Which live casino software providers are dominating the industry?
Finding the best live casinos online is almost always down to the software providers hosted by the casino platform. Today, thanks to advancements in technology, there are now 35+ live dealer brands on the iGaming scene worldwide.
Live casino is still a relatively new concept in iGaming despite the fact it has been around for well over a decade. When live casino games first came online, webcams and internet speeds were not great. As such, the uptake was slow. However, despite the lack of adoption, modern webcams, and bandwidth, a few software providers had the foresight to predict that the fast-moving tech industry would soon provide the perfect environment for live dealer gaming. One of those brands is Evolution. The company is now one of the pioneering forces in the online casino industry. Essentially the rest of the live casino scene is following Evolution’s lead.
Below we’ll look at notable live dealer casino platforms in operation today. These are the brands now dominating the industry. They are also a must-have brand for operators looking to complement their live casino lobbies.
Who were the earliest live dealer brands?
An interesting fact to consider is that some of the first live casino brands to come online are surprisingly not the most well-known. For example, LiveG24 and Xprogaming were the first live dealer software platforms to hit the iGaming scene – in 2005, to be precise. Yet, it is Evolution, Playtech, and Pragmatic Play that are the go-to brands for the best live casinos online today.
Evolution Gaming came online in 2006. Playtech opened its first live casino studio in 2013. And Pragmatic Play Live came online in 2018. Playtech and Pragmatic Play already had video slot supply networks set up. As a result, both easily stormed into the market by using existing relationships. Thanks to the company’s early vision, evolution has time on its side and is arguably the market leader right now.
The first ten live dealer brands to come online:
- LiveG24 (2005)
- Xprogaming (2005)
- Evolution (2006)
- Microgaming (2006)
- Portomaso Gaming (by Wirex 2008)
- VigGames (2008)
- Visionary iGaming (2008)
- HollywoodTV (2010)
- Vivo Gaming (2010)
- Asia Live Tech (2011)
Other notable brands in the list, but not always available at the best live casino online, are Vivo Gaming, HollywoodTV, and iGaming giant Microgaming. The latter, Microgaming, focuses on Asia and relinquishes its market dominance in a deal with Evolution that took the brand out of the European market. Since then, the company’s live dealer distribution was acquired by Games Global and released as OnAir Entertainment, a new up-and-coming force in the European live casino industry.
Which live dealer brands are considered the best?
For players, the best live dealer software provider is always down to personal preference. In other words, just because you see the brand name touted around regularly doesn’t mean it is the best for you. For example, you may prefer to play Live Poker from a brand called ‘BetGames’ because it offers a unique way to play all hands or Live Blackjack from ‘EGT Interactive’ because the rules applied to the table apply to your style of play.
That said, the best ways to see which live casino brands are trustworthy are ‘industry awards’ and ‘licensing.
- Licensing: A live casino brand should hold the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) license for licensing. Further on from this, if your country has a domestic license, for example, the UK Gambling Commission, the brand should also hold a license here.
- Awards: Industry awards come around yearly, and there is no shortage of them. SBC Awards, EGR Operators, EGR B2B, Global Gaming Awards (GGA), and the International Gaming Awards (OGA) are among the most prestigious a brand can win.
In the most recent awards events, live dealer categories are common. The best live casinos online will always seek out award-winning brands just as you may seek out an award-winning airline to fly overseas, or a business will choose an award-winning bank to open an account.
Here are some of the most recent live casino awards:
- 2022 SBC Awards ‘Live Casino Supplier’: (1st) Evolution (2nd) Playtech (3rd) Creedroomz
- 2022 Best ‘Live Casino Provider’ in the Baltics: BetGames
- 2022 EGR B2B Awards ‘Live Casino Provider’ of the Year: Vivo Gaming
- 2022 IGA Awards ‘Live Casino of the Year: Pragmatic Play Live
- 2022 GGA Awards ‘Online Casino Provider’: (1st) Evolution (2nd) Pragmatic Play (3rd) Playtech
Choosing the best live casinos online
Once you build up your knowledge of the various live dealer platforms available on the iGaming scene, you can then start to choose the best live casinos online that suit your style of play. If you prefer to play with an award-winning brand, you already have Evolution, Playtech, Creedroomz, BetGames, Vivo Gaming, and Pragmatic Play Live mentioned above. These are your go-to brands to kickstart your live casino experience, and therefore, you should look for casino reviews and check whether one or all of these brands are available.
As a final word, while you are shortlisting live casinos, always be sure to check the casino has an iGaming license. MGA is one of the best out there, while CEG is the best for cryptocurrency live casinos. If your country has a domestic license in place (or state if you are in the US), make sure the casinos you shortlist hold the necessary licensing. Doing so guarantees that the casino must operate according to your country’s consumer rights, privacy, and financial laws.
To sum up, the best live casinos offer a wide variety of games, have a user-friendly interface, and provide plenty of bonuses and promotions.
