Caesars Digital has partnered with Inspired Entertainment to introduce bespoke hybrid dealer games at Caesars Palace Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino. Inspired’s patent-pending hybrid dealer technology combines pre-recorded footage of real dealers with digitally randomized results.
The RNG-generated games operate 24/7 and use changing hosts to maintain player engagement. The new bespoke games will bring the Vegas Strip experience and Caesars flagship properties to online players. Pre-recorded footage allows operators like Caesars to offer products similar to live dealer games without the same overhead cost.
With the announcement, Caesars will become the second operator to offer Inspired’s hybrid games. In October, BetMGM introduced MGM Bonus City in New Jersey. Like Caesars, MGM incorporated iconic company properties like the Bellagio, MGM Grand, Luxor, and New York – New York into the themes. Adding hybrid games by gaming giants Caesars and MGM attests to the growing popularity of live dealer games and unique game variations.
New Addition to Caesars’ Bespoke Lineup
The partnership between Caesars and Inspired will allow Caesars to expand its bespoke online casino selection. Since rebranding its standalone casino app to Caesars Palace Casino in August, the company has added several games, including slots, table games, and variety games with Caesars branding and images.
The first title was Caesars Cleopatra, a customized version of IGT’s popular slot. Shortly after, Caesars announced the launch of Lady Luck Casino Egyptian Magic, an adaptation of Bragg Gaming’s Egyptian Magic. However, unlike Caesars Cleopatra, this adaptation promotes the Lady Luck brand. Other branded titles include:
- Caesars Fortune, an adaptation of Everi’s Black Diamond Deluxe
- Caesars Palace Slingo
- Caesars Palace Riches Lucky Tap
- Caesars Palace American Roulette
- Caesars Palace Blackjack Players’ Choice
These additions seem to be paying off, as Caesars said the new standalone app was a primary factor for Caesar Digital’s continued profit in Q3.
Unique Dealer Games Could Be a Key to Market Share Gain
Live dealer games are growing in popularity across the US online casino market. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s annual report shows that such games generated over 50% of online table games’ total revenue for the past fiscal year, even as table game revenue at retail casinos declined.
Evolution Gaming remains the foremost provider of live dealer games in the US, but many other companies are looking to pull some market share away from the industry leader.
The trouble with that is the huge initial outlay to build a custom television studio for each new game. The hybrid dealer idea circumvents that by using pre-recorded footage. However, it remains to be seen whether that’s a compromise that will be appealing to players.
On the live dealer front, the most recent arrival is Authentic Gaming, a subsidiary of Light & Wonder (LNW). After making promises for a long time, Authentic entered the US in October via a Michigan license. The company started offering live dealer games at Golden Nugget Casino and BetRivers Casino, including LNW’s first crossover product, 7’s on Fire Live. The product combines a game show version of roulette with LNW’s popular 7’s on Fire Slot.
Another gaming giant, Playtech, also entered the US live dealer space with a unique offering. Earlier this year, the company launched Adventures Beyond Wonderland in New Jersey. As the name suggests, it’s a live game show adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Playtech also introduced LiveMega Fire Blaze Roulette in Michigan, a live dealer version of its Mega Fire Blaze Roulette.
The industry leader, Evolution, has also stayed busy and launched variations of its live dealer games. One example is the launch of Dual Roulette in New Jersey. The game allows online players at BetMGM Casino to play alongside those physically playing at Borgata Casino in Atlantic City. In the summer, New Jersey players saw another new game by Evolution. Following the success of Lightning Roulette and Lightning Blackjack, the company introduced Lightning Dice in the Garden State.
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