Live Dealer Blackjack Canada: A complete history and review of live casino operators and studios facing the Canadian market.
In the late 1990s, the first online casinos were launched onto the world wide web. The industry had immense potential, but when it comes to new technologies, trust isn’t always easy to come by. Players were skeptical of a lot more than internet security. They had no way of knowing if the games were fair. Even when software certification came along, many found it difficult to trust a computer program over a real person.
From day one, online blackjack relied on a software program that randomized the deck with an RNG (random number generator). RNGs use complex algorithms to ensure absolute unpredictability, delivering 100% schotastic shuffling results. It was enough for some players to gain confidence in the system, but for others, nothing short of a real live dealer, tossing real cards on a real table, would alleviate their suspicions.
The First Live Casino Launches from Manila
At the turn of the century, there were only a few software companies serving up digital games for the online casino industry. Founded in 1999, Playtech was already a major competitor with a mission to pioneer new technology. Their desire to solve the trust equation was so great, Playtech earned the honor of launching the world’s very first live casino platform from a studio in Manila, Philippines in 2003.
Playtech purchased a warehouse, decorating the interior to mimic a land-based casinos. They installed real gaming tables, hired professional dealers, and equipped the facility with high-tech video and audio equipment. The soft launch went well – as well as could be expected, considering the technology of the time – delivering live blackjack games to internet gamblers in the Asian market.
In 2003, internet connection speeds were not what they are today. Most players were still on dial-up, and not too many computers had the processing speed and/or graphics accelerators necessary to stream the games. Still, it piqued the interest of players all over the world, and gave software companies the drive to keep improving on this new technology.
Microgaming and Evolution Join the Race
2006 was a defining year for the live dealer gaming industry. The world’s oldest iGaming company, Microgaming, launched a live casino from Kahnawake, Canada (later moved to Toronto). Baccarat was the only game on the menu, but Microgaming did not restrict regional access as Playtech had. However, Microgaming’s global reach was immediately rivaled by a new company, Evolution Gaming.
This new company had an Ace up its sleeve – something its predecessors could not compete with. Evolution did not operate in any other iGaming verticals. While Playtech and Microgaming were divvying up their staff between the new live casino segment, plus an RNG-based online casino client, poker client, bingo client, etc., Evolution was able to focus all of its time, energy and staff on its live casino platform and studio. And boy, did it show!
Evolution Starts a Revolution
Right out of the gate, Evolution’s live dealer games were far superior. Launched out of a small studio in the northern European city of Riga, Latvia, the video and audio quality was superb. Streaming service was immaculate. Even players on moderately equipped systems were able to access and enjoy the games without interruption. This was the moment live dealer blackjack games really began to blossom.
Over the next three years, Evolution continued to upgrade and expand its services to new markets. Game variety started small, delivering just the basics – baccarat, blackjack and roulette. Their rivals, on the other hand, chose not to invest in equipment upgrades, but rather increase game variety as rapidly as possible.
With live casinos finally gaining popularity, and multiple brands competing for top titles like “fastest”, “fairest”, “easiest deposit options ” and “most games”, this new vertical was poised for greatness. Thus it came as little surprise when a mish-mash of new companies jumped on the bandwagon.
Everyone Wants a Slice…
Over the next decade, more than a dozen live casino operators launched, most of which are still around today. Below is a complete and current (as of September 2019) historical timeline list of all known live dealer casino operators, their launch year, and location of their studio(s). Click any operator on the list to learn more.
