BetRivers has launched live dealer games from Playtech, meaning the online casino brand now has deals in place with all three US live dealer suppliers. Playtech’s titles appear in BetRivers’ live dealer lobby alongside titles from Evolution in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. BetRivers Michigan also features games from Light & Wonder’s subsidiary Authentic Gaming, though these are unavailable in the other two states.
Rush Street Interactive (RSI) is the company that operates the BetRivers Casino brand—as well as PlaySugarHouse in Pennsylvania and RushBet internationally. It announced the deal on Tuesday, Sep. 10.
RSI’s CEO Richard Schwartz said:
We are very pleased to be announcing this exciting game supplier relationship with Playtech. At RSI, we are proud to deliver innovative industry leading online entertainment experiences to our players. The addition of this casino content from Playtech will further our efforts to become a leading online operator across the Americas.
Unfortunately for BetRivers players in West Virginia, the partnership doesn’t include the Mountain State. That may come in time, however. Although West Virginia’s population is too small to support in-state live dealer casino game studios, there is a regulatory deal in place with Pennsylvania to allow cross-border streaming. So far, only Evolution has taken advantage of that, but Playtech may eventually follow suit.
What Playtech Live Dealer Games Are Available at BetRivers?
US live dealer companies have been competing to differentiate themselves with unique products. These include standard games with unusual twists and side bets or bespoke game shows—usually based on a money wheel concept plus bonus rounds. Playtech’s contribution to the game show space is Adventures Beyond Wonderland, based on Lewis Carroll’s novels. It has also attempted to bridge the gap between slots and live dealer games with Buffalo Blitz Live.
Playtech has been experimenting with its unique titles, offering a different selection in each market. Exactly what you’ll find at BetRivers depends on where you’re playing. In fact, the only Playtech game available at BetRivers in all three markets is its basic live dealer blackjack product.
Here’s what we found on offer and which states each game is available in:
- Blackjack (all states)
- American Roulette (Pennsylvania and New Jersey)
- Quantum Roulette (Michigan and New Jersey)
- Sports All Bets Blackjack (Pennsylvania only)
- Adventures Beyond Wonderland (New Jersey only)
- Buffalo Blitz Live (Michigan only)
- Cashback Blackjack (Michigan only)
- Mega Fire Blaze Roulette (Michigan only)
- Lounge Baccarat (Michigan only)
If you’re wondering whether a particular BetRivers live dealer game comes from Playtech, they’ve conveniently marked each game in the lobby with a small logo in the top right corner. Playtech’s games are indicated by a right-facing arrow in a swirl, which resembles a music app’s “play” button.
In the spring, Playtech announced it was developing a new line of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? products for the US market. However, there has been no update on a launch date.
Playtech Is Making Up for Lost Time
The popularity of live dealer games has been growing explosively in the US in recent years. Until late 2021, however, Evolution and its subsidiary Ezugi were the only game in town.
Many American online casino players discovered live dealer games in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced brick-and-mortar casinos to close temporarily. That boost may have been what spurred some of Evolution’s competitors—including Playtech—to open their own studios in the US market.
Playtech’s offerings were limited at first, but its emphasis on exclusive content has helped it to expand rapidly in Michigan and New Jersey. In fact, the success of titles like Adventures Beyond Wonderland may have prompted Evolution to invest in bringing some of its more elaborate games, like Crazy Time, to the US. There are still fewer games streaming out of Playtech’s Pennsylvania studio, but that may change.
Regarding the BetRivers partnership, Playtech’s COO Shimon Akad said:
The launch of Playtech’s game content partnership with RSI is a great moment as we build our presence across North America with new content. Our ability to collaborate and distribute content to RSI, an industry-leading operator, is essential to Playtech’s success. Our partnership with RSI, one of the most respected casino operators across the Americas, is going from strength to strength, and we’re delighted to be working alongside their team to bring our market-leading content to BetRivers players in North America.
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