Visionary iGaming
While live dealer games at online casinos have become a big part of the industry in recent years, they’ve actually been around for quite some time, and many companies have been building their reputations for many years now. One such developer is Visionary iGaming, a firm that began their operations way back in 2008. From their home in Costa Rica, this studio produces quality gaming experiences for some of the world’s biggest casino brands, with lively dealers and a fun atmosphere designed to add to the entertainment value.
At the same time, it is fair to say that these games aren’t the most visually or technically impressive live streams on the Internet today, as some of their competitors have innovated in ways that have threatened to leave Visionary behind. But the company remains one of the better known names in the live dealer sector, with plenty to offer to those looking for a dependable, trusted provider with plenty of experience.
A Standard Game Selection
Visionary iGaming doesn’t have any notable holes in their game selection, but they stick to just the basics, covering what we sometimes call the Big 3: blackjack, baccarat, and roulette. It’s a suite that isn’t big on game variety, but one that is sufficient for most casinos that just want a taste of live gaming for their sites.
As we noted in the opening, the presentation of the games isn’t all that impressive. The action can be viewed via a live stream that is generally placed near in the top center of the screen. The video resolution is a bit lower than what is provided by many other live platforms these days: it’s sufficient for playing, but it’s possible that you may need to look a little closer to see the cards if you have bad eyesight (though visual indicators of your hand score are given for blackjack to alleviate this problem).
On the bright side, the more social aspects of the experience have not been ignored here. Chat between players is encouraged, and the dealers are rather friendly too, being happy to interact with players whenever possible while maintaining a steady pace of play and a professional feel. The interface is also simple to use, even if it doesn’t look quite as flashy as you might expect given what’s standard in the industry these days.
As for the games themselves, let’s start by taking a look at the blackjack offerings. The standard version is a seven-seat, multiplayer game which features a typical American set of rules and is dealt out of a six-deck shoe. If you’re looking for something a bit different, they also offer a “common draw” variant in which an unlimited number of players can participate, but do so while sharing a common hand (or hands, in this case, as three betting spots are offered). Here, this version is called Early Payout, as the player hand will always make the correct basic strategy play; however, players are free to buy out of the hand at any time at a calculated rate that is presented to you on screen. This is similar to the normal surrender bet, only the payouts vary – if the hand is in your favor, then you might make a profit while opting out of the rest of the action.
Similarly, there are two different versions of baccarat available for those who want to play this classic game for high rollers (or just those who like simple games with fairly good odds). A single hand is dealt at each table, but an unlimited number of players can take part. Along with the standard banker, player, and tie bets (paying 8-1), there are a couple of side bets available: one that offers wagering on whether the player, banker, or either will get dealt a pair, as well as the popular “Dragon” side bet.
Alternatively, Visionary also offers up a version of the game called Super 6 Baccarat. However, you probably know this better as the no commission variant, so-called because banker bets now pay truly even money without costing you 5% in commission. Instead, the house makes its edge on the fact that when the banker hand wins with a score of exactly 6, the payout is only 1-2 (or $0.50 on a $1 bet). Again, the same selection of side bets are offered.
There are also two versions of roulette spread here, again with one having a bit of a twist. First, there is European roulette in a very standard implementation, with all of the normal bets allowed and a single-zero wheel being used. The alternative to this is an American roulette game, one in which you’ll be dealing with a double zero layout.
Normally, the American version of the game is far worse than its European alternative, making it an easy choice for players when picking between the games. However, that is not the case here, as the payouts have been enhanced in order to compensate for the additional zero. The enhanced payouts are actually enough to make this game better than European roulette, believe it or not: all of the standard bets have house edges of about 2.42%, lower than the normal 2.70% edge on the European version. Not surprisingly, not all sites offer this game, but it is a solid option for roulette players if it is available.
A Global Reach
Visionary iGaming works with some rather well-known casino brands, most of which are heavily active in “grey markets” – the areas of the world where gambling is neither clearly outlawed nor regulated by the local government. That means that, in at least that sense, there is no clear target audience for this platform: it is available wherever and whenever you might need it.
However, that’s not an entirely accurate representation. The games here are offered with English and Spanish speaking dealers, and that says a lot: many of the most valuable audiences for grey market operators are in the Americas, and that’s an area dominated by those two regions. It’s also a big reason why the operation is located in Costa Rica.
One great feature here is that, at many sites, a free play version of at least some of the games may be available, offering you the opportunity to try some of these live dealer games without putting down any cash. If you are playing for real money, there’s also a wide variety of betting limits available. Typically, games will offer low, standard, and high limit options, with all three limits overlapping a bit. At the low end, you might be able to make some $1 bets (especially on roulette), while the high stakes tables might allow bets of several thousand dollars. As usual, the specifics can vary between sites.
Still Competitive After All These Years
These days, the Visionary iGaming software doesn’t look up to par against many of the other live dealer games that are on the market. The number of games is relatively low, the quality of the video could be higher, and there’s still no mobile support, meaning the games can only be played on a desktop computer. These are all the kinds of features that people have come to expect in recent years, making this feel more like software from a bygone era.
That’s not entirely fair, however. The game range is a little better than it looks like thanks to the variants in play, and there are a number of things that some other developers could learn from, such as the simplicity of the interface and the fact that there is a free play option. Personality is certainly worth something too, and in a time where many sites utilize dealers that (presumably on direction from their employers) show no personality and either remain silent or keep their interactions to a minimum, it’s nice to see lively, engaging personnel who are helping to make the experience entertaining for players.
In some of Europe’s more developed regulated markets, it’s likely that you’ll find better options for live dealer play. That may also be true in Asian countries, where there are options that have better game selection that’s more tailored for China and other markets there. But if you’re in one of the grey market areas of the world, Visionary has some of the best options available for you – and if they ever decide to give their software package a major overhaul, they have enough going for them to think that they could compete with just about anyone in the industry.
