BetMGM now offers Alberta users the chance to play live dealer blackjack, roulette, and baccarat games streamed directly from MGM Resorts International destinations in Las Vegas.
Hosted by professional dealers, the games are broadcast from on-site studios at the MGM Grand and the Bellagio via the brick-and-mortar casino company’s MGM Live collaboration with Playtech, allowing players in some online casino markets to remotely participate from their phone or other device.
BetMGM announced on Aug. 20 that it has extended that existing offering on BetMGM Casino to Alberta, after the MGM Resorts and Entain joint-venture brand began streaming MGM Live games to Ontario players two years ago. While many online casino jurisdictions in the U.S. require live dealer games to be broadcast from local studios, both Ontario and Alberta’s regulations allow licensed operators to stream content directly from Nevada.
Leaders at MGM Resorts and Playtech Live recently spoke to Canadian Gaming Business about the joint live casino venture, and how they tailor the offerings for a Canadian audience.
Which livestreamed games can Albertans play on BetMGM?
Numerous dedicated live dealer tables are now available to Albertans through the collaboration, as well as Dual Play games from Bellagio and MGM Grand, wherein online and in-person players are able to participate in the same game. Thos titles include:
- MGM Grand Live Roulette and Live American Roulette
- Bellagio Live Roulette
- MGM Grand Live Baccarat
- Bellagio Live Baccarat
- Various iterations of Vegas Blackjack and Vegas Roulette Live
“Live dealer content continues to be one of the fastest-evolving categories in iGaming,” said BetMGM Director of Gaming Rob Passerino. “Live dealer bridges the gap between online gaming and the casino floor, creating a more immersive and engaging experience for players.
“The real-time interaction with professional dealers and the ability to watch hands and spins unfold live adds a sense of authenticity that really resonates with players.”
MGM Resorts, Playtech join forces on live casino streams
MGM Resorts and Playtech first launched their MGM Live casino partnership in June 2024, streaming directly from the gaming floors of the MGM Grand and the Bellagio and licensing out the content in regulated markets worldwide, outside of the U.S.
Last year, the partners expanded the collaboration with the launch of live casino games based on Fremantle’s Family Feud TV show, marking the first interactive game show of its kind to be broadcast live from a Vegas casino floor.
BetMGM was a day one operator in Alberta, launching in the province’s new regulated iGaming market on July 13. Its casino platform includes a portfolio of intellectual property content related to popular TV and movies, including:
- Wheel of Fortune
- Family Feud and The Price is Right
- The Wizard of Oz
- Friends
- Game of Thrones
On an earnings call in late July, soon after BetMGM’s Alberta launch, CEO Adam Greenblatt said that 70% of the operator’s gaming revenue comes from online casino. He specifically mentioned the MGM Live casino offerings as a unique advantage the operator has over its competitors in the new Alberta market.
“With our shareholder MGM Resorts, we have a unique offering in the world of live [casino], and we think that’s an area that we can build from,” said the CEO. “It’s popular in our Ontario business, and we believe it will gain traction in Alberta … Live is another area where we can differentiate.”
Greenblatt also said on that earnings call that around 10% of BetMGM’s new users in Alberta had some kind of pre-existing relationship with MGM Resorts International, which he believes demonstrates “the power of the brand, the relevance of our omni[channel] strategy and the sustainable benefit of our deep collaboration.”
A BetMGM spokesperson told Canadian Gaming Business on Aug. 21 that online casino titles with recognizable brand and sports IP, such as new Game of Thrones content, have driven early player engagement in Alberta. Live dealer content like the MGM Live slate has proven to be popular in Ontario and is expected to gain similar traction in Alberta.
