When it comes to live dealer games, Evolution Gaming is the gold standard. Since 2006, the software provider has revolutionized how we can play games online, taking the quality of live software to a whole new level and coming up with new and innovative live gaming formats. Everything you need to know about Evolution Gaming is here, including the best Evolution Gaming online casinos you can join now.
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First up, we consider the number of Evolution games on offer in the casino and how they compare to competitors. Next, we go through our rating system, with our experts required to spend at least two hours testing each of the following five areas:
User Experience: This is all about how a site feels to use, what it looks like and how well the software works. We sign up and explore the casino, taking our time to get a sense of the platform on both desktop and mobile. Is it beginner-friendly? Is there a learning curve? What type of player would suit the site? These are the kinds of questions we consider.
Games and Features: When it comes to the best Evolution casinos, we jump right into the live tables. We want to make sure the software works properly, that the video quality is clear and consistent and that there is no lag time or connectivity issues. Next, we check out the rest of the gaming menu, as well as any other interesting features or unique games.
Promotions and Bonuses: We personally opt-in to every single promo on offer at each casino, starting with the welcome bonus. Is there a promo code required? How easy is it to start using your bonus right away? Are there any tricky terms and conditions? On-running promos and loyalty offers are a big factor too. Ultimately, we want to see bonuses that genuinely add value to the playing experience.
Deposits and Withdrawals: We test out all the different types of payment methods available, going through the process of depositing and withdrawing from start to finish. This means we can tell you exactly how it worked for us, so you aren’t relying on the cookie-cutter info provided by the casinos themselves. We look for fast processing times, user friendly limits and no extra fees.
Customer Support: We test out every single customer support channel, including live chat, email and phone support. We have a special set of questions that we use, which makes it easy to compare the help available among different casinos. We also check out the help section and the FAQs, which are important elements that improve the user experience.
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After our pages are published, our team of post-publication editors are tasked with making sure they remain up-to-date and accurate, with five hours per month dedicated to the process.
Evolution was created in 2006, guided by a vision of live streaming roulette from Monte Carlo to people around the world. From the very beginning, even before the software really allowed it, live dealer games were the focus of the company.
At online casinos, live dealer games are real games hosted by a real dealer and broadcast live over the internet. Most games at online casinos are virtual, with the results determined by a piece of software known as a Random Number Generator (RNG). Live dealer games don’t use an RNG. Instead, the randomness and the results of the games are built into the game itself.
The games work in exactly the same way as if you were playing them in person at a brick-and-mortar casino. The live video feed shows you the action and you can use the digital interface to place your bets. When each round ends, the winnings get paid out immediately, exactly as if the dealer were pushing your chips over to you at the table.
This is an overview of how live games work at online casinos, but there are many variations and offshoots, which I’m going to get into below.
Evolution has designed 53 different live dealer games, ranging from classic live blackjack and roulette tables to much more innovative games you won’t even find in a regular casino. Additionally, there are another 26 live games on the larger Evolution menu, developed by Ezugi, a live software competitor acquired by Evolution in 2018. That makes a total of 79 on the overarching menu.
Evolution’s success is based on its high production values, with over a dozen studios around Europe and North America, including in Spain, Georgia and Malta, as well as Canada, New Jersey and Michigan. The games are filmed live in these studios, tastefully designed to recreate the atmosphere of playing at a busy casino in Las Vegas or Monaco.
The range of games at Evolution is really interesting and diverse. To understand them, it helps to break them up into three categories:
The concept of live dealer games at online casinos all started with the idea to broadcast regular table games from casinos live, especially games like blackjack and roulette. It aimed to take advantage of advances in internet technology, with live games seen as the next frontier in the early 2000’s after the dot com boom that kick-started online gambling.
These were Evolution’s earliest games: regular blackjack, roulette and baccarat tables, just like you play in the casino. They remain an integral and popular part of the catalog today.
The goal was and is to make these games immersive and realistic, to narrow the gap between playing online and playing in person as much as possible. With professional dealers who behave exactly as they do in the casino, familiar games with classic rules, and sounds that recreate the ambience of a busy casino, you should be able to close your eyes and imagine you are there.
