Key points about the development of NetEnt Live in Malta
In September 2020, NetEnt announces the expansion of its NetEnt Live studio in Qormi, Malta, with three new live blackjack tables in order to increase the broadcasting capacity of games.
This expansion takes place in a context where the live casino segment is experiencing strong growth within the iGaming industry. This evolution aims to encourage providers to strengthen their infrastructures and studio facilities.
NetEnt also concludes a partnership with EveryMatrix to introduce two dedicated blackjack tables accessible through the CasinoEngine aggregation platform.
Dedicated tables offer online casino operators the possibility to propose a more personalized experience, with tables associated with their brand or their player community.
Through these technical investments and technological partnerships, NetEnt aims to strengthen its position in the live casino market by responding to the growing expectations of operators and players.
NetEnt Live strengthens its Malta studio with three new blackjack tables
At the end of the 2010s, the world of online casinos clearly changes its rhythm. Slot machines remain omnipresent. They continue to generate most of the activity in the majority of digital casinos. However, another category of games gradually establishes itself in players’ habits. Namely, the live casino.
Why such enthusiasm? Because the live casino brings something that algorithms cannot fully reproduce. A human presence from a filmed gaming table. A dealer who shuffles the cards under the eye of the camera. This blend of authenticity and technology creates a particular feeling, almost intimate, which tends to bring players closer to the atmosphere of a real casino.
It is in this context that NetEnt announces, on September 16, 2020, the extension of its NetEnt Live studio located in Qormi, Malta, with the addition of three new live blackjack tables. At the same time, the provider concludes a partnership with EveryMatrix in order to offer two dedicated blackjack tables accessible through the CasinoEngine aggregation platform.
At first glance, this could appear to be a simple technical evolution. Yet behind this decision a broader strategy begins to take shape. The goal is to strengthen the provider’s presence in the live casino sector and to support the growing demand from operators and players.
A Maltese live studio gaining capacity
In Qormi, a small town located in the center of Malta, the NetEnt Live studios operate like a real casino hall designed for the camera. Contrary to what one might think, nothing is left to chance. The tables are lit with precision so that every card remains perfectly readable on screen. Cameras capture the dealer’s movements from several angles. The video streams are then compressed, encoded and broadcast to partner online casino platforms. Behind the apparent simplicity of a live blackjack game actually lies a demanding technical infrastructure.
In this environment, adding three new blackjack tables does not simply mean placing three additional pieces of furniture in a studio. It involves new teams of dealers, more video capture stations, additional streams to manage and a more complex organization of session schedules. Entertainment through live games relies on a constant balance between table availability and the volume of connected players. If too few tables are open, the experience quickly deteriorates. Players wait, eventually leave the session or move toward a competitor.
The extension of the Qormi studio therefore allows NetEnt to absorb the influx of players more efficiently while ensuring a smooth experience. This additional capacity acts as a buffer when activity intensifies. Especially in the evening or during weekends, periods known for being moments when live tables often experience their highest traffic.
Concretely, the increase in the number of tables brings several visible improvements for operators and players:
Greater availability of live blackjack tables Players can join a game more quickly. Waiting time decreases and tables remain accessible even when activity increases significantly.
A more comfortable pace of play When players are distributed across more tables, sessions remain fluid. Dealers can maintain a steady tempo without facing the pressure of an overloaded table.
Better management of different connected markets Online casinos operating across several jurisdictions can direct their players toward different tables, which prevents congestion and improves the overall stability of the service.
Stronger technical capacity for partner operators Platforms that broadcast NetEnt Live tables benefit from a more robust infrastructure capable of absorbing peaks in traffic.
The choice of blackjack as the central game of this extension is obviously not insignificant. In the world of live casinos, this table game holds a special place. Unlike roulette, which mainly relies on chance, blackjack introduces a strategic dimension that attracts a loyal audience. Some players even take the time to analyze each decision, observing the dealer’s visible card as if they were seated in a land-based casino.
