The End of an Era: Live Casino Games That Won't Make It Into2025

The online casino scene in New Zealand is always changing, with new tech and what players like us want reshaping what we can play. As we head towards mid-2025, some live dealer games that were pretty popular are starting to fade away. The studios that used to proudly show these games off are quietly dropping them, making room for newer, more exciting stuff. Let's take a look at five live casino games that will soon be just a memory from the early days of online gambling here in NZ.

Evolution Gaming's "Double Ball Roulette" - What's Happening?

Evolution Gaming, the big gun in live casino entertainment, is getting ready to retire its once-groundbreaking "Double Ball Roulette" from its massive game selection. They brought this out in 2016, adding a fresh spin to the classic game by using two balls instead of one. This really boosted the chances of a big win and opened up some cool new betting options.

Even though it was a hit with players in New Zealand who love a bit of risk and were chasing those massive roulette payouts (up to 1,300 to 1 if both balls landed on the same number), the game's player numbers have been dropping for the last couple of years. Word from in the industry suggests a few reasons why Evolution is calling it a day on this one:

• It's a bit more complicated to run and costs more than your standard roulette tables.
• New players might find the extra betting options a bit tricky to get their heads around.
• It's being overshadowed by Evolution's newer, flashier roulette games that look much cooler.

This game is set to vanish from Evolution's live lobbies by Q2 2024, with the company shifting focus to its immersive Live XXXtreme game series and augmented reality offerings, which are proving more popular with today's players.

Light & Wonder's "Dual Play Baccarat" - Will it Also Go?

Light & Wonder (you might know them as Scientific Games) is also planning to pull its "Dual Play Baccarat" from its live casino lineup by early 2025. This game was a clever idea, trying to connect land-based and online players by letting them join games at the same table. It was first seen as a massive step towards a unified casino experience for everyone in New Zealand and beyond.

The game used cameras set up at real-life casino baccarat tables, allowing online players to jump into actual games as they were happening. But despite the cool concept, the product has run into some hurdles:

• Technical hitches with keeping the stream quality consistent from partner casinos.
• Timing clashes between when physical casinos are open and when online players want to join.
• 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.