The End of an Era: Live Casino Games That Won't Make It Into 2025

The live casino scene in South Africa is always buzzing with new tech and what players want, constantly changing things up. As we edge closer to mid-2025, a few live dealer games that used to be massive hits are on their way out. The studios that used to proudly show them off are quietly pulling them from their lineups, making space for fresher, more exciting experiences. Let's take a look at five live casino games that will soon be just a memory from a past era of online gambling in South Africa.

Evolution Gaming's "Double Ball Roulette" - A Farewell?

Evolution Gaming, the big boss in live casino entertainment, is getting ready to retire its once-groundbreaking "Double Ball Roulette" from its massive game collection. Launched back in 2016, this version put a fresh spin on the classic by using two balls instead of one. This dramatically boosted potential payouts and opened up some thrilling new betting combos.

Even though it was a hit with players in South Africa looking for those bigger roulette wins (up to 1,300 to 1 if both balls landed on the same number), the game has seen fewer and fewer players over the last couple of years. Word from inside the industry points to a few reasons for Evolution's decision:

• It was trickier to run and cost more than standard roulette tables.
• New players found the extra betting options a bit confusing.
• Evolution's own flashier, newer roulette games were stealing its thunder.

The game is slated to be removed from Evolution's live lobbies by Q2 2024. The company is shifting its focus to itsimmersive Live XXXtreme game seriesand augmented reality offerings, which have proven more popular with today's South African players.

Light & Wonder's "Dual Play Baccarat" - A Unique Concept Fades

Light & Wonder (previously Scientific Games) is set to phase out its "Dual Play Baccarat" from its live casino selection by early 2025. This game was a real game-changer, aiming to blend the experience of land-based casinos and online play by letting players join the same table. It was initially hailed as a groundbreaking way to create a united casino experience.

The game used cameras set up at physical casino baccarat tables, allowing online players to jump into real-world games as they happened. Despite the cool idea, the product ran into a few snags:

• Technical headaches trying to keep the stream quality consistent from partner casinos.
• Timing issues between the physical casino's operating hours and when online players wanted to play.
• Limited scalability compared to fully digital live dealer solutions

While moderately successful in Asian markets, the game never gained the traction Light & Wonder had hoped for in European and American markets. The company has indicated they're pivoting away from dual-play concepts to focus on their pure online live dealer products with more controllable environments and enhanced production values.

Ezugi's "Bet on Numbers"

Ezugi, now part of the Evolution Gaming Group but still operating as a separate brand, is quietly phasing out its "Bet on Numbers" game. This lottery-style live game was Ezugi's attempt to capitalize on the popularity of lottery products in a live casino format, featuring live draws conducted by presenters in a studio environment.

Despite initial interest, "Bet on Numbers" failed to maintain a consistent player base for several reasons:

• The game lacked the social interaction elements that make most appealing live casino games.
• Draw frequencies couldn't compete with the rapid-fire pace of virtual lottery games.
• The format proved less engaging than Ezugi's table games with direct dealer interaction.

The game currently operates on a reduced schedule and will be completely removed from Ezugi's portfolio by the end of 2024. The company has already begun reallocating studio space and dealer resources to expand their more successful offerings like live blackjack and their localized games for emerging markets.

Authentic Gaming's "Live Auto Roulette"

Authentic Gaming's Live Auto Roulette, once a pioneer in streaming real casino floor roulette wheels to online players, is another casualty of evolving player preferences. This product differentiated itself by featuring actual physical roulette wheels from prestigious European casinos without human dealers, using automated mechanisms instead.

The concept initially attracted purists who appreciated the authenticity of real wheels but disliked the slower pace of dealer-operated games. However, the product has seen steadily declining interest because:

• Players increasingly prefer the human element and interaction of dealer-run games
• Evolution's and Playtech's more technologically advanced auto-roulette products offer superior camera angles and betting interfaces
• The operational costs of maintaining physical wheels in casino partnerships has become less economically viable

Authentic Gaming has already reduced the number of streams available and plans to completely discontinue the product by mid-2024, focusing instead on their "Skyline" studio offerings that feature live dealers and more interactive elements.

NetEnt Live's "Common Draw Blackjack"

NetEnt , now fully integrated into the Evolution Gaming family, is discontinuing its "Common Draw Blackjack" product. This game took an unconventional approach to live blackjack by having all players use the same hand, removing the traditional seat limitations of blackjack while maintaining the core gameplay.

Despite the clever solution to blackjack's limited seating problem, the game never achieved the popularity of traditional seven-seat blackjack tables for several key reasons:

• Players missed the personal connection of having their own dedicated hand
• The strategic element was diminished without individual decision-making
• The format created confusion among traditional blackjack players

The game was already operating with reduced hours before Evolution's acquisition of NetEnt, and it's now scheduled for complete removal by Q1 2025. Evolution has indicated they will focus on their "Infinite Blackjack" and "Power Blackjack" products instead, which solved the same scalability problem while maintaining individual player hands.

Conclusion: Are All Live Games at Risk?

While these five games are heading toward retirement, this doesn't signal a broader decline in live casino gaming. In fact, the discontinuation of these products reflects the industry's healthy evolution rather than contraction. Live gaming providers are becoming more selective about which games earn valuable studio space and development resources, focusing on products that resonate with today's players.

The live casino gaming sector continues to grow at an impressive rate, with providers introducing innovative new concepts like game shows, augmented reality experiences, and multiplier-heavy variants that appeal to younger demographics. What we're witnessing isn't the decline of live casino gaming, but rather its refinement – out with the underperformers and in with the next generation of immersive experiences.