The first live casino games appeared in the mid-1990s. Unfortunately, internet technology was quite limited then. In particular, 1990s internet bandwidth was lacking. That changed in the early 2010s with the increase in average internet speeds.
Live dealer games in the mid-2010s were generally limited to classic casino games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. However, a new breed of live dealer game emerged. Live game shows. They blended popular games like Monopoly with casino gambling. They were a refreshing departure from traditional casino games, and they changed the way many casino buffs got their action.
Nowadays, live casino games based on television shows are very trendy. They feature entertaining and engaging hosts that could give the Bob Barkers and Monty Halls of the world a run for their money. If you are a fan of television game shows and you relish the thrill of gambling, you should check out these three exciting live casino game shows inspired by television formats.
Monopoly Live
One of the world’s most popular board games could not fail to inspire several television shows, and as early as the 1990s, a TV game show of the same name appeared on American screens. Its host at the time was Merv Griffin. Another TV show on this theme aired more recently, titled Monopoly Millionaires’ Club. It debuted in March 2015 and ran for two seasons.
Drawing on the original branding and concept of Monopoly, as well as elements from the shows, Evolution Gaming released a game show in 2019 called Monopoly Live.
The concept of the game is as follows: before a round, you have 12 seconds to place bets on numbers (1, 2, 5, 10) and/or bonus segments (“2 Rolls”, “4 Rolls”, “Chance”). The host spins the wheel, and the round begins. If the wheel stops on a number you bet on, you receive a payout equal to the number multiplied by your stake. For example, a £10 bet on segment 5 yields £50 (5:1).
If the wheel lands on “2 Rolls” or “4 Rolls” (and you placed a bet on them), a bonus round begins. If you haven’t previously played Game Shows, the mechanics of this bonus round might seem complex. However, to understand it, you can draw a parallel with free spins in slots. You are likely familiar with such bonuses, as UK operators, such as those listed at https://legalcasino.uk/bonuses/free-spins/, frequently offer them.
The Monopoly Live bonus round uses dice rolls to move across a board and collect multipliers, akin to free spins in slots where a set number of spins generate payouts based on symbol combinations. Both systems award outcomes from a fixed sequence of random events. Mr. Monopoly moves across a 3D Monopoly board, with two dice determining his steps. The board’s spaces (streets, stations) offer multipliers (up to 100x and higher with houses/hotels) applied to your stake. For instance, a £10 bet on 4 Rolls could yield £1,000 if Mr. Monopoly lands on a space with a 100x multiplier.
The “Chance” segment delivers a random prize or multiplier (e.g., 5x), which boosts the winnings on the next spin.
Deal or No Deal Live
Deal or No Deal was one of the most popular television game shows of the mid-2000s. Evolution Gaming released its live dealer version of Deal or No Deal in 2019.
This game consists of three phases. It starts with the qualifying round in which a 3X3 slot spins its reels. The idea is to land three Scatters to trigger the bonus game. By the way, Scatters can come with multipliers up to 10X.
The second phase is optional, but it gives you a chance to top up the briefcases that are revealed in the third round. The third phase closely mirrors the television show. You open briefcases to eliminate cash amounts, while the Banker periodically offers deals to buy out remaining briefcases. You can accept the Banker’s offer at any point or continue until two briefcases remain. Then, you choose between the final offer or one of the remaining cash prizes.
Money Drop Live
The Million Pound Drop, later resurrected as The £100K Drop, was a fairly popular British game show hosted by Davina McCall. After its final season in 2019, Playtech released Money Drop Live in 2021. It does a great job of incorporating the most exciting elements of the television version.
One of the most unique aspects of this live casino game show is that you’re essentially given money. The goal is to hold onto as much of it as possible. A round begins by placing your bet. The host then spins a wheel to reveal a multiplier ranging from 8X up to 5,000X. The multiplier is applied to your stake amount, giving you a certain sum of money. If you staked £5, and there’s a 50X multiplier, then you enter the next phase with £250.
The next phase of the game is the money drop. This is where four platforms appear. You then place your money on those platforms. You can put it all on one or spread it out over two, three, or all four platforms. After that, random platforms open up, causing the money on them to drop into the void. Any money left over is yours to keep.
Conclusion
Television game shows remain popular today. Jeopardy, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, The Price is Right, and many others continue to attract large viewing audiences who dream of being contestants. Perhaps those classics will one day be featured in the Live Games section of your favourite online casino. Participating in live casino game shows is easy, and certainly more entertaining than watching them on TV. Just play smart and keep your bets in check to stay safe.