Check out some of Evolution’s classic table games below:
American Roulette
Auto Roulette
Live Blackjack
Power Blackjack
Free Bet Blackjack
Live Craps
Baccarat
Peek Baccarat
Fan Tan
Dragon Tiger
Live Teen Patti
Video Poker
Casino Hold’em
Evolution soon recognized the potential of live technology and how it could be used to create a twist on the classics. Plus, some classic table games had in-built limitations: blackjack tables had a limited number of seats per table, which is not very friendly to mass-market online gaming.
This led to the creation of table games with interesting innovations, with one foot in the traditional brick-and-mortar world and the other in the world of online technology. Often, they incorporate digital RNG technology, in some cases creating hybrid games.
Lightning roulette is a perfect example. In this game, players place their bets and the roulette wheel is spun, as usual. However, before the ball settles, between one and five numbers on the table are randomly struck by lightning, each one receiving a multiplier. If you have bet on any of the lightning numbers and the ball lands there, your win is supercharged. To compensate for the multipliers, individual numbers are paid out at 29-1 instead of the regular 35-1, significantly decreasing the RTP on those bets but raising the potential maximum payouts.
Infinite Blackjack is another example, created to enable unlimited players at the same time rather than being restricted to just the standard seven seats. In this game, every player begins with the same hand, which they can then play however they wish. The dealer proceeds with the round until its conclusion, with players paid out at the end depending on the actions they chose. Infinite Blackjack would never work at a regular casino, but it was an important innovation for Evolution.
You can see some of these games below:
Lightning Roulette
Lightning Blackjack
First Person Roulette
First Person Blackjack
First Person Craps
First Person Lightning Blackjack
Blackjack Party
Infinite Blackjack
Red Door Roulette
XXXtreme Lightning Baccarat
First Person Golden Wealth Baccarat
Gold Vault Roulette
The creation of Game Show games was a huge moment, not just for Evolution but also for online gamblers all over the world. It all kicked off in 2017 with the release of Dream Catcher, which saw Evolution move entirely away from traditional casino games and create a whole new category of games.
As they sound, Game Show games take a lot of their cues from TV game shows. Generally speaking, the “dealer” on these live dealer games is actually more like a host of a TV show. It’s their job to run the game, but also to keep the energy high, to entertain viewers, and sometimes even to play the role of a character. Many of these games require their dealers to have little or no casino techniques (like shuffling or dealing cards).
Prize wheels and bingo balls are a big feature of Evolution Game Shows, as well as randomizer tools, which determine the trajectory of the game. They incorporate bonus games and extra prizes, and may have a narrative thread running through each round. The average round time is generally longer than the more traditional games, with each player given the opportunity to buy-in at the start of each round.
In some cases, they have been produced in partnership with real TV or board game franchises, like Monopoly Live or Deal or No Deal Live.
Check out some of Evolution’s Game Shows below:
Crazy Time
Funky Time
Monopoly Live
Crazy Coin Flip
Cash or Crash
Deal or No Deal Live
First Person Deal or No Deal
Mega Ball
First Person Mega Ball
Stock Market
Lightning Lotto
Dream Catcher
Gonzo’s Treasure Map Live
Evolution is exclusively dedicated to creating live dealer games, and there are no slots that have been released under the Evolution banner. However, as we’re going to get into in the History section below, Evolution has acquired several of its competitors in the world of the best online casino software providers, who have brought with them a healthy selection of slots.
Chief among them is NetEnt, one of the top handful of slot providers in the world, which was bought by Evolution in 2020. NetEnt is the company behind several of the most iconic games in the history of the industry, including Starburst, Dead or Alive and Gonzo’s Quest. The partnership has also resulted in some crossover titles, including Gonzo's Treasure Map Live and Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt which incorporates virtual reality technology.
Other software providers acquired by NetEnt, which include their own slots and virtual table games, include Red Tiger, Big Time Gaming and Nolimit City.
Evolution’s range of live dealer games is incredibly impressive. For my top ten list, I’ve chosen a selection that shows the very best of the provider and also touches on each of the categories of games I mentioned above.
RTP: 99.47%
First on our list, we’ve got one of Evolution’s signature games. Infinite Blackjack solved the problem of when you have thousands of people online at once all wanting to play a game that, by design, normally allows up to seven players.