Historical Timeline of Live Dealer Operators
Operator | Studio Location | Launch Year | Status |
Playtech | Malta | 2003 | Active |
VueTec Ltd | Dublin, Ireland | 2005 | Closed |
Microgaming | Kahnawake, Canada | 2006 | Active |
Evolution Gaming | Riga, Latvia | 2006 | Active |
HoGaming | Isle of Man | 2006 | Active |
Portomaso Gaming / Wirex | Malta | 2007 | Active |
Smart Live Gaming | London | 2007 | Closed |
Media Live | Malta | 2008 | Active |
Netplay TV | London | 2008 | Active |
Visionary iGaming | Costa Rica | 2008 | Active |
Global Gaming | Malmö | 2009 | Closed |
Opus Gaming | Manila | 2009 | Active |
Vivo Gaming | Costa Rica | 2010 | Active |
Bodog Asia Live | Manila | 2011 | Active |
EntwineTech (formerly Entertasia) | Macau | 2011 | Active |
Xpro Gaming (XPG) | Slovakia | ~2011 | Active |
Ezugi | Bulgaria | 2012 | Acquired by Evolution, 2019 |
NetEnt | Malta | 2013 | Active |
Extreme Live Gaming | London | 2013 | Closed |
Actual Gaming (formerly VueTec Ltd) | Ireland | 2015 | Closed |
Authentic Gaming | Italy | 2016 | Active |
Live Casino Operator Information & Review
Playtech Live Casino
Information | Founded in 1999, Playtech initiated the soft launch of its first live casino studio from Manila in 2003, catering to the Asian market. A second studio was launched from Riga, Latvia in 2009, followed by a third in Bucharest, Romania in 2017. Playtech also streams live casino games direct from the land-based Casino Gran Madrid in Spain. The company is licensed in its HQ country of Isle of Man, as well as the Philippines and United Kingdom. |
Studios | Manilla, Philippines Riga, Latvia Bucharest, Romania |
Live Dealer Games | Baccarat, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud, Casino Hold’em, Dragon Tiger, Hi-Lo, Roulette, Sicbo, Spin A Win, Three Card Brag |
Dealers | Friendly, professional and personable. |
Software/Video/Audio | The software can be buggy at times. Video quality is fantastic on high-end systems, but struggles on slower devices. Audio cuts out now and again. |
Compatibility | PC, Mac, iOS, Android |
Dealer Languages | Chinese, English, Italian and Spanish. |
VueTec Ltd. Live Casino (Closed)
Information | VueTec was one of the earliest live casino gaming platforms, launched in 2005. Although never among the most popular options, it existed for 10 years. Its flagship brand, Dublinbet, streamed live casino games direct form the Fitzwilliam Card Club and Casino in Dublin, Ireland, making it the first operator to live stream direct from a land-based casino (rather than a studio). VueTec closed its virtual doors in April 2015. The company was restructured and launched as Actual Gaming the same year. That company has since ceased operations as well. |
Studios | CLOSED |
Live Dealer Games | N/A |
Dealers | N/A |
Software/Video/Audio | N/A |
Compatibility | N/A |
Dealer Languages | N/A |
Microgaming Live Casino
Information | Microgaming is famous for a lot of iGaming industry firsts. They are the oldest digital gambling games creator, dating back to 1994; built the first wide-area progressive in 1998, paying the first 7-figure jackpot prize soon after; launched and the first mobile casino games for flip-phones in 2003. While they weren’t first to market with a live casino, they did enter the arena early in 2006 as the first to serve players in multiple jurisdictions. Live baccarat was the only game on offer to start, slowly spreading into other basic titles like blackjack and roulette. Microgaming’s claim to fame is its Playboy branded live casino tables, where genuine Playboy Bunnies deal the games. They also provide an option to play multiple live tables. |
Studios | Toronto, Ontario |
Live Dealer Games | Baccarat, Blackjack, Casino Hold’em Poker, Roulette, and Sicbo, with multi-table play available (up to 3). |
Dealers | Professional, but not personable. Their dealers – even the Playboy Bunnies – seem to perform as if they’re following a very dull and monotonous script. Don’t expect any ‘ha-ha’ moments. |
Software/Video/Audio | The software runs very well and is highly intuitive. Video and audio quality is great 99% of the time. If the video does freeze up for a moment, you probably won’t notice due to the mechanized behavior of the dealers. |
Compatibility | PC and Mac only (not mobile compliant) |
Dealer Languages | English only |
Evolution Gaming Live Casino
