The casino business started on classic live dealer games like blackjack, roulette, craps and baccarat. These games rely on mechanical random number generators (RNGs) such as playing cards, dice and wheels. As computer technology advanced, gaming manufacturers began developing casino-style games that could be played both inside a casino and online. These games use virtual or software RNGs to mimic their mechanical counterparts.
With the advent of faster internet speeds, gaming manufacturers outside the U.S. started offering live-dealer casino games from studios to players at home. Live-dealer games like roulette and baccarat, which don’t require player decisions during the game, proved highly profitable for operators because they are scalable and can accommodate an infinite number of players. In contrast, games like blackjack and poker, which require player decisions, are not as easily scalable.
Hybrid Gaming system and methodology, developed by Uplay1, is an innovative approach that makes any casino game not only highly scalable but also capable of offering higher payouts. Hybrid Gaming is built on three principles, and depending on the game, they can be applied individually or in combination. The three principles are:
- Use of both mechanical and virtual RNGs in determining a game’s outcome
- Removing the value of drawn mechanical RNGs from the population of virtual game values
- Dealing contingent mechanical game values
Examples of How Hybrid Gaming Works
- Blackjack: The dealer deals contingent cards to the players, who then decide whether to take them or not. For example, Evolution’s Infinite Blackjack and Playtech’s All Bets Blackjack, which allow an unlimited number of players to play against one dealer, use this concept.
- Roulette: The game’s system generates a set of virtual roulette numbers that act as multipliers for the mechanical wheel. If the ball lands on a number that coincides with one of the virtually drawn numbers, the player receives a significantly higher payout than in the regular game. Evolution’s Lightening Roulette and Playtech’s Quantum Roulette are based on this principle and have proved to be very popular games.
- Live Video Poker: The dealer deals cards that are scanned and recognized by the system. Each player can choose to hold or discard any of the cards, which are then randomly replaced with virtual cards. Evolution’s Video Poker game, which is similar to Action Gaming’s multi-hand video poker slot machine game, allows players to play up to 100 hands at a time using the dealer’s five poker cards.
- Texas Hold’Em: The dealer draws common and burnt cards, which are scanned and recognized by the system and removed from the virtual deck dealt to each virtual table, ensuring no overlap with the community cards. This process allows an unlimited number of players to play against each other on an unlimited number of virtual tables using the dealer’s cards. This could revitalize online poker again.
In Europe, Hybrid Gaming is offered from studios to remote players. As online gaming became legalized in some U.S. states, European live-dealer providers followed suit and built studios in those states to offer their games. However, since U.S. casinos have ample gaming space, it would be more cost-effective and appealing to players if Hybrid Gaming were offered from the casino floors.
In the states where online gaming is not yet legalized, operators can still benefit from the economies of scale that Hybrid Gaming provides and build the foundation for their future online gaming operation.
Now that most states have legalized online sports betting, it can be used as a stepping stone towards full online gaming, bringing more revenues to the operators and more taxes to the states. With everyone having a phone, a laptop, and a good internet connection, the paradigm of gaming is changing, and Hybrid Gaming is going to be the fastest-growing segment of the gambling business.
Conclusion
Hybrid Gaming is the fastest-growing segment of casino gaming. It provides economies of scale, reduces operational costs, and, with high payouts, appeals more to players. Operators can embrace Hybrid Gaming while waiting for their states to legalize online gaming and offer the games from their casino floors to be played in their resorts. This innovative approach ensures that the casino industry remains dynamic and adaptable, offering players exciting and scalable gaming experiences.