With Infinite Blackjack, there is just one seat in front of the dealer. Everyone who places a bet at the start of the round plays the same initial two card hand. From here, from your perspective, the game proceeds as normal. You can choose to play your hand however you want, with all the usual options available: Stand, Hit, Double and Split. If you bust or choose to stand, you just have to wait for all the other players to make their decisions and the round to end. At the end, as normal, the dealer reveals their cards and wins are paid out immediately.
There are also four optional side bets: Any Pair, 21+3, Hot 3 and Bust It. From an RTP perspective, these are not favorable, but add some extra spice to the game. The minimum bet at Infinite Blackjack is normally just $1, often considerably lower than the regular, limited seat tables. And, of course, the real genius of Infinite Blackjack is knowing that you’ll never have to wait for a seat at the table.
From a software perspective, Infinite Blackjack shows a lot of what makes Evolution great. The set is realistic and tasteful, which re-creates the feeling of being in a cozy booth in a casino. You can hear the ambient noise of other games being filmed in the background, which again adds to the atmosphere. As will become a theme in this list, the dealers are consistently skilled and friendly. They can also see the chat, and respond to messages from players in real time.
Play Infinite Blackjack at BetMGM Casino.
RTP: 97.10%
Lightning Roulette was launched in 2018, becoming the first classic casino game produced by Evolution to get the RNG, random multiplier treatment. Since its release, lightning versions of blackjack and baccarat have been released, as well as sequels like XXXtreme Lightning Roulette.
With lightning roulette, at the start of every round after bets have been placed, between one and five numbers are randomly chosen to receive a muti-plier, between 50x and 500x. If you have bet on a straight up number that receives the multiplier, and it hits, your payout gets massively enhanced. The multiplier only comes into play for straight up bets, so bets like red/black or even/odd work just the same as regular European roulette.
To compensate for the multiplier, the payout for a straight up bet with no multiplier is changed to 29-1, rather than the standard 35-1. This means the overall RTP of Lightning Roulette drops, but only a little, to 97.10%. Plus, you have the possibility of hitting much larger jackpot wins compared with regular roulette.
The multiplier numbers are determined using an RNG, with a cool lightning animation that strikes the board before the wheel is spun. This game was an early indication of Evolution’s willingness to innovate and embrace non-traditional elements in their games, which had originally all been about aiming to be as authentic and similar to a real casino as possible. Lightning roulette also pioneered the use of multiple cameras, zoom-ins and close-ups, which makes the game more immersive. Which brings us to…
Try Lightning Roulette at FanDuel.
RTP: 97.30%
Immersive Roulette was a moment that Evolution really began to flex its muscles in terms of production, and expand what we previously thought possible for live dealer games when it was released in 2013. The concept is simple: regular European roulette with normal rules, but presented in a way that had never been seen before online.
This is done with a multi-camera set up, featuring different angles of both the dealer and the roulette wheel, all in 200-frames per second High Definition. The slow motion replay of the ball landing is a real highlight, showing the mechanics of roulette in a genuinely new way and really making clear the randomness of the final position of the ball.
“Immersive” is the right way to describe it: the close-ups make the game feel like it's part of a glossy action sequence from a Hollywood movie, while the sound palette of shuffling chips and the bouncing ball recreate the experience of being in the casino.
All the regular bets are available and each round plays out exactly as it would in a casino. But it’s the player experience that felt like a real step forward for live dealer games, and Immersive Roulette duly won Game of the Year at the ERG Awards the year after its release in 2014. Evolution would go on to explore similar concepts, like Multi-Camera Baccarat.
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RTP: 88.18% - 99-17%
Of all the classic casino table games that Evolution produces, Craps is perhaps the game that has the most to lose in the transition from playing in the casino to playing online. Craps is often the noisiest table on the casino floor and a big part of the appeal of the game lies in the community atmosphere, supporting other players as they hit their wins, taking turns to throw, blowing on the dice, riding the “lucky streak” and more. None of this is really fully replicable online, but Evolution makes a good fist of it.
Live Craps was the world’s first live dealer version of craps, when Evolution released it in late 2020. Craps can be a chaotic and confusing game, and Evolution wisely included some features to help make this version more accessible. There is a Live Tutorial built into the software, which explains the game thoroughly. You can also turn on an Easy Mode which features fewer bets that makes the game more beginner friendly. And, very importantly, the live chat box is available, which helps with the friendly atmosphere of a busy table.
