It has been the case for a few years now, but mobile devices are used more for live casino gameplay than desktops. They’re no longer the alternative to desktops like they were, with major suppliers putting all their focus into how their products perform on the small screen.
Evolution, one of the first suppliers of live casino games, provides one of the clearest indicators of the shift. It was back in its 2024 annual report that the iGaming giant claimed 71% of its revenue came through mobile devices. That was up from 68% the year before.
In states where online gambling is legalized, residents may have seen this transformation firsthand. Take those who visit a NJ live dealer casino as an example. Many will know how well optimized modern casino games are for mobile devices. Live titles, such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and craps, now run well on all types of smartphones and tablets.
Live Dealer Was Built for the Mobile Screen
Live dealer games on mobile devices are not exactly new. Evolution first launched a live roulette game for iPads back in 2012. As revealed in an announcement, within two years, the live casino supplier had made its entire portfolio of roulette tables available across all iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.
What has changed since then is the quality and scale of the mobile experience. There’s more to making a game fit a small screen than simply shrinking the image. There’s a lot of information that needs to be displayed or made accessible to the player. The game area, betting interface, settings and other menus, and chat functions
That means mobile live dealer design is not simply about shrinking the desktop version. Controls need to be easy to reach with a thumb. Text and betting areas need to remain readable. Buttons need to be big enough to touch. All of that has to be done alongside the main table being shown.
Evolution has described its mobile development in similar terms, noting how smartphones pushed providers to rethink game presentation and interface design. The company’s history of live casino also charts the development of mobile gaming alongside improvements in live casino technology.
Video Streaming Creates Another Challenge
Live casino games are also very different from regular casino titles. Slots and virtual games are all run by software only. Once they’re designed and released, there’s literally no upkeep required. That’s not the case with titles that operate live. A fully trained dealer is always required to run the game, while the streaming equipment has to work without issues.
A lot of technology goes into the running of these tables. According to Evolution’s 2024 Annual Report, the company uses its own video coding technology to keep its streams running consistently. The supplier also reported their games and systems remained operational for 99.96% of the time that year.
Streams are also reliant on reliable internet. Therefore, technology has to be in place to provide video feeds that change in quality depending on the internet bandwidth. That’s because users may have weak signals. Rather than cutting off users, the tech will lower the quality of the stream.
What Does This Mean for Live Dealer on PCs?
Mobile devices have become the main gateway to digital content rather than a secondary option, and live dealer has followed the same pattern. Suppliers have to make video, controls, and supporting information work within a much smaller interface.
Mobile will probably never completely replace desktop live casino. There are some who would rather you use screens when at home. The games are easier to control, while you’ll not have to hold your device the whole time. Computers still have their uses, especially when it comes to gaming.
Instead, live dealer providers increasingly have to make the same game work across several screen sizes without losing the elements that make it a live format.
The Takeaway
When the internet first launched, and online casinos became a thing, computers and laptops dominated. That has changed as mobile technology has improved. Today, live dealer providers have to build games that work just as well on a smartphone or tablet as they do on a desktop. Mobile may now lead the way, but the best platforms still need to accommodate both.
Thomas Miller is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Seat42F, covering television, movies and streaming entertainment. He launched Seat42F in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades covering the entertainment industry.
