Online casinos have been around since around 1994-1996. Since then, technology has evolved significantly, paving the way for new ways to play games of chance online.
Alongside the classic games, kept fair and unpredictable by computer software known as a Random Number Generator (RNG), are the live casino games, which involve a real-life host and gameplay livestreamed directly to your device.
But how does live casino really work? Read on to find out!
A brief history
The first live casino game was Blackjack, launched by Playtech in the late ‘90s. However, the futuristic idea didn’t quite come to fruition at the start.
Initially, households would own only one computer, and the connection of the live games could be easily interrupted by a call to the landline.
Gameplay didn’t improve until smartphones became increasingly popular and the demand for better internet speeds and greater bandwidth grew.
In 2012, all major software providers made the shift towards better operating software for online games. This meant that a computer was no longer needed, and players could access the games from any device with an internet connection.
Then, in 2017, software developer Evolution released their first successful live casino game – Dream Catcher. This paved the way for other developers to create more games, increasing the demand for professionally trained dealers and new game variations.
State-of-the-art technology
Fast-forward to the modern day and technology has developed further. More live casino games are available to play, and state-of-the-art technology enables high-definition gameplay to be streamed from all angles.
Alongside multiple cameras, the live dealer hosts the game from a specially designed studio with the help of monitors and other complex software.
There’s Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software, which picks up on gameplay, automatically translating it to data and overlaying it on the screen, and the Game Control Unit (GCU) working alongside it. The GCU, arguably one of the most important elements of the live casino, is a device that allows the electronic encoding of the video of the game.
How it works
All these different elements tie together, so that when you select the live game you wish to play at your chosen casino site, you’ll be greeted by the professionally trained dealer, ready and waiting to host the game. You’ll have access to a chatbot to communicate with them, and options to place your bets – which they’ll see on their monitor from within the studio.
Once gameplay commences, the live dealer will host the game, just as they would in a land-based casino. The details of gameplay will be relayed to you on your screen, thanks to the technology translating it all into data.
Your chosen game will then play out as usual, the outcomes remaining unpredictable thanks to the trained dealer on your screen.
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Live casino games have come a long way over the years, and with some games beginning to incorporate elements of Virtual Reality (VR) for those with a compatible headset, it’s clear developers are continuing to progress alongside technology.