The role of the shooter has been replaced with a robotic arm which throws the dice. Live Craps is another game that makes really intelligent use of multiple camera angles, zooming in on the dice when it lands and really providing the depth perspective of the craps table. The speakeasy theme is very well presented too, and the dealer is great both at keeping the energy high and explaining how the game is progressing.
Start playing Craps Live at Borgata.
RTP: 96.58%.
Dream Catcher is the game that kickstarted the game show revolution. Released in 2017, it saw Evolution move away from the world of the casino for the first time, and instead enter the live TV studio.
The game is actually extremely simple. There is a Wheel of Fortune style wheel which contains the numbers 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 40. Before the wheel is spun each round, players can bet on which number they think will land, with the payout corresponding to the number (1:1, 2:1. 5:1 etc). There are also two multiplier slots: 2x and 7x. If the wheel lands on one of these, all bets remain and the wheel is spun again until it lands on a number, with the possibility of multipliers on top of multipliers.
Dream Catcher is very easy to play. There is absolutely no learning curve and the multipliers add some fun extra spice to each spin.
But it’s the presentation that made the game special. For the first time, the host of the game is recognizably not in a casino. Although they do physically spin the wheel, their role is much more about presenting than actually running the game. They hold a microphone like a standup comedian, often cracking jokes and generally creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Although simple, the seeds of the more complex game show games (like the next ones in the list) are all visible in Dream Catcher.
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RTP: 94.41-96.08%
Dream Catcher walked so Crazy Time could fly. It starts off with a similar concept: a prize wheel containing 54 segments: the numbers 1, 2, 5 and 10, plus 9 segments that trigger one of four bonus games. There are 4 Coin Flip segments, 2 each for Cash Hunt and Pachinko and 1 for the Crazy Time bonus game. Also, at the start of each round, a two-reel Top Slot will spin, which can award any segment a random multiplier from 2x to 50x. If a bonus game slot gets the multiplier, it is applied to all winnings from the game.
Crazy Time is all about the bonus games, which can lead to huge wins. The flipside is that, to qualify for a bonus game, you need to have bet on the segment before the round and they don’t land too often. It makes Crazy Time a high volatility game, where you might be playing for a while before you manage to play a bonus game.
The production value is excellent. When a bonus game is triggered, the host actually leaves the studio through a door to lead the games. Each one is genuinely different and genuinely fun: in Pachinko for instance, the host actually climbs up to drop a puck down the huge Pachinko wall, with different payouts and multipliers waiting at the bottom.
There is too much going on to explain all the bonus games in-depth, but suffice to say that Crazy Time represented another huge step forward for Evolution, and the most fun and game-show-y of all the game show games produced up to that point.
Register at BetMGM Casino and get ready for some Crazy Time!
RTP: 91.30% - 96.23%
Monopoly Live was created in collaboration with Hasbro, the toy manufacturer. In fact, the game itself is much more similar to games like Dream Catcher and Crazy Time than a game of Monopoly. Once again, it’s based around a prize wheel, this time with some Monopoly themed twists. In addition to the numbers 1, 2, 5 and 10, there are two Chance segments (which unlock a random multiplier or cash prize) and three 2 Rolls segments and one 4 Rolls segment, both of which unlock the bonus game.
Similar to Crazy Time, you need to have bet on the bonus segments in order to qualify for the games when they land.
During the bonus games, we leave the real world studio and venture into a 3D animated Monopoly Board. The 2 Rolls and 4 Rolls indicate the number of rolls of the dice we start with. Back in the real world, the host throws the dice and Mr. Monopoly begins to make his way around the board. Just like the real game, a double means we get an extra free roll. Each street has a different prize, which gets added to the total whenever Mr. Monopoly lands on it. There are other squares too, like Chance and Community Chest, which have other effects. He can even go to jail!
Monopoly Live is a fun game which really combines the physical live game with extensive 3D animation. It feels like one of the more unique games in Evolution’s catalog for that reason.
