An emerging trend for NJ online casino brands is getting their own dedicated space for offering live dealer games to customers. A Penn National live studio is the latest among the contingent in the Garden State
Evolution announced it is dedicating part of its production facility in New Jersey last week exclusively to Penn. The result should be shorter wait times for all online casino players in NJ.
The timing coincides with the late August launch of the Barstool Sportsbook & Casino. Penn National owns a 36% stake in Barstool Sports.
Penn National live studio coming to NJ
According to a press release, Evolution will outfit the area to fit within Penn’s “Barstool Sportsbook & Casino” branding. Penn National joins Rush Street Interactive among Evolution clients with dedicated studios.
“We are delighted to continue to build on our very strong relationship with Penn Interactive,” said Jeff Millar, Commercial Director of North America at Evolution. “We have worked together to create a bespoke dedicated Live Casino studio, completely customized to Barstool’s brand and look-and-feel.”
In addition, Evolution will provide NetEnt slot games to Barstool Casino customers in NJ. That catalog includes the popular Gonzo’s Quest and Starburst titles.
Live dealer games are exactly what they sound like. While the platform is still online, players interact with a human dealer for a variety of table games like baccarat and blackjack.
As such, there are a limited number of seats and a limited number of games ongoing simultaneously. The removal of Penn Interactive players from the larger pool should equalize supply with demand.
How dedicated studios ease strain
Branding is a perk for operators like Penn. At the same time, there is a benefit to players in these studios as well.
Most NJ online casinos that offer live dealer games funnel all their players into Evolution’s main studio. That can create a logjam and waiting periods.
Dedicated studios remove one operator from that larger pool. Obviously, it means players on those apps get priority to the dedicated studio.
If the trend increases, players will probably see it as a necessary amenity. That represents a perk for Evolution, as they likely collect more revenue from a dedicated studio.
In short order, a dedicated live studio might be essential to compete for market share in NJ. Penn Interactive is among those acting proactively on that front.