Although it might seem like it, live dealer games are not new to the casino industry. These games were originally introduced in the late ‘90s by some of the biggest software providers. The first live casino is rumoured to have been launched in 1998, three years after Microgaming launched the first online casino! Find out more about live casinos and how they revolutionised the online casino industry.
Live dealer games are an exciting mix of the convenience of an online casino and the thrill of land-based casinos! These games are set to mimic land-based casinos in every way, from the dealer who hosts the game to the number of people playing. Hosting live dealer games can be quite expensive, and it is for this reason that not a lot of online casino sites offer them. Even when they do, the selection of live dealer games is quite limited. These games are broadcasted by a live video crew, and to host them, online casinos would need a studio, a dealer, a camera crew, a pit boss, and an information manager.
Live dealer games were first introduced in the late ‘90s and immediately shook the gambling industry. Online casino gaming no longer had to be isolated and lonely, as live dealer casinos offered players the chance to interact and socialise with each other.
The first live casino to be launched was known as Planet Poker although this innovation was welcomed by most, it was impossible for it to make any real impact. This is because the internet speed and quality at the time did not permit players to stream the games as they pleased. However, this was a big step because it showed other operators what they could achieve with high-quality streaming speed.
Playtech was the next software provider to attempt live casino streaming. This live casino was launched in 2003 and gave players the opportunity to play games such as baccarat from the comfort of their homes. However, just like Planet Poker, Playtech’s live casino faced major streaming challenges. The games were constantly disrupted because of slow internet speed and inconsistent streaming services.
2006 and 2007 were live-changing years for live dealer casinos. Technological advancements made the concept a lot more feasible, and streaming was a lot more successful. Although live casinos performed a lot better than when they were first introduced, it was still not a total success. The technology at the time was just not strong enough to withstand the heavy bandwidth that these games required. Regular casino games became even more popular since they did not have the same bandwidth requirements.
Smartphones becoming a must-have gadget helped with the growth of live casino games. These devices had what live casinos needed: graphics and streaming quality. The more technology advanced, the better live dealer casinos became. Shaky and slow graphics gave way to shaky and slow internet speed gave way to fast streaming services and a better game experience. In recent years, players are now able to communicate with each other using voice and text chat, which makes the gaming experience a lot more realistic and much more immersive.
Players who were in search of an authentic gambling experience can now experience the best of both worlds: immerse themselves into a realistic casino setting from the comfort of their own couch.
The relationship Canada has with gambling has always been somewhat precarious. In the past, the government controlled gambling through the Criminal Code. So, generally, all forms of gaming and gambling are prohibited in Canada. However, in 1985, the provincial governments reached an agreement with the government.
This agreement enabled them to establish regulations that had to do with online and land-based gambling. It is for this reason that exceptions can be made for establishments that are operated by the provincial government. So, the Canadian Gaming Commission controls gambling in the entire country. However, each province has rules and regulations unique to them when it comes to gambling.
Given that a lot of online casinos operate under offshore licensing, you might be asking yourself how this affects you. Well, it’s pretty simple. Gambling is only legal if regulated by a provincial body or if established by an offshore operator. Residents of Alberta, for example, can gamble just from the PlayAlberta site. Ontarians, on the other hand, can only access sites that are licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. In British Columbia, the only legal gambling site is PlayNow, where players can access a host of casino games and sports betting action.
Canadians (except Ontarians) can access offshore gambling sites with no sanction. However, for player protection, these sites should be licensed by regulatory bodies such as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, and the Curaçao Gambling Control Board. These regulatory bodies ensure that casino operators follow rules and regulations set in place for player protection.