RTP: 95.42%
Another game created under license by its copyright holder, in this case Endemol Shine, Deal or No Deal Live, is probably the closest thing Evolution has produced to a genuine game show. It’s the only game on our list where the player still retains control over the trajectory of the game once it starts, with the ability to make decisions just like you would on the TV show.
The “Live” part of the game is actually all in the presentation, the studio and the host. The actual result of the game is determined by RNG software, just like a virtual casino game.
Somewhat confusingly, you need to qualify to play in the game. This is done in the preamble before each round starts, by spinning a virtual wheel so that the golden segments match, a little like a 3-reel slot. You can spin as many times as you like to try to qualify, normally at a minimum of $0.10 per spin.
Once qualified, you have the option of adding more money to the briefcases before the main game starts. This is basically another way of increasing your bet.
Finally, the game begins with 16 different briefcases, each containing a hidden multiplier between 0.10x and 50x, with one high value briefcase that could go all the way up to 500x. Just like the TV show, the aim of the game is to extract the most money possible, either by accepting one of the banker’s periodic offers or by remaining until the end and opening the final box.
There is a lot going on with this game. By the nature of the qualifying round, it’s extremely volatile but does offer potentially huge payouts. It’s also a great example of Evolution pushing the envelope and getting really creative playing live games online.
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RTP: 95.26%
Evolution purchased NetEnt in 2020, gaining control of its rich library of virtual slot games. Gonzo’s Treasure Map is a live game featuring one of NetEnt’s most beloved characters, Gonzo, which itself was an adaptation of an unsuccessful live game called Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt.
The game combines a human host with a life sized, 3D animated version of Gonzo himself. It’s a fun and slightly surreal combination, with the host sometimes interacting with the cartoon explorer on either side of the map.
The game is pretty simple: the “map” is a grid made up of 70 different squares. At the start of each round, you can place a bet on any of the squares. When the game begins, the map is revealed, which includes the location of three Gonzo Key Stones. If you have bet on any of these squares, you qualify for the bonus round. Next, five gold blocks are dropped from the top of the grid, settling in any of the squares randomly. Each one has a 10x or 20x multiplier, and if it lands on a block where you placed your bet, you get paid out accordingly. To trigger the bonus game, one of the gold blocks must land on the Gonzo Key Stone.
Gonzo’s Treasure Map is a fun combination of the best of Evolution and NetEnt. The life sized Gonzo is a fun addition to the game, especially when he turns the key to trigger the bouns game.
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RTP: 96.47%
Extra Chilli Epic Spins is another crossover game, based on Big Time Gaming’s Extra Chilli Megaways slot and created after Evolution acquired BTG in 2021. Cosmetically, it looks a lot more like a traditional slot game, compared with Gonzo’s Treasure Map and the overall experience will be familiar to anyone who has played the BTG original.
The game is based around a standard Megaways slot, with a different number of paylines possible on every spin. Unlike a regular online slot, you buy into the game in batches of five spins - so one bet means you are involved for the next five spins. For those spins, you get paid out according to whether you hit winning lines.
You can also land Mystery Crates and the Piñata, which hand out multipliers and may contain the letters H, O or T. When you spell out HOT, you trigger the free spins bonus game, culminating in the Gamble Wheel, a separate prize wheel where you can trigger more free spins.
Extra Chilli Epic Spins is the most slot-like game Evolution has created, with the core of the game essentially a version of an “everyone plays” slot. The fun Mexican theme, the host and especially the bonus round, however, elevate it to something more fun.
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Evolution is widely regarded as the number one live software provider in the whole iGaming industry. With plenty of other great providers out there, including giants like Playtech, it’s an impressive feat to make it to the top of the tree. In this section, I want to touch on some of the things that set Evolution apart from the rest.
If I had to sum up everything that was great about Evolution in two words, I would probably go for “production value”. It’s clear that they really care about how their games look and feel, every single time. From doing the simple things right, like the attention to detail that goes into making sure the blackjack table runs smoothly, to the creativity and execution that go into something like Crazy Time, Evolution is just unmatched. Things like the slow motion HD replays, the 3D animations on Monopoly Live, the way the hosts move smoothly between different sets in the same game - it’s extremely impressive and a joy to play.