Information | Evolution Gaming is like no other competitor in the live dealer space. The company launched its first studio in 2006 with a singular focus to serve the live gaming arena. They’ve been doing so in a far superior manner ever since, earning Evolution the Live Casino Supplier of the Year award back-to-back-to-back, since the very first eGR B2B Awards were held in 2009. Evolution runs multiple live casino studios, and streams direct from over a dozen land-based casinos all over the world. Remarkably, Evolution Gaming was invited to build a studio in Vancouver, B.C., opening its doors to the Canadian market in 2018 as the country’s only regulated live casino operator. |
Studios | Warehouse Studios Riga, Latvia Tbilisi, Georgia Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Sliema, Malta Dual Play from Land-Based Casino Grosvenor’s Victoria Casino, London, UK Hippodrome Casino, London, UK Palm Beach Casino, London, UK Les Ambassadeurs Club, London, UK Genting Resorts World, Birmingham, UK Genting Casino, Manchester, UK Casino Da Spa, Wallonne, Belgium Grand Casino Bucharest, Romania Dragonara Casino, Malta Casino de Murcia (Rincon de Pepe), Spain Casinó Campione d’Italia, Como, Italy Resorts Casino, New Jersey, USA Ocean Resort Casino, New Jersey, USA Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, New Jersey, USA |
Live Dealer Games | 2-Hand Hold’em, Baccarat, Baccarat – No Commission), Baccarat – w/ Squeeze, Blackjack, Blackjack – Private Table, Blackjack – Free Bet, Blackjack Party, Caribbean Stud Poker, Casino Hold’em Poker, Deal or No Deal, Double Ball Roulette, Dragon Tiger, Dream Catcher, Immersive Roulette, Infinite Blackjack, Lightning Dice, Lightning Roulette, Monopoly Live, Roulette (EU, FR, US), Side Bet City, Super Sicbo, Texas Hold’em Bonus, Texas Hold’em Poker, Three Card Poker |
Dealers | Evolution obviously takes pride in the hiring of their dealers, with professionalism, personality and player engagement as top priorities. They know how to keep the games entertaining, and it doesn’t feel fake or forced. |
Software/Video/Audio | This company spares no expense, equipping each of their studios with the best video and audio equipment. The software is extremely responsive. Even those with a moderate system and connection speed should have no trouble streaming the tables. |
Compatibility | PC, Mac, iOS, Android |
Dealer Languages | Danish, Dutch, Flemish, French, English, German, Greek, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. |
HoGaming Live Casino
Information |
HoGaming
rests comfortably under the wing of Stanley Ho companies. The Ho
family is universally-renowned, and largely responsible for
building Macau, China into the vast gambling mecca that it is
today. HoGaming is just one of many extensions of their
superfluous influence over the gaming industry. Coming off such an industrious line, HoGaming was one of the very first entrepreneurs in the live casino space, launching their product in 2006. It was a slow ascendance for the brand, but one that saw them focus on improving the capabilities of basic titles, rather than expanding into new titles with sub-par systems. That approach proved highly bountiful in later years. A brief partnership with Amaya (now The Stars Group, TSG) gave HoGaming’s live dealer tables extreme coverage throughout the mid-2010s. Although that partnership no longer exists, it gave HoGaming an eternal boost that’s helping them to thrive today as more than 30 online casinos employ their brand. |
Studios | Manila, Philippines |
Live Dealer Games | Baccarat, Baccarat w/ No Commission, French Roulette, Blackjack, Dragon Tiger, and Sicbo, with optional multi-tabling of up to 3 tables at once. |
Dealers | All dealers are professionally trained in person at one of Ho’s numerous Macau casino properties. They aren’t prone to uninduced player engagement, but are cordially responsive to interactions. |
Software/Video/Audio | As an early adopter of live casino software and equipment, HoGaming has evolved into one of the world’s top providers. The interface is easily navigable, feature rich, and offers excellent visual and sound quality. |
Compatibility | PC, Mac, Android and iOS – Actual compatibility varies by game selection, with download and instant play options for some tables. |
Dealer Languages | English, Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Malaysian, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese. |
