Players can spin a slot in a second, so why do so many of them happily wait for a real dealer to shuffle, deal or launch the ball? Because live casino offers something an RNG game cannot: a person on screen, a process they can watch and a table they can talk to. For an operator, that means more trust, longer sessions and a product that land-based players recognise instantly. This guide explains what live dealer games add to your casino, which formats belong in the lobby and which five providers deserve a place on your shortlist.
What a live dealer section adds to your casino
Live games are streamed in real time from a studio or a casino floor. A professional dealer runs every round, while bets, results and payouts are handled electronically by the provider's software and your wallet. For the business, the format delivers several concrete benefits:
- Fairness players can see. Cards, wheels and dice are physical and on camera, which wins over players who are sceptical of random number generators.
- A social experience. Chat with the dealer and other players turns a solo session into a shared one, and that sense of company keeps people at the table.
- Appeal to high-value players. VIP tables with higher limits attract customers who are used to land-based casinos.
- Cross-selling. Live tables sit naturally between a sportsbook and an RNG casino and give sports bettors an easy next step.
- Brand presence. Many studios offer dedicated or branded tables carrying your logo, colours and language.
There are trade-offs to plan for. Live content usually costs more than RNG games, because the provider pays for studios, dealers and round-the-clock streaming. Every table also has fixed minimum and maximum stakes that need to match your audience. Choosing studios is therefore a commercial decision as much as a content one.
Game formats players expect
A credible live lobby covers the classics first and then adds variety:
- Roulette: European, French and American wheels, plus speed and multiplier versions.
- Blackjack: seven-seat tables, unlimited-seat formats and side bets such as Perfect Pairs and 21+3.
- Baccarat: punto banco with squeeze, speed and no-commission variants, essential for Asian audiences.
- Poker-based games: Casino Hold'em, Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud, played against the house.
- Dice and Asian games: Sic Bo, Dragon Tiger and Fan-Tan.
- Game shows and draws: money wheels, lottery-style draws and other entertainment-led formats.
Five live casino providers worth shortlisting
The studios below have very different strengths, from the broadest catalogue on the market to roulette streamed from real casino floors. Most operators combine two or three of them to cover every player segment.
Evolution
Founded in Sweden in 2006, Evolution is widely regarded as the leader of the live casino market. It runs studios in several countries, including Latvia, Malta and Georgia, and its Dual Play tables stream directly from land-based casinos. The catalogue covers every classic table game as well as the game-show category it helped to popularise, with titles such as Dream Catcher and Crazy Time. The group also owns Ezugi, NetEnt and Red Tiger.
Best for: operators who want the widest live portfolio and recognisable flagship titles.
Ezugi
Ezugi started in 2012 and is now part of the Evolution group. It concentrates on live versions of the most-played table and card games and is known for localised content: dealers speak a range of languages, and studios on several continents serve regional markets. Its Over The Table product streams real tables from land-based casino floors, and the company also builds dedicated tables and studios for operators.
Best for: localised tables for regional markets and streams from land-based casinos.
BetGames.TV
Set up in Vilnius, Lithuania, in 2011, BetGames.TV sits between casino and betting. Instead of classic tables, it runs fast live draws and card games such as Lucky 7, Dice Duel, Bet on Poker, War of Bets and Wheel of Fortune, with a new round starting every few minutes. Bets are placed at fixed odds, which makes the content intuitive for sportsbook customers. It supplies operators in Europe, Africa, Asia and the CIS.
Best for: sportsbooks and betting-led brands that want live content with odds-style bets.
Authentic Gaming
Authentic Gaming, founded in 2015 and based in Malta, offers one game and covers it in depth: roulette. Its signature is streaming tables from upmarket land-based casinos, so online players bet alongside guests on a real gaming floor. It also runs its own Arena studio and automated wheels, and it holds licences from the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission.
Best for: operators with a strong roulette audience that values authenticity.
Pragmatic Play
Best known for its slots, Pragmatic Play also operates its own live studios with professional dealers, 4K cameras and interfaces in many languages. Its live range includes roulette, blackjack, baccarat and game shows such as Mega Wheel, alongside VIP tables and in-game promotional tools. Taking slots and live content from one supplier makes it easier to run campaigns across both verticals.
Best for: operators who want slots and live dealer games from a single supplier.
Side-by-side comparison
| Provider | Founded | Base | Core live content | Stand-out feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evolution | 2006 | Sweden; studios in several countries | All classic tables, game shows | Largest live portfolio, tables streamed from land-based casinos |
| Ezugi | 2012 | Studios on several continents | Table and card games, regional titles | Over The Table streams, localised dealers |
| BetGames.TV | 2011 | Vilnius, Lithuania | Live draws, dice and bet-on card games | Fixed-odds bets, rounds every few minutes |
| Authentic Gaming | 2015 | Malta | Roulette | Streams from real casino floors |
| Pragmatic Play | 2015 | Gibraltar | Tables and game shows | 4K studios, one supplier for slots and live |
How to choose and connect live studios
Before you sign, check four points for every provider:
- Its games are certified for the markets you target.
- It offers dealers in your players' languages.
- Its table limits suit both casual and VIP players.
- Its interface runs smoothly on phones, since many players join tables from mobile.
Connecting studios one by one takes time and legal work. Our Live Casino Bundle brings live dealer games from 17 providers, including Evolution, Ezugi, Authentic Gaming and BetGames.TV, through one API and a single agreement, and Pragmatic Play's tables can be added through our casino games integration. For a wider comparison, read our guide to live dealer studios or browse every live casino provider in our catalogue. When you are ready to plan your live lobby, contact our team.
Written and reviewed by the iGaming Software Solutions Editorial Team.
