DraftKings Online Casino Ready To Add Live Dealer Games Via Evolution Deal
The DraftKings‘ brand has already made its presence felt by New Jersey sports betting fans in a big way.
The recent launch of DraftKings Casino makes the company well positioned to become an even greater force in the NJ online gambling industry.
The NJ online casino game count is tiny when compared to its hefty competition. But now, DraftKings inked a deal with Evolution Gaming for live dealer casino games.
More about DraftKings and Evolution Gaming
On Jan. 24, casino gambling software company, Evolution, signed an agreement to provide DraftKings Casino with live casino games.
Evolution Gaming will use its studio in Atlantic City to live stream the games to the DraftKings Sportsbook app. The casino’s online and mobile players will be able to play baccarat and other games in real time with a real dealer.
However, no timeline was mentioned on when the live dealer games would launch.
James Stern, Evolution Gaming CEO for its US and land-based division, indicated that his company is excited about working with DraftKings.
He described DraftKings as “a young and dynamic company that has blazed a trail in recent years with its best-in-class technology and extensive knowledge of sports.”
Jamie Shea, senior director of the DraftKings Sportsbook NJ, sees the offering of live dealer games as a big step toward making DraftKings Sportsbook and Casino a “true, one-stop destination,” for a diverse group of bettors.
Live dealer games are popular in New Jersey
Golden Nugget Online Casino was the first NJ gambling website to offer live dealer table games, but its partner is Ezugi Gaming. That was back in August 2016.
Since then, NJ live dealer games have become enormously popular. Golden Nugget has added onto its live dealer game count and extended the operating hours. Other NJ online casinos have jumped on the bandwagon, too.
In fact, before DraftKings Casino’s launch, Evolution Gaming has been live streaming blackjack and other table games from the same Atlantic City studio to several other NJ gambling websites.
These include Resorts, 888 Casino, Hard Rock online casino and SugarHouse online casino.
The launch of DraftKings NJ online casino
On Dec. 17, DraftKings introduced its new NJ casino app for iOS and Android.
Initially, the casino didn’t have a web-based platform; it was only accessible on mobile devices and blackjack was the only game. However, the shared wallet with the Daily Fantasy Sports and sports betting platforms made it easy to log in the same way and switch to casino play.
Since the casino is integrated with the DraftKings sports betting app, there is no need to download a separate app.
Online betting capabilities and other casino games have since been added. In fact, since Jan. 1, DraftKings online casino offers a choice of the following five games:
- Blackjack: Minimum bet $1, maximum bet $100
- Roulette: Minimum bet $1, maximum bet: $1,000
- Double Double Bonus Video Poker: Minimum bet: 10 cents, maximum bet $200
- Wheel of Fortune slot game: Minimum bet 50 cents, maximum bet $500
- Cleopatra slot game: Minimum bet 1 cent, maximum bet $600
As you can see, the betting ranges are wide enough to accommodate almost any type of player. Demo play is another option.
Granted, compared to other NJ online casinos that offer hundreds of games, this meager offering hardly even qualifies as a casino. But a site has to start somewhere.
Given DraftKing’s track record, its ambitious plans for 2019, and the new agreement with Evolution Gaming to offer live dealer games, DraftKings is certain to get bigger and better.
An international powerhouse
DraftKings, based out of Boston, was founded in 2012 as a daily fantasy sports (DFS) betting operator.
In just six short years, the company has expanded its services. It now offers DFS wagering in 11 professional sports in eight countries, including the US, Canada, UK and Australia.
DraftKings is the world’s largest DFS website, currently servicing 10 million customers worldwide.
But for the Garden State, DFS wagering is just the tip of the iceberg. Through its licensing arrangement with Resorts and a future live dealer casino, DraftKings diversifies its offerings to appeal to a much broader spectrum of bettors.