Portomaso Gaming / Wirex Live Casino
Information | This live casino brand is a joint operation between Malta-based Portomaso Gaming and Italy’s Wirex. Portomaso Gaming handles the front end – the face of the business, so to speak – while Wirex provides all of the equipment and delivers the live streaming services to their players’. There aren’t too many tables on offer, but they are streamed – and streamed well – direct from two land-based casinos in the operator’s native country of Malta. |
Studios |
Portomaso Casino,
Malta Oracle Casino, Malta |
Live Dealer Games | Baccarat, Blackjack, Punto Banco, Roulette |
Dealers | The dealers are professional in their handling of the cards and equipment, but lack and and all social skills. Interaction is rare, but they get the job done. |
Software/Video/Audio | What this brand lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in streaming quality. The software, video, and audio are all excellent, with no issues to speak of. |
Compatibility | PC, iOS, Android |
Dealer Languages | English only. |
Smart Live Gaming (Closed)
Information | Smart Live Gaming first began broadcasting live casino games via the United Kingdom’s Sky TV network in 2007. They later expanded to PC/mobile gaming, then dropped television broadcast streams in favor of the latter. Things seemed to be going fine until August 2016, when the UK Gambling Commission suspended the company’s license pending a review. One week later, Smart Live was ordered to surrender its licenses and cease operations in the UK immediately. No exact reason was ever given; suffice it to assume the review didn’t go well at all. |
Studios | CLOSED |
Live Dealer Games | N/A |
Dealers | N/A |
Software/Video/Audio | N/A |
Compatibility | N/A |
Dealer Languages | N/A |
Media Live Casino
Information | Founded in 2005, Media Live launched its first live casino tables from a studio in its home country of Malta in 2008. they were wet behind the ears back then, and it showed. The software was slow, and the video/audio quality sub-par. However, they’ve made significant investments since then, now delivering a high-tech product in numerous regulated markets. |
Studios | Quormi, Malta |
Live Dealer Games | Baccarat, Blackjack and Roulette. |
Dealers | They are far more professional than they are personable, but at least they do their jobs well. |
Software/Video/Audio | Media Live has improved its platform ten-fold in the last decade. The software is incredibly functional, intuitive and easy to use. Video and audio quality is excellent. |
Compatibility | PC, Mac, Android, iOS, Windows Phone |
Dealer Languages | English and Italian |
Netplay TV Live Casino
Information |
Netplay
TV is a unique operator that delivers live tables games
specifically for television. They’ve been broadcasting tables in
the UK on Freesat TV since 2008. The games do not run 24/7, airing
from 6am-3pm on Channel 5 and Sky 862. They are available on the
same schedule via PC and mobile. Of interesting note, Netplay TV’s
SuperCasino was the very first real-money live casino app for
mobile devices, available on the Apple Store since 2010. Due to the ‘made for TV’ nature of the product, live roulette is the only game on offer. Baccarat and blackjack made brief appearances, but didn’t blend well with the televised model and soon disappeared. Note that only players physically located in the UK are able to play the games for real money. |
Studios | London, UK |
Live Dealer Games | Roulette |
Dealers | Due to the TV broadcast setting, there is no interaction between the roulette croupiers and players. They are less like a casino dealers and more like game show hosts. |
Software/Video/Audio | The quality of Netplay’s equipment is unsurpassed, as it must be to broadcast live on television. No interruptions. No glitches. No issues whatsoever. The video and audio streams are perfect. |
Compatibility | PC, Android, iOS |
Dealer Languages | English only |
Visionary iGaming Live Casino
Information |
This
company performs on reputation over regulation. Headquartered in
Costa Rica, they do not require a license or regulatory oversight
to operate. This is a huge red flag in my book, but they have
operated for more than a decade without notable incident. In other
words, they operate an upright business, but they don’t have to.