Evolution’s classic table games are excellent, but it's in the game shows where Evolution has most obviously separated itself from the competition. While many live providers are content to just focus on their blackjack and roulette tables, Evolution is out there actually inventing new types of games. The shift towards a host rather than a dealer has made people think differently about what they want from their live games. The crossover games with NetEnt and BTG, as well as collaborations like Monopoly Live, are another example of Evolution’s ingenuity.
Across the board, Evolution does a fantastic job of drawing you into the world of each game. With blackjack or roulette, this can be done with simple things like the ambient noise of other games in the background, evoking the atmosphere of a real casino. With hybrid games like Lightning Roulette, it’s the tasteful way they incorporate the RNG elements to elevate the game, without making it feel tacky. With the game shows, you just need to look at the sets and the various bonus games. And that’s before we get into the actual Immersive series of games, with HD cameras and close-ups of the action. It’s always apparent that you are playing an Evolution game.
The dealers and hosts are a huge part of what makes Evolution great. At a minimum, they are always very professional and capable. In all my time playing Evolution games, I’ve never once seen them lose control of the game or drop their professionalism. They are generally very engaged with the chat box, happy to interact with players and answer questions. On game shows and the more high octane games, the hosts are required to match the energy of the games and generally create a fun environment, which they do perfectly.
Evolution was founded in 2006 by two Swedish childhood friends, Jens von Bahr and Fredrik Österberg. By 2007, they had begun to film live casino games at a purpose built studio in Riga, Latvia. Over the next decade, Evolution set about revolutionizing the world of online live dealer games in Europe, opening studios in multiple countries. In 2018, Evolution launched in the US. Today, Evolution has designed at least 53 unique live games. They are independently monitored for fairness by eCOGRA and have received the Certified Live Dealer Seal, which involves testing both software and hardware.
Evolution Overview | |
---|---|
Founded | 2006 |
Headquarters | Level 1, Spinola Park, Mikiel Ang. Borg Street, St Julians, SPK 1000, Malta |
Phone number | (604) 341-1347 |
Website | https://www.evolution.com/ |
# of employees | 10,000+ |
# of games | 53 (plus additional games from acquired providers like NetEnt) |
Check out our timeline of major events in Evolution’s history:
Evolution Gaming (as the company was originally known) is founded by Jens von Bahr and Fredrik Österberg, thanks to a seed investment from a British billionaire investor called Richard Livingstone. The two friends are inspired by the dream of live streaming roulette from Monte Carlo around the world.
Evolution opens its first dedicated live casino studio in Riga, Latvia. It was a relatively slow beginning for the company: Evolution not only had to work out the kinks inherent in live steaming in the mid 2000s, but also needed to convince casino operators that this was a viable product their customer wanted.
Unibet trials Evolution games on their online platform.
A year later, another European online casino becomes the first site to host a dedicated “Live Casino” section in the main menu of their site. Activity increases by 400% year on year. It was the clearest sign yet that the general public has an appetite for live dealer games.
Now based full-time in Malta, von Bahr and Österberg set their sights on expanding around Europe by collecting licenses for as many countries as possible. The online casinos of Europe have been persuaded of the value of live dealer games, and Evolution has positioned itself at the forefront of the scramble to provide software. They became the first live provider in the newly regulated Italian market.
Evolution completes a revamp of its software to support mobile gaming. They also entered the Danish market.
Evolution launches a studio in Spain. The same year, the 100th live table opens at the studios in Riga, making Evolution the largest single-site casino business in Europe.
Evolution begins to expand its range of games, moving away from the more traditional table games. Bet Behind Blackjack and Three Card Poker are released. By the end of the year, there are 120 active tables.
Evolution goes public, listed on the Nasdaq First North Premier, Stockholm. A studio is launched in Belgium.
2017 is a big year for Evolution, both creatively and professionally. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Nordic in the summer, before Dream Catcher is launched later in the year, the first live game show game ever released at online casinos. “We really tried hard to make Dream Catcher a game that will expand the live casino space,” says Todd Haushalter in a press release.
Evolution acquires its first competitor, a live casino provider called Ezugi. The company expands to North America, with a studio opening in New Jersey. An agreement is reached with Unibet to host Evolution games on their US platform. New games like Lightning Roulette and Football Studio are released.
Evolution continues to grow in the US. Two new game show games, Monopoly Live and Deal or No Deal Live, are launched.
