How important is live casino for operators today, compared to slots and sports betting?

Sharon McHugh: Ultimately, what’s important to players is what’s important to operators. Players are looking for engaging and authentic experiences, with strong win potential, while operators are looking for content that keeps them coming back for more. That demand continues to drive investment in live casino innovation, whether that’s new game formats, greater personalisation or more immersive environments. Pragmatic Play aims to combine cutting-edge technology with exceptional presenters and feature-rich products to deliver entertainment players love.

Gary Francis: It will continue to form the core of the industry, and this situation is not expected to change. No other area requires the same level of operational effort, with actual studios, decor, tables, cards, dealers, shifts, as opposed to the apparent lower level of complexity found in RNG products. It is exactly this level of complexity that enables it to maintain its current status. However, focusing solely on live casino games has its limits. Providers who have only live tables will, at some point, receive a query from an operator asking whether they also offer slots, instant games, crash games and this kind of question comes more frequently than most live-only providers anticipate. Operators do not buy out individual verticals; instead, they look for partners who can grow with an expanding range of offerings. Having depth in live casino is the starting point, but having a wide variety of formats is now a necessary condition.