Play at your own risk. With that being said… Visionary iGaming has a small but lively casino studio. The ambiance is bright and and festive, with energetic music playing at all times. Things get especially spirited whenever a player leaves a tip for their dealer. Everyone knows when it happens because they’ll all start clapping in unison to the music, thereby encouraging more tips. |
Studios | San Jose, Costa Rica |
Live Dealer Games | Baccarat, Blackjack, Blackjack w/ Early Payout, European Roulette, American Roulette w/ Enhanced Payouts, Super 6 Baccarat |
Dealers | The dealers make these games far more entertaining than the software. They are spunky, often dancing along to the music. Suffice it to say, they know how to work for tips! |
Software/Video/Audio | This is where Vision iGaming lacks the most. The user interface isn’t full of features, but it works fine. Everything you need is readily available and easy to find. The problem is the video and audio equipment are sub-par – more so the video. It’s low resolution and fuzzy compared to today’s high-tech HD capabilities. |
Compatibility | PC only |
Dealer Languages | English and Spanish |
Global Gaming Live Casino (Closed)
Information |
Global
Gaming is a company with a sorted past and unforeseeable future.
Launched in 2009 from Costa Rica, the bulk of their success came
from accessing the US black-market. Although its live tables
operated without incident for years, they did so with no
transparency or regulatory oversight. The studio underwent mass
renovations in 2015, but disappeared shortly after. The operator reappeared just as suddenly around 2018, this time with offices in Malta and Estonia, and a plan to expand into Sweden. However, the platform changed entirely. Instead of a live dealer studio, they offered a casino backend solution and affiliate program. All seemed to be going well until they were stripped of their Swedish license just months after issuance. Oops… |
Studios | CLOSED |
Live Dealer Games | N/A |
Dealers | N/A |
Software/Video/Audio | N/A |
Compatibility | N/A |
Dealer Languages | N/A |
Opus Gaming Live Casino
Information |
Founded
in 2009, Opus Gaming is a top-ranked provider of live dealer
blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and other less common table games.
In fact, they offer one of the widest ranges of games on the
market, including unique titles like 7 Up Baccarat, Fish Prawn
Crab and Three Pictures, and a pick-3 Lottery game. Unfortunately for those of us here in Canada, these games are only available to Asian-facing online casinos and their localized players. Another potential negative for those within this brand’s regional reach is the lack of audio. Without audio, there is absolutely no energy or interaction between dealers and players, taking away from the overall atmosphere. |
Studios | Manila, Philippines |
Live Dealer Games | Baccarat, 7 Up Baccarat, Baccarat w/ No Commission, Baccarat w/ Squeeze, Blackjack, Dragon Tiger, Fish Prawn Crab, Lottery, Roulette, Sicbo, Texas Hold’em Poker, Three Pictures |
Dealers | The dealers are very professional and particularly beautiful, but do not interact whatsoever with players due to the lack of audio. |
Software/Video/Audio | The software runs perfectly smooth and the video quality is outstanding! Audio does not exist. |
Compatibility | PC, Android and iOS |
Dealer Languages | Who knows? They don’t speak. |
Vivo Gaming Live Casino
Information | This company makes a lot of bold claims, but backs them up with nothing tangible. For instance, they claim to have “multiple” studios worldwide, but offer no actual locations. Vivo boasts “strict regulation”, claiming to be licensed in Curacao and First Cagayan (Philippines), but both of their seals (which should be linked to the Curacao eGaming and CEZA websites, respectively) link right back to Vivo’s ‘Fair Gaming’ page. All this, yet the operator has the audacity to claim “compliance, legality and transparency are of utmost importance”? They’re about as transparent as obsidian. Even the game variety is falsely expounded upon. They list “Live Craps” as one of their premium offerings. They show crisp clear images of it, too. If the claim were true, it would make Vivo Gaming the first and only operator to supply live craps tables online. However, they provide live demos of every game except craps, and I’ve found no operating partner claiming to offer live craps tables. Adding insult to injury, they don’t provide an option to view the house rules of their games either. That’s some transparency, Vivo! |