Evolution acquires Swedish slot giant NetEnt, along with Red Tiger. The first ever live Craps table is launched, along with Crazy Time which will be another major step forward in the game show format. A new studio opens in Pennsylvania.
Evolution agrees to acquire Big Time Gaming. A third US studio is opened in Michigan.
Evolution goes live in Ontario. A fourth US studio is opened in Connecticut, as well as a new studio in New Jersey. XXXtreme Lightning Roulette and MONOPOLY Big Baller are launched.
Funky Time is launched.
Ever since award ceremonies like the EGRs began to recognize live dealer software in the late 2000s, Evolution has absolutely dominated the category. Check out some of the awards it has received below:
2021 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2021 Global Gaming Awards - Best Online Casino
2020 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2020 SBC Awards - Innovation in Casino Entertainment (Crazy Time)
2019 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2018 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2017 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2016 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2015 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2014 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2014 EGR Awards - Game of the Year (Immersive Roulette)
2013 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2012 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2011 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year
2010 EGR Awards - Live Casino Supplier of the Year / Rising Star
Yes, Evolution is a safe and reputable provider of online casino games.
Evolution holds licenses from countries as diverse as Malta, Spain, the UK, Uganda, South Africa, Curacao and Canada. In the US alone, it is licensed and regulated by six different state gambling commissions: New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Providing games in such a diverse variety of regulated markets is a strong indication of Evolution’s safety, with different standards and practices required to receive licenses in each jurisdiction.
In 2010, Evolution became the first live dealer provider to receive the eCOGRA Certified Live Dealer Seal. For the first time, eCOGRA examined both the RNG software used in some Evolution games and the physical hardware that most games rely on: the tables, the cards, and the chips. In this way, eCOGRA’s seal of approval for Evolution has much more in common with the traditional regulatory practices at brick-and-mortar casinos compared with other online providers.
Evolution also links to Responsible Gambling resources on their website, and their games are hosted by many top online casinos with great RG credentials. At the same time, I do think Evolution could do more to explicitly incorporate Responsible Gambling messaging and tools into the games themselves, like in-built play limits or reality check notifications. At the moment, these kinds of tools seem to be at the discretion of the casino that hosts the games.
Evolution made their name supplying live games to European online casinos, but these days they are available all over the US. In this section, we’re focusing on how you can sign up and start playing live dealer games at US casinos. The process is normally pretty similar whichever casino you choose. Check out out our step by step guide below:
The first step is to find a casino that offers Evolution games. All the sites recommended on our best Evolution casinos list above have them, and every single one is legal and regulated here in the US. But really, this should be just the start of your research process. Every casino is different, with its own strengths, weaknesses and nuances. It’s your job to figure out which one best aligns with your personal preferences and requirements, with everything from the payment methods available to the type of welcome bonus on offer. Our reviews break down all of this and more, going deep so you have all the info you need to make a smart decision.
Once you’ve picked a site, it’s time to sign up. Usually, you can start this process by clicking the “Register” or “Sign Up” button that greets you on the site’s homepage, which begins the process. Depending on the site, the registration process can look a little different cosmetically, with some casinos splitting it up into different steps while others just provide one long form. But ultimately, you need to provide the same information. That includes your name, date of birth, email address, home address, and phone number. You’ll also have to create some login details, including a username and password, and maybe some security questions. Finally, you’ll have to agree to the site’s terms and conditions and privacy policy, usually by checking a box. Once that’s all complete, click the button to finish the process, and your account will be up and running.
Regulated US casinos won’t let just any random person sign up. Instead, they are legally obligated to verify the age and identity of anyone who gambles on their site. Sometimes, this process is rolled into registration. Others might be prompted to do it later, usually when you try to withdraw your funds. Either way, it makes sense to get it out of the way right away, because your account will have some restrictions until it's complete, including the ability to withdraw winnings.
Verifying your account usually involves sending the casino a copy of your identification that matches the info you have provided, often your passport or driving license. You may also need to send proof of address or your Social Security Number. All of this info is handled discreetly at legal and regulated sites and is used solely to confirm your identity. Depending on your information, the whole process can sometimes take a couple of days but you only need to do it once.
