Online casino gaming is a rapidly growing industry. Since 2003 the market has grown by an average of 23% year-on-year, and is now worth a staggeringly massive $41.4 billion a year, up from $39.5 billion in 2014. This is all thanks to a step-change in the way people game, with millions of people who would never have thought of indulging in a game having decided to turn on their smartphones and tap their way to a small windfall, all in a highly casual and social setting.

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There are changes afoot in the online casino sector though. For years, companies were primarily concerned with providing simple, flash-based games where players would compete against a mix between an artificial intelligence and a random number generator; fans loved it, money was made and doled out, and the industry grew in a rather generic manner. Recently though, a new force has come to the fore – live online casinos – and these look set to utterly turn the industry on its head, but why?

Firstly, live casino games involve players across the world play much in the manner they would via a regular online casino, but with one exception; the dealers themselves are real people, compiling bets, dealing hands and spinning roulette wheels in a manner akin to the real thing, the same going for the players. Companies such as Coral already offer a live casino service, and unsurprisingly have seen a huge jump in player numbers and satisfaction levels amongst said players, driven by a number of factors.

The main draw of the live casino is that it better emulates the type of casino gaming popularised by that of the Vegas Strip, Macau and Monte Carlo. Part of the thrill and excitement of gambling is drawn from the fact you know that you are dealing with real human beings, people full of drive, guile and tactical skill. Real people are always going to be a more exciting challenge than that of a computer program.

Sociability is also boosted by live games. You can chat to the dealer and other players, forge friendships, establish rivalries and generally immerse yourself better in to the game a-la Casino Royale. When you finally win the game, of course, hearing the lamentations of one’s adversaries is always going to sweeten the experience.

Will live games take off though? Having to hire a team of technical engineers to solve issues, a pit boss to adjudicate issues and croupiers to administer the games is indeed a sure-fire way to wrack up operating costs, however said costs should conceivably be shouldered with boosted player numbers, drawn to this new flavour of online casino gaming. Only time will tell, but one can’t help but feel optimistic for live-game-offering companies.

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Online casino gaming is a rapidly growing industry. Since 2003 the market has grown by an average of 23% year-on-year, and is now worth a staggeringly massive $41.4 billion a year, up from $39.5 billion in 2014. This is all thanks to a step-change in the way people game,...