Studios |
Somewhere in Costa
Rica In-house from Naka Palace Casino, Laos |
Live Dealer Games | Baccarat, Blackjack, Dragon Tiger, European Roulette, (and supposedly Craps) |
Dealers | The dealers in Vivo’s Laos location (Naka Palace) are beyond miserable, and it shows. They range from bored and dissociative, to depressed or downright angry. Dealers in the Costa Rica studio are a bit more tolerable of their surroundings, smiling now and again (when they’re not playing with their nails). |
Software/Video/Audio | It’s obvious Vivo invests very little into the improvement of its platforms. The software is slow and lacks any grace. It doesn’t even have some standard features, like game rules. The video and audio quality in the Costa Rica studio are decent, but at the Laos location it’s terrible. |
Compatibility | PC, Android and iOS |
Dealer Languages | English and Spanish |
Bodog Asia Live Casino
Information |
Another
Asia-facing operator inaccessible to the Canadian market (as of
2011), Bodog Asia is another highly reputable member of the live
casino operator’s community. The company is very old, having taken
its first online bets in 1994, and has suffered numerous
controversies over the years, but nothing pitiable enough to harm
its reputation among players. The one outstanding negative here is that Bodog Asia no longer offers any form of live dealer blackjack (at least, not at time of writing). |
Studios | Manila, Philippines |
Live Dealer Games | Baccarat, Super 6 Baccarat, Dragon Tiger, European Roulette, Sicbo |
Dealers | The dealers are cute and professional, as most are, and they have enough sense to smile at the camera at the appropriate times, but that’s about as far as their personality goes. |
Software/Video/Audio | Bodog’s live casino software is just mediocre really. It’s got all the necessary features, easily accessible to players, and there aren’t any issues or bugs worth noting, but there’s nothing special about it. The video and audio match the same description – capable but not exceptional. Thankfully, the monotonous background music can be toggled off. |
Compatibility | PC, Android and iOS |
Dealer Languages | None. There is no live chat, in text or speech. |
EntwineTech Live Casino
Information |
Unveiled
in 2011, EntwineTech is actually the revival of an older, less
successful brand, Entertasia (2005). In an effort to remove itself
from its former inglorious days, the rebranding came with an utter
disassociation with their former selves. The Spring 2011 rebirth saw the company emerge from the restrictive Asia-facing market and into the US limelight, if only for a few brief months before the federal government closed the door, ushering EntwineTech back to Asian online casino licensees. While that remains their primary market, the operator now serves over 70 online casino licensees in multiple jurisdictions. |
Studios | Manila, Philippines |
Live Dealer Games | Baccarat, Super 6 Baccarat, Super Baccarat, Baccarat Pair, Dragon Bonus Baccarat, Dragon Phoenix Baccarat, Points Baccarat, Blackjack, European Roulette, Asian Roulette, 3D Roulette, Big Screen Roulette, Dragon Tiger and Sicbo. |
Dealers | EntwineTech prides itself on filling their table with fast, well-trained and remarkably beautiful dealers. So beautiful, in fact, that I have to wonder if they chose not to provide live chat audio to protect them from unsavory clientele? Whatever the case, their very friendly, in an untalkative kind of way. |
Software/Video/Audio | No complaints here. The software is straight forward, features are tight, and the video quality is excellent. The dealers are muted, and you can toggle the background music off if it gets annoying. |