There is pretty much always some kind of welcome bonus up for grabs for new players when they join a casino. It could be some free spins, a deposit match bonus or a cashback bonus to save you some money. You can read more about them in our guide to the best casino bonuses. It’s also worth remembering that live dealer games can sometimes be exempt from bonuses or using bonus cash to play them, since the margin for casinos is smaller than for games like virtual slots.
There are different ways to trigger your bonus, depending on the site. You may need to type in a promo code during the registration process, or even afterwards in the cashier. You’ll probably have to make a qualifying deposit of a certain size, and depending on the bonus, you may need to make a first bet or take some other action. All of the details are covered in-depth in our reviews, where we explain exactly the steps you need to take to trigger your bonus. It can be a little bit convoluted, but at the same time, sites aren’t trying to trick anyone. As long as you read the instructions carefully, as well as the terms and conditions connected to the bonus, you’ll be fine.
We are fully committed to responsible gambling here at WSN.com. There are a couple of guiding principles that we never lose sight of, and try to keep our readers aware of at all times. The first is that gambling is not a viable way to make money and that the house always makes a profit in the long run, thanks to the house edge inherent in all casino games. This is not a trick, it’s just a fact: if you play long enough, you will lose money. The second is that gambling should be fun. It’s a form of entertainment, just like going to the movies. If gambling is the source of financial or mental anxiety in your life, you need to reassess your relationship with it.
WSN Responsible Gambling Center
Head over to our in-depth section on responsible gambling center, where you’ll find tons of tips and advice to play safe, plus links to support organizations.
Evolution is just one of the top casino software providers that supply the games at casinos around the US. Check out some of the others below:
NetEnt is owned by Evolution after a takeover in 2020, which also saw the NetEnt subsidiary Red Tiger come under the Evolution umbrella. Another Swedish company, NetEnt was founded back in 1996. It grew out of an older company named Cherry, which used to supply gaming hardware to casinos around Europe in the 70s and 80s. NetEnt was launched to get in on the ground floor of the dot com gaming bubble, which it duly succeeded in doing. The company is behind some of the most iconic slot games ever produced, including Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest and the Dead or Alive series. NetEnt also used to produce its own live dealer games but stopped after the takeover. Read more in our full guide to NetEnt casinos.
Like NetEnt, IGT had one foot in the old school world of brick and mortar gambling before becoming an online powerhouse. IGT was founded back in 1981 and made its name supplying slot machines and other materials to Las Vegas casinos. While NetEnt is relatively narrowly focused on slots, IGT is much more of a jack-of-all trades in the online casino world, with a healthy menu of slots, table games and online poker games. IGT’s signature game is their Wheel of Fortune slot, released in 1996, which has become an online favorite. Head over to our in-depth guide to IGT casinos for more information.
Playtech was founded in 1999 and is headquartered on the Isle of Man. It is incredibly prolific, with more than 700 games in its online database, supplied to casinos around the world. Playtech has offices in places as diverse as the UK, New Jersey, the Philippines and India. Branded slots are a specialty of Playtech, especially ones released to coincide with Hollywood movies or the latest video games. They have licensing agreements with the likes of Warner Bros, HBO and NBC Entertainment. Playtech also has a healthy menu of live dealer games, mostly focusing on classic table games, making it a direct competitor of Evolution. Check out our full Playtech casino guide for more details.
The youngest provider on our list, Pragmatic Play, joined the ranks in 2015 and is based in Malta. It has grown exponentially, with PP games available in 40 different countries and in 33 different languages. Some of its signature slots include Big Bass Bonanza, Wolf Gold and Gates of Olympus. Pragmatic Play also has a deep menu of Megaways games, thanks to a deal with Big Time Gaming. Check out our full Pragmatic Play casino guide to learn more about this provider.
Because we’re just like you. All the writers here at WSN.com are real fans of sports and gambling, bringing original opinion and research to our readers. We include individuals who have been part of the industry for decades, engaging with the industry as software providers like Evolution have developed and refined their products. We’ve been there, played the games, and bought the T-shirt.
All of our content is based on first hand experience. When we review an online casino or a sportsbook, we actually sign up, claim the bonuses, play the games and make the deposits and withdrawals. Go through the experience of a regular player, basically. That means that we can consistently bring you accurate, informative and original information.
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