Over the past couple of years, Game Show casino games have become a tremendous success and players love the live action it brings. We have seen all kinds of shows successfully making the transition from television to live casino and I’m expecting more. Considering their popularity, you would be a fool not to keep making them so I’m curious to see what’s next.
Could you ever imagine seeing Deal or No Deal and/or Monopoly as a Live Casino game?
A lot of casinos are even presenting Game Shows as its own category of games these days, just like Slots, Blackjack and/or New Releases. That wouldn’t happen without players showing an interest.
A Global Success Since 2020
It’s no surprise that the category is dominated by Evolution and one of its biggest success stories has been Crazy Time. European and the majority of the world’s casino players have been able to enjoy the game since 2020 and more and more players have discovered how much fun it can be.
Welcome to New Jersey
Until recently, a market that hasn’t had the chance to explore it however is the US. Considering that online casinos are only legal in six states, Crazy Time will only be available in New Jersey for starters. The other states allowing online casino gambling are Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan and Connecticut.
As Crazy Time has now made its way onto the American market, I hope players know they are in for a treat.
What Is Crazy Time?
Crazy Time has already turned into Evolution’s number one online Live Game Show. The game is a live betting game that is a mix between famous TV-shows like Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right. The game is shot with the help of a multi-camera and is hosted by a real person.
Players bet on which number the wheel will land on and you can also participate in a separate side bonus bet game.
Win Up to 10,000x Your Bet
As a player, your betting options are only 4 numbers: 1, 2, 5 or 10. If the wheel lands on your number, you can win up to 25x your bet. The actual multiplier is decided by a separate spin.
Besides the big spinning wheel, there are as many as four interactive bonus games: Cash Hunt, Coin Flip, Pachinko, and Crazy Time Wheel Bonus. Should the wheel stop on a bonus bet, the bonus game is triggered where players can win as much as 10,000x your bet.
Evolution CEO Speaks Up About the Success
In a recent interview with Gambling Insider, Jacob Claesson (North America CEO of Evolution) was asked about what’s behind the birth of its Live Casino Show genre and its expansion in the US.
How Did Evolution Develop the Idea for an Online Live Game Show?
Innovation is in Evolution’s DNA. We constantly push the boundaries of what we and others think is possible. By 2017, we had over a decade of experience in online casino games. Both Live Casino games aired 24/7 from our studios and first person Random Number Generator (RNG) technology titles.
Appeal to a New Demographic
We wanted to appeal to online gamers who are not necessarily casino fans, so we launched Dream Catcher, a money-wheel game with a live host, and the Game Show genre was born.
Become the Monopoly Champion
Due to a fruitful partnership with Hasbro, we created Monopoly Live in 2019, an online live game show in an augmented reality setting with a human host alongside the virtual Mr Monopoly.
We stuck to the money wheel and, as a novelty, introduced the concept of bonus games – when the wheel stops on a bonus game segment, players progress to a world of multiplied payouts.
Introducing Crazy Time
Players absolutely loved the bonus game, so we decided to expand on this aspect. In 2020, we launched Crazy Time, building on the success of Dream Catcher’s money wheel, embellished with four exciting bonus games for an elevated gaming experience.
Game shows are essential for Evolution, and year after year, we create new innovative games, appealing to players’ preferences to mature this unique genre further.
How Do Crazy Time’s Bonus Games Work?
Each of Crazy Time’s four bonus games is a unique gaming experience. In Cash Hunt (see image above), players arrive at a digital shooting gallery of 108 random multipliers, selected by our certified RNG technology.
In Pachinko, a glowing puck bounces down between the pegs of a giant luminous wall until it falls into one of the multiplier pockets.
In Coin Flip, a blue and a red-sided coin is assigned a random multiplier on each side, boosting the original bet when it lands.
And then, the namesake Crazy Time Bonus Game opens the iconic red door, granting players entry to a whimsical world of a gigantic virtual money wheel for an increased multiplier potential.
What Challenges Has Evolution Faced in Its Expansion Throughout the US?
Expansion is always challenging, especially in a fast-paced and highly competitive market. We opened online live casino studios in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and Connecticut in fewer than five years.
Establishing a new location is always challenging. We need to understand the local context, and it is impossible to know certain things – such as recruitment processes, local player preferences, and specific regulations – before entering a market.
We need agility and the ability to respond fast. Most US regulators we work with have long-standing experience overseeing land-based casinos, which is excellent as they have set expectations. It is also challenging, especially when introducing new games to the market.
How Popular Do You Expect Crazy Time to Be In New Jersey in Comparison to Evolution’s Other Titles?
We are optimistic about Crazy Time becoming a favorite online game show in the US as we have seen it perform exceptionally well globally. For example, in Europe, it has over 25,000 concurrent players during peak hours.
Crazy Time has been our most popular title in the world, and I have every reason to believe it will succeed in New Jersey. Thanks to its intuitive gameplay, a player needs no previous knowledge about iGaming to enjoy playing Crazy Time instantly – no difficult decisions; just place a bet and enjoy the game show.
I also believe the game will attract many players who have not tried live casino games before.
What Can Players Expect From Evolution in the US in 2024?
We will continue to bring exciting new live casino titles, game shows, and online video slots to players in the US. In its early stages, iGaming has an immense potential to develop in the US. Many players do not know they can play blackjack or baccarat with human dealers in real-time, online.
As the industry matures, we must seize the opportunity to raise awareness about the endless entertainment experiences iGaming can offer players.
Get Ready For Nolimit City
We are also excited about launching Evolution’s online video slot brand, Nolimit City, in early 2024 in the US, following a successful launch in Ontario, Canada, in 2023.
Once that happens, our extensive online video slot portfolio will go live for players in the US, together with games by our NetEnt, Red Tiger, and Big Time Gaming developers.
Enjoy the Games
There you have it folks, straight from the horse’s mouth. I’m excited for the US players to be able to enjoy Live Games from Evolution as they are all very entertaining and bring something different to the table as far as casino games go.
Where Can I Play Crazy Time and Other Evolution Games?
You won’t have a problem finding Evolution Live Games as the absolute majority of casinos will have them. If you are looking for suggestions, you can always find the games at:
Enjoy!
Leave a Reply