Compatibility | PC, with Android and iOS accessibility via n2-LIVE mobile solution. |
Dealer Languages | None. The dealers do not speak. |
Xpro Gaming / XPG Live Casino
Information |
Founded
in 2005, Xpro Gaming (recently rebranded XPG) spent the next two
years developing its live casino studio brand before launching its
first tables in 2007. Unlike most competitors, XPG operates
exclusively in the live casino sector; the major benefit being the
entire staff’s dedicated focus on the live product. XPG is known for its expansive game variety, supporting specialty titles that few (if any) others offers, like Andar Bahar and multi-player (PvP) Texas Hold’em Poker. I like to think of Xpro Gaming as the half-brother of Evolution Gaming; following astutely in their footsteps, but as such, always in their shadow. A few much-needed updates to the software and equipment could bring them into the limelight, if ever they make the investment. |
Studios |
Varna, Bulgaria Republic of Moldova |
Live Dealer Games | Andar Bahar, Baccarat, Fast Baccarat, Super 6 Baccarat, Blackjack, Unlimited Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Dragon Tiger, Dragon Roulette, European Roulette, Texas Hold’em Multi-Player Poker, Wheel of Fortune. |
Dealers | The dealers are all females, all attractive, and professionally trained to handle their positions. They aren’t brimming with personality, but they do smile now and again. |
Software/Video/Audio | Recent updates have increased the studio aesthetics, but they should have invested in better equipment rather than new backgrounds and tables. The software is just mediocre, as is the video equipment, offering a low resolution display in direct contrast to the excellent sound quality. My biggest gripe is the lack of house rule information. No educated gamblers wants to play blackjack without these all-important details. |
Compatibility | PC, Android and iOS |
Dealer Languages | English only |
Ezugi Live Casino
Information |
Ezugi
has been operating live casino tables since 2012, but it wasn’t
until 2016 that the company earned the respect it has so-long
deserved, becoming the first live casino studio to offer locally
regulated live tables on US soil. Ezugi secured a contract to
deliver its content for Golden Nugget’s online casino in New
Jersey. That landmark deal earned the Ezugi so much attention that Evolution Gaming acquired the company in early 2019. While the Ezugi Live Casino brand name remains intact, having the parental guidance of the world’s top live casino supplier ensures the product’s technologies will continuously receive state-of-the-art upgrades and enhancements, including recent expansions into Italy, Spain, Denamrk and Sweden, and the Aug. 2019 addition of India favorite, Live Andar Bahar. |
Studios |
Warehouse
Studios Bulgaria Colombia Costa Rica Israel Latvia Malta Romania Land-based Casino Studios Golden Nugget Casino, New Jersey Golden Palace Casino, Belgium Portomao Casino, Malta Oracle Casino, Malta Queenco Casino, Cambodia Royal Casino, Latvia |
Live Dealer Games | Andar Bahar, Baccarat, Dragon Bonus Baccarat, Knockout Baccarat, Super 6 Baccarat, Blackjack (American & European), Hybrid Blackjack, Unlimited Blackjack, Casino Hold’em, Dragon Tiger, Keno, Lottery Bet On Numbers (6/49), and Roulette. |
Dealers | With so many studios and live in-casino tables, it really is guessing game as to what kind of personality you’ll get. They are all professional, most are friendly, and some are engaging. |
Software/Video/Audio | While the ambiance varies from one location to the next, the software features are pretty good all around. Video and audio equipment is high-tech and streams seamlessly without issue. |
Compatibility | PC, Android and iOS |
Dealer Languages | English, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Romanian, Spanish and Vietnamese. |
NetEnt Live Casino
Information |
Following
more than a decade of ultimate success in the online casino
market, NetEnt didn’t delve into live dealer gaming until 2013.
