It’s been one year since live dealer table games made their debut in Michigan online casinos.
As its anniversary has hit, the new trend for operators is having their own “exclusive” live dealer studio.
Now when playing live table games, you may notice more operator branding in plain sight.
Along with exclusivity for operators, this latest trend will provide new benefits for players as well.
Evolution of live dealer studios in Michigan
Live dealer games at online casinos in Michigan launched on July 22, 2021.
Over the past year, 13 of Michigan’s 15 online casino operators have added live dealer games. The majority of operators use Evolution as their live casino partner.
Both Evolution and Playtech had live dealer operations running out of a Southfield studio throughout the past year.
This past month, BetMGM Casino announced it was opening its own private live dealer studio in Michigan.
Not to be outdone, FanDuel Casino announced the same weeks later. Both are partnered with Evolution.
Exclusive live dealer games to specific operators are now becoming more popular. More than half a dozen of Michgan’s online operators have exclusive live dealer games which feature their logos on the game table or neighboring signage.
Opening exclusive studios in Michigan may become the growing trend over the second year of live dealer games in the state.
What’s the benefit of live dealer games?
A live dealer table game provides the real feel of being in a retail casino from the privacy of your home.
Users will be playing the game of their choice with a trained, professional dealer and other real players at the virtual table.
The broadcast is obviously live and the gaming screen offers up a variation of sound and video options. It also provides a chat box for any questions or issues that may arise during play.
Currently, Michigan online casino players have varying options of live dealer blackjack, poker, roulette and baccarat available to play, depending on the operator.
Perhaps the biggest reason players may opt to go with a live dealer game is transparency.
In a game like roulette, the wheel is spun by a real person. Each spin is played out in the view of the player. The result is left up to chance. When playing a virtual roulette game, random number generators are responsible for determining the winning result.
Operations are run just as if you are in a real casino. Shuffle machines are in plain view, and dealers and games are paused when a new dealer is brought into table.
The tempo also carries a realistic feel that can keep play moving at a steady pace. That allows users to get in more hands or spins. Apprehensive or new users can also opt to simply view the game and get comfortable with the format before jumping in themselves.
What’s the benefit of an exclusive live dealer studio?
While some users enjoy the live dealer experience, an exclusive studio can provide a few more added benefits.
The most notable is operators will be able to offer exclusive promotions with their studio games.
When joining a non-exclusive live dealer game, you can be playing with others that joined through other online operators. That makes it impossible for exclusive offers or benefits.
With an exclusive live dealer game, all players are coming through a sole online operator.
“A dedicated live dealer studio offers FanDuel the ability to offer players exclusive promotions and with the addition of live updates with dynamic stats, the FanDuel Live Dealer Games will be attractive to both experienced and novice players,” FanDuel said in its release on opening an exclusive studio in Michigan and Pennsylvania. “The user interface will guide players in what bets you can place and even show potential winnings for your bets.”
Expect exclusive live dealer studios to continue to emerge in the state. Michigan remains just one of six with legalized online casinos. Evolution has invested a lot into the state already and is upping the ante with its FanDuel and BetMGM studios.
“We’re thrilled that BetMGM has again entrusted Evolution with providing a full dedicated studio solution, powered by our technology,” said Jeff Millar, Commercial Director North America at Evolution. “As we set out to create a unique feel that players would love, the BetMGM studio in Michigan is one of the grandest we’ve built. We’re excited to continue our work within the state of Michigan, while strengthening our ongoing partnership with BetMGM.”
Lead image: Screenshot via FanDuel Casino
