Evolution not revolution
When it comes to tech and iGaming, 2023 seems to be a year of building on solid foundations rather than significant new breakthroughs or ground-breaking shifts. You could say we are looking at evolution rather than revolution. Technical innovations that have been around for a while are now getting the chance to shine. Software developers are making the most of all the wizardry out there and creating amazing igaming experiences for online casinos and betting platforms. For example, many casinos now offer live dealer gaming – the closest thing you can be to going to a land-based casino without leaving your home.
Live dealer games are coming of age
Live dealer games are taking iGaming to a whole new level. Live dealer casinos (also known as live casino and casinos live) is the name given to online casino sites that offer games which are streamed from land-based venues. The stream does not necessarily come from an actual land-based casino. Many of the live-streamed games are filmed in purpose-built studios operated by specialist software providers. A big name in this market is Ezugi, who are a global leader in live dealer gaming.
Ezugi studios
Ezugi was formed in 2012. While they are not a household name, they are a global provider of live casino and live lottery gaming solutions to the more familiar names of BetMGM and PlayOJO, for example. The online casinos offer a wide range of live dealer games, some unique to a particular platform. Each online casino has different titles, but look out for variations on roulette, blackjack and poker.
Live action 24/7
So while you get the impression that the live dealer room you enter is in a casino, the studio could, in actual fact, be anywhere in the world. As they are located in different time zones, casinos with live dealer games can usually provide the gaming experience 24/7. The action is genuinely live, and you are in the virtual room with other real players. The studios are set up in such a way that the live feed and video coverage are managed to allow you to interact in real time. This means that you can place bets on all the live games.
How does it work?
While live gaming has been around for a while, it is coming of age in 2023. While it all appears simple and straightforward, the tech driving it is anything but. As well as the computer processing requirements, the magic of live dealer is brought about through streaming and OCR.
OCR and streaming
All of the dealer actions during the live streams are converted into data by Optical Character Recognition software. Using special cameras, the OCR system records all the card numbers, symbols and suits. It is the same with wheel and dice numbers. This data is cross-referenced to database look-up tables, and these are shown on the screen as images. Players can immerse themselves in the game by basing their actions on the information presented to them. All of this happens at lightning speed, so it is as if in real time.
It is an active experience
It is the OCR that makes live dealer casino games interactive. Otherwise, it would just be a passive broadcast from the casino. The data collected by the OCR can record all the players’ moves and instantly calculate the winners and losers of each hand or spin. There is no waiting around. As a result, live dealer games are fast-paced and dynamic.
Connectivity matters
The OCR, combined with live streaming technology, has enabled this shift in what is possible in iGaming. People now have the opportunity to play their favourite games in real time alongside real people. Moreover, they can do all of this from the comfort of their own home. Of course, streaming would not be possible without the phenomenal advances that have been made in internet and mobile network speeds. But, again, this is not new technology but 5G and fibre optic cables are improving our connectivity all the time.
Universal Broadband Fund
Connection to super-fast broadband is high in Canada – over 93.5% have access to high-speed internet or are scheduled for an upgrade. This was 79% of homes in 2014, so it is a significant improvement for most Canadians. This is in no small part down to the Universal Broadband Fund into which the Government of Canada has sunk a $3.225 billion investment. The plan is to connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed internet by 2026. The target is 100% by 2030.
Out and about
iGaming used to be entertainment that was firmly based from home. We needed the large screens of our desktop computers and stable internet connections in order to get a good online casino experience. However, this is no longer the case. The resolution on the screens of the latest android and Apple phones means that we can have a mini-casino in our pocket wherever we go. In addition, the processing power of the latest models means smartphones can devour the data the platforms throw at them.
New apps available
With this in mind, many of the top iGaming platforms in Canada now offer apps for iGaming. You no longer have to navigate your way through a website but can simply play the games you want to direct to your phone. The population coverage of 5G is 75%, and as more people take up the opportunity, the speed and accessibility will only increase. In addition, 5G users are more engaged with immersive digital services than 4G users. iGaming providers are not developing more immersive game experiences.
Fintech is keeping customers safe
Technology is also improving customer security at iGaming establishments. Online casinos hold so much of our personal data and financial details they have to have security akin to banks. Unfortunately, fraudsters are always looking for ways to defeat the casinos’ security features, so it is a constant battle between the hackers and the cybersecurity experts.
Much of the back-end security at online casinos is developed in conjunction with fintech platforms to keep customer funds unexposed to risk. One of the up-and-coming payment methods at Canadian online casinos is NeoSurf – this service allows customers to keep their online casino transactions separate from their bank account. Customers can buy prepaid voucher codes and use these to make online deposits.
AI and machine learning help to know what you like
Finally, AI and machine learning continue to improve the online casino experience by only offering content to customers. They do this by learning from previous interactions with the platform.
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