Game expansion has been slow, partly due to NetEnt’s drive to
launch an esteemable mobile live casino product, which they did in
2016, but mostly because the live segment makes up a minimal
portion of their overall productions. As the bespoke provider of live gaming to several major UK operators, NetEnt has an impressive number of 7-seat blackjack tables. The company is also known for its innovative Live Beyond Live technology, delivering a live casino lobby in a virtual reality environment that is the closest thing yet to dropping online players into a real, land-based casino. |
Studios | St. Julian’s, Malta |
Live Dealer Games | Blackjack, Common Draw Blackjack, European Roulette, French Roulette, and Rocket Roulette. |
Dealers | NetEnt’s dealers aren’t just very well trained. They’re also a fun and lively bunch. Players can use the chat feature to communicate and won’t be disappointed with their quick-witted responses. I imagine they receive ample tips for their candor. |
Software/Video/Audio | NetEnt Live is the total package, with software, features, video and audio that is nothing short of exceptional. |
Compatibility | PC, Android and iOS |
Dealer Languages | English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish (maybe more). |
Extreme Live Gaming (Closed)
Information |
Extreme
Live Gaming was a late-comer in this business, but it worked out
perfectly for them. After launching their first product in 2013,
they attracted the notice of Austria’s iGaming giant, Novomatic
Group, who was looking to expand into the live casino realm.
Novomatic scooped up Extreme Live Gaming in 2014 and invested
heavily in the product, resulting in the rapid growth of the
brand. Extreme was, for lack of a better analogy, the adopted child of a billionaire family. No expense was spared on technological upgrades. The result was a live gaming product that surpassed most of its competitors virtually overnight. They moved their operations to a bigger, better studio in London, expanding from there into multiple land-based casinos around the world. Unfortunately, the glory was short-lived. The prodigal adopted son fell from grace in 2018 when Novomatic grew bored with it, selling Extreme Live Gaming to RNG-casino group Pragmatic Play. The game quality diminished rapidly. Major licensees dropped the platform. Soon enough, Extreme Live Gaming vanished into the great blue yonder… |
Studios | CLOSED |
Live Dealer Games | N/A |
Dealers | N/A |
Software/Video/Audio | N/A |
Compatibility | N/A |
Dealer Languages | N/A |
Actual Gaming Live Casino
Information |
Actual
Gaming was the result of a 2015 restructuring of the former VueTec
Ltd live casino operator. The new company took over the land-based
casino live feeds, bringing the action direct from Ireland’s Expo,
Fitzwilliam, and Penthouse casinos. At that time, only baccarat
and roulette were available. The CEO expressed plans to expand
into multiple variations of blackjack and Texas hold’em, but it
never came to fruition. Shortly after the restructuring, Actual
Gaming closed its virtual feeds down for good. See Vuetec Ltd. for more information. |
Studios | CLOSED |
Live Dealer Games | N/A |
Dealers | N/A |
Software/Video/Audio | N/A |
Compatibility | N/A |
Dealer Languages | N/A |
Authentic Gaming Live Casino
Information |
The
baby of the live casino industry, Authentic Gaming is the newest
addition, launching its first live dealer tables in 2016 from
Italy’s Saint Vincent Casino. Since then, the company has expanded
its in-casino live streams to more than half a dozen properties
around the world. All of their tables are streamed live from
actual casinos, never warehouse studios. Authentic is one of the rare brands with authorization to deliver live casino games from US soil. The company began streaming live roulette from Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut in mid-2018, making them the first operator to present live tables from an American casino to players overseas. The only things holding Authentic Gaming back are restricted hours of operation (they’re tables only air when their land-based casino partners are open), and a very limited game variety. Live roulette is the only product they currently deal in. |
Studios |
Aspers Casino, London,
UK Casino Bucharest at Intercontinental, Romania Casino International, London, UK Foxwoods Casino, Connecticut, USA Platinum Casino, Bucharest, Romania Royal Casino, Riga, Latvia Saint Vincent’s Casino, St. Vincent AO, Italy |
Live Dealer Games | Roulette only |
Dealers | All of the croupiers are working in a land-based casino, interacting with physical customers. Reasonably so, they do not interact with or acknowledge the live casino players. |
Software/Video/Audio | Nothing exceptional, but no shortcomings either. Good quality for an in-house casino feed. |
Compatibility | PC, Android and iOS |
Dealer Languages | N/A – Croupiers do not interact with online players. |
Jackpotcity.com is our editorial pick for your gaming needs. Currently offering an entire suite of casino games, as well as a wide range of Canadian deposit options, JackPotCity truly offers world-class gaming.