The Rise of Live Casinos & How Live Dealer Games Became So Popular

Live dealer games are probably one of the most popular gambling activities today. Some would argue that they are the most popular gambling activity. Regardless, there is no doubt that millions of people all across the world play live dealer games. However, how did we come to this point? How did live dealer games become so popular?

If you want to learn more about the popularity of live dealer games and how they became mainstream, you are in the right place. Here is our take on the birth of live dealer games and how they got so popular.

What are Live Dealer Games?

You can think of live dealer games as virtual or digital versions of regular casino games, like blackjack, poker, or roulette. As you play these live casino games, you see a live stream of a croupier either dealing the cards or taking your bets as they would at a regular land-based casino. You get to see the casino tables and all the machines, including the roulette table. You get to see the ball spilling around on the roulette table, all of which creates an immersive experience.

How Did it All Start?

Now let's talk about where all of that started. Live dealer games were first offered at online casinos in the early 2000s. At that time, these live casino games were quite basic and were not nearly as immersive and appealing as they are today.

During the early 2000s, the internet was slowly getting mainstream. People were trying out new things offered on the internet and personal computers. As internet technology gained more traction, more and more people started playing live dealer games.

The first ever live dealer game is considered to have been offered by the Island Casino, which was an online casino that launched in 2003. At that time, live blackjack, baccarat, and roulette were available, developed by Visionary iGaming, a popular software provider.

Why Live Dealer Games Became So Popular

Over the years, live dealer games slowly started gaining popularity, and now they have come to the point that live dealer games are some of the most popular gambling activities around the world. Here are some of the main reasons why live dealer games have become so popular at top live casinos.

Improved Streaming Technology

One of the main features of live dealer games is the ability to display a live stream of a croupier. Back in the day, when live dealer games started becoming a thing, streaming technology was not that advanced. Low-quality streams don't deliver an immersive experience, which is one of the main reasons why live dealer games are popular in the first place.

We have come a long way in streaming technology. Almost anyone can start a live stream these days. All you need is a smartphone and an average internet connection. This advancement in streaming technology has allowed online casinos to provide much more immersive live dealer games.

Availability of High-Speed Internet

To run a successful online casino business, you need users. If a majority of the population can't use an online casino, the casino won't be able to stay in business. 

Similar to advancements in streaming technology, network technology also advanced at a rapid pace. The internet started becoming more accessible, and a much bigger chunk of the world got access to the internet. 

Access to the internet allowed online casinos to target a much larger audience. In this way, the accessibility of the internet contributed to the popularity of live dealer games.

Advancements in Mobile Technology & Personal Computers

There are two main things that you need to play some live dealer games. 

• The first thing is a decent internet connection, which we have already covered in the previous section. 
• The second thing you need is a device to play casino games on. This can be your personal computer or your mobile phone.

About ten or so years ago, personal computers weren't that powerful. Also, mobile phones weren't as prevalent in society. Mobile phones and personal computers have become more accessible over the years. Now, it is almost impossible to find a person who doesn't own a smartphone. You likely have access to either a personal computer or a smartphone. In other words, you have access to live dealer games.

Improvements in Online Safety & Security

One of the main reasons why people still shy away from making any online transactions is safety and security. Back when the internet first started to gain traction, there were a lot of scams and ransomware attacks happening online. At that time, internet security wasn't that advanced, and people did not feel very comfortable participating in activities like live dealer games.

Internet security has also made a lot of improvements over the years. Even the simple Windows Defender has become so advanced that it protects you from almost all kinds of viruses, malware, and ransomware. This improved internet security and safety helped in building trust in people. It made them much more comfortable in adopting new online activities, including live dealer games.

The Snowball Effect & Market Competition

Until now, we have mentioned improvements in internet accessibility, internet security, streaming technology, and mobile technology. All those things helped create an environment that allows almost all online platforms to succeed. They created an insanely large market with millions of potential customers, and online casinos quickly realized this.

As more people started using the internet, more people started getting into live dealer games. This demand caused hundreds of online casinos to pop up and provide live dealer games. It created competition, which caused those online platforms to provide much better features, including bonuses. These features created even more demand, and the cycle continued.

Why Do People Like Live Dealer Games

You might be wondering why people like live dealer games. Why don't people simply go to regular land-based casinos and enjoy the same games over there? There are several reasons for that. Here are some of the main reasons why people love live dealer games so much.

Convenience

The main reason everyone enjoys live dealer games so much is convenience. With a regular land-based casino, you must get up, drive to the casino or maybe take public transport. After playing some casino games, you also have to go back home.

However, you don't have to do any of that with live dealer games. You can play live dealer games in the comfort of your own home. If you have a laptop or prefer a mobile, you can even play live dealer games in your bed.

The COVID-19 lockdowns caused a massive boost in the popularity of online activities like live dealer games. Because of those lockdowns, people couldn't go to regular land-based casinos. As they tried live casino games and experienced the convenience, they kept playing and didn't switch back even after the lockdowns ended.

Authenticity & Interaction

With that said, other online casino games like video slots and video poker also provide the same level of convenience, if not more, than live dealer games. A lot of people prefer live dealer games over regular online casino games. Why is that so?

• Live dealer games provide an immersive experience. 
• Live dealer games make you feel as if you are at a casino in front of a croupier instead of at your home. 
• Live dealer games allow you to interact with the croupier, which creates a sense of authenticity.

Personalization

Another reason why live dealer games are so popular is because of the personalization that they offer. Live casino games feel much more personal to the user. When you play a live casino game, you don't have to worry about other players. You feel as if all the attention is given to you, which most people like. You don't have to worry about what you are wearing, how you are playing the game, if you are winning or losing, or anything else.

Conclusion

Live dealer games have come a long way. It all started in the early 2000s when live-streaming technology was not as advanced as it is today. Over the years, with the advancement of the internet, mobile technology, and live-streaming technology, we have now come to the point that live dealer games have started to provide an incredibly immersive experience and have become super popular.