertical in 2019, and their main studio is based in Bucharest, Romania. They hold a number of licences from a variety of jurisdictions, including Malta, the UK, Gibraltar, and Romania.
The live portfolio includes more than 250 tables, featuring different versions of roulette, blackjack, baccarat, Sic Bo and Dragon Tiger. They’ve also ventured into the game show category, with titles like Mega Wheel and Sweet Bonanza CandyLand.
Pragmatic Play Live have tables available in several languages and even offers some exclusive VIP tables. Unlike pure live dealer companies, Pragmatic Play also develops online slots, bingo, virtual sports, and scratch cards. Overall, they’re one of the most popular and successful online casino game providers in the world. Much of this is due to their marketing efforts, which have included collaborations with streamers, development of in-game tournaments, and other innovative marketing efforts.
Playtech was founded in 1999 and launched its first live dealer games in the mid-2000s. They have studios located in Latvia, Romania, the Philippines, and several other countries. Playtech Live is licensed by many gambling authorities, such as the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority.
In the live game portfolio, Playtech covers roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker variants, and game shows like Adventures Beyond Wonderland and Buffalo Blitz Live. For select operators, they also offer exclusive tables with branding and customised features.
Playtech is not limited to live dealer products, as they have a finger in most casino game pies. They produce slots, have their own poker network and bingo platforms, offer a sports betting system, and provide lottery solutions. However, most Irish online casinos choose to only offer some of the game verticals offered by Playtech, as finding an operator with the full catalogue is quite uncommon.
Ezugi specialises in live dealer games only, and they’ve been around ever since 2012. They have studios in multiple countries, including Latvia, Romania, Colombia, and Cambodia. Their gambling licences are issued by regulators such as the Curacao Gaming Control Board and the Malta Gaming Authority. However, since they’re owned by Evolution, they can also operate under the licences held by their mother company.
The live portfolio includes more than 50 games, featuring traditional titles like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. They also have a good selection of regional favourites such as Teen Patti, Andar Bahar, and Dragon Tiger. In addition, Ezugi also offers lottery-style games like Lucky 7 and betting on numbers.
Ezugi focuses entirely on live dealer games, and the company is known for having a strong foothold in the US market. They are also focusing on emerging markets. In 2018, Ezugi was acquired by Evolution, but they still operate more or less as an independent brand. However, it has been speculated that the connection to Evolution is why Ezugi has never ventured into the game show category.
Stakelogic Live launched in 2021 as the live dealer vertical of this brand, which was already known for online slots. Their first studio was opened in Malta, followed by another in the Netherlands. Stakelogic holds gambling licences from the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, Dutch Gambling Authority, and several other regulators.
Originally, Stakelogic Live had around 20 tables, covering the standard games, like live roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and auto-roulette. The portfolio has since expanded to include game shows and unique games such as Super Stake Roulette and Runner Runner Roulette. The company also offer exclusive tables and games for select operators.
Stakelogic’s experience in game development and technology stems from their slot portfolio, as this game type is what they originally were known for. The venture into live casino games has for sure benefited from their previous experience, and the preexisting cooperation with casino operators has made it easier for them to get their games placed in casinos’ live lobbies. However, they’re still considered a quite niche live dealer provider, so you shouldn’t expect to find them at all live casinos you visit.
The first live-streamed tables appeared in the mid-2000s, but these games were quite different from what we find nowadays. Advances in technology and innovation from software studios have made the experience faster, more interactive, and more varied. The immersive experience we get today has developed over many years and through many innovations. To understand exactly which features, mechanics, and bright ideas have led us to where we are now, let’ have a look at the greatest innovations in live casino games.
Just like online casino operators, live dealer software studios must hold gambling licences to operate legally. These licences ensure that games are fair, dealers are trained, and that the equipment is regularly tested. When you play live dealer games in Ireland, the studios will typically be licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, Alderney Gaming Control Commission, Curacao Gaming Control Board, or by the new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
The regulators set rules on how games should be run, how player funds should be handled, and how random outcomes should be verified. Independent testing agencies, such as eCOGRA and GLI, are used to confirm compliance. Studios must also follow strict rules on security, including encryption, to protect player data.
Some licences can be used to serve players in multiple jurisdictions, like the ones from Malta, Curacao, Kahnawake, Alderney, and others. Then, some jurisdictions have their own local licences that the software studio has to obtain to offer games to players in their country. This is why some of the biggest game providers can hold licences in 20 or even 30 different jurisdictions.
Live dealer software studios provide the technology, dealers, and streaming systems that make live games possible. The various providers offer traditional table games, like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, casino poker, and other card, table and dice games. Then, some of the biggest names in the industry also offer the new and exciting game show games.
Which studio you choose will determine which games you can play, the streaming quality you can expect, and how secure the games are. Each studio must hold its own licences to ensure its games are fair and reliable.
As technology advances, so does the innovation we see from the game studios. They’re tirelessly working to offer games that are more immersive and accessible. Features like multi-camera angles, mobile optimisation, side bets, and customised tables can now be expected from most developers or live dealer games.
Eve Luneborg – Live Casino Specialist at LiveCasino.ie
Eve Luneborg has been part of the online casino industry since 2014, when she moved to the sunny shores of Malta to pursue her passion for gaming.
