How Effectively Do Live Dealer Casinos Mirror The Traditional Gaming Experience?
There was a time when it seemed as though land-based casinos would have their grasp on the industry forever. In the mid-to-late 20th century, their presence, although limited in some areas of the US, was dominated by a select number of casinos that were at the forefront of the industry.
It wasn’t until the early 2000s, when the internet became accessible, affordable, and technologically capable of hosting live dealer games, that those in the traditional sectors started to take the threat much more seriously.
Casino gaming is a global market, and within this universe, there are various reasons why people opt for live casino gaming options over more conventional avenues. While that’s not to say that there isn’t room for both in the industry, the emergence of live casino sites as a genuine online alternative started to undercut the conventional sector as early as the late 1990s.
Now that they have established themselves as a key part of the sector, and land-based providers have had to adapt to the scope of games that can be found at a live casino, do they offer an experience that is similar to the conventional experience, or have new enhancements in algorithmic and AI technology turned digital-based live casino games as the leading force in the market?
Replicating The Social Element
Before the mass adoption of the internet and the rapid ascension of smartphone tech, there were plenty within the casino world who cited multiple issues that the online world had to overcome – some of the main ones included:
- Latency issues.
- High bandwidth required for streaming technology.
- Ensuring that games were fair.
While experts would argue among themselves about these points, it was the social element of traditional gaming that many believed would make online live dealer games the most successful.
There’s still a multi-billion-dollar market for those who want to travel to a casino to play live dealer games in a conventional setting and the most significant pull for these individuals is the social element, including speaking with the dealer, conversing with bar staff, and interacting with other players.
As the online industry gained momentum and quickly shifted to mobile gaming in the early 2010s, live chat within games became increasingly commonplace.
For brands that championed their social media presence, they would actively encourage vloggers and social media influencers to film their expertise, onboarding them as part of their marketing strategy, as you can see detailed below, where Joe Fortune challenges an influencer on their Instagram page.
Navigating New Tech
Generative AI and immersive experience are among the biggest predictions in gaming, and both are set to transform the online live dealer experience. Experts have touted this in various ways, ranging from AI dealers to AI chatbots interacting with people during gameplay. From this perspective, they can offer something that has helped traditional providers maintain a significant portion of their market for so long.
While there will never truly be a replicate version of the atmosphere you can find in a conventional casino, it doesn’t need to match or exceed the experience for many people. As long as it ticks this box and allows players to access live dealer games and some element of the social side from home, then it will prove to be a success in the casino world.
A Generational Divide
Boomers who have frequented conventional casinos for decades are not suddenly in the market for AI or VR gaming. Nor will they spend a week in the Metaverse to see how it compares to their general day-to-day life. Many of them are set in their ways, and while they still make up a large part of the market, it’s the generations coming up behind them that have grown up with technology that the casino gaming market is paying closer attention to.
Poker tournaments, in-person events, and live entertainment continue to bolster the appeal of traditional providers. However, as more people seek out online casinos as a means to play, the global nature of the market has led to broader opportunities online.
An elixir of greater tech developments, more money on offer for innovative software designers who focus on their live dealer software expertise, and promotions and marketing that aim for an international audience rather than a local one has resulted in online gaming being able to close the gap considerably.
Who Will Win The Battle?
With so many conventional providers now diversifying their brand to include online websites, it’s becoming rarer to encounter casino gaming platforms that are solely catering to a land-based audience. Yes, there is nuance to this, and local providers will always attract customers, especially in countries like the UK, where traditional casinos have been in the market for over 50 years.
All in all though, it appears as though gambling sites are the ones that will continue eating into this market share – and if they can successfully crack some of the bigger hurdles that conventional casinos have over them such as creating live gaming atmosphere, social environments, and live entertainment, then we could end up in a scenario in the not-too-distant future where conventional casinos make up a much smaller portion of the industry.
Reviews