This mixture of strategy, human interaction and sustained rhythm explains why blackjack remains one of the pillars of the live casino. For NetEnt, strengthening the offer around this game of chance therefore means consolidating the backbone of its live catalogue.
The expansion of the Maltese studio also reflects a broader reality of the industry. Over the years, Malta has become one of the nerve centers of iGaming in Europe. Many providers install their infrastructures there. They benefit from the island’s structured regulatory environment, its strong technological ecosystem and its unique concentration of companies specialized in online gambling.
In this context, the NetEnt Live studio in Qormi plays a strategic role. It acts as a production hub for the provider’s live games, supplying online casinos that broadcast its tables across several markets. The addition of new blackjack tables therefore strengthens this system and allows NetEnt to support the continuous growth of the live casino sector.
Because behind every game observed on a player’s screen, there is a studio operating permanently. Cameras recording. Dealers running session after session. And an entire technical team ensuring that the distribution of the cards remains as fluid as if the table were located right in front of you.
EveryMatrix and CasinoEngine: a partnership for dedicated tables
In the iGaming industry, the success of a game or a live table does not depend only on its quality. Everything also relies on the way this content circulates between providers, technological platforms and online casino operators. It is exactly within this invisible network that the partnership between NetEnt and EveryMatrix takes place.
At the moment when the NetEnt Live studio in Qormi gains capacity, the Swedish provider simultaneously announces an agreement with EveryMatrix in order to introduce two dedicated live blackjack tables through CasinoEngine. For observers of the sector, this announcement does not concern only two additional table games. It mainly illustrates the way distribution infrastructures are structuring themselves in modern iGaming.
Interface of the CasinoEngine homepage
For several years, EveryMatrix has been developing CasinoEngine. It is an aggregation platform designed to simplify the integration of gaming content. In a contemporary online casino, the lobby can contain hundreds, sometimes thousands of games coming from different providers. Without an aggregation solution, each integration would require specific technical developments, tests and continuous updates.
CasinoEngine acts as a single gateway to this ecosystem. Operators connected to the platform can quickly integrate the content offered by partner providers. For NetEnt, this means that its live tables can be distributed more easily to a large number of online casinos.
The agreement announced in 2020 therefore provides for the implementation of dedicated blackjack tables accessible through this infrastructure. In the world of live casinos, these tables have an important particularity. They are not simply added to a general catalogue. They can be associated with a specific casino operator or with a group of operators using the same platform.
This approach opens several interesting possibilities for online casinos:
Create a recognizable gaming environment A dedicated table can integrate the visual identity of a casino, which reinforces the sense of belonging for players.
Offer a more exclusive experience Operators can reserve certain tables for their player community, thus creating a more identifiable space within the live interface.
Better distribute player traffic Platforms can direct users toward different tables in order to avoid congestion and maintain a smooth experience.
Develop specific events A dedicated table can serve as support for promotions, tournaments or marketing campaigns.
For players, these adjustments often remain invisible. They connect to their usual casino, choose a table and start their session. Yet behind this apparent simplicity lies a sophisticated technical network where video streams, gaming interfaces and server infrastructures must work perfectly together.
Amund Stensland, COO of CasinoEngine, emphasizes the importance of this collaboration within the iGaming ecosystem:
“NetEnt is a valuable partner for our company. We are happy to extend our existing partnership in live casino. The new live blackjack tables are a valuable asset for our clients.”
This statement illustrates a reality well known in the industry. No actor truly operates alone. Providers create the games. Platforms like CasinoEngine ensure their distribution. Operators offer them to their players. And at the end of the process, a table filmed in a Maltese studio can instantly appear in the lobby of an online casino accessible from almost any country.
In this perfectly orchestrated mechanism, the two blackjack tables announced with EveryMatrix represent a new piece in the complex puzzle of the live casino sector. A field where each partnership helps expand the experience offered to players.
Andres Rengifo speaks about the studio expansion
When NetEnt announces the extension of its live studio in Qormi, the decision does not come out of nowhere. It is part of a dynamic that the provider has been observing for several years: the constant growth of live casino within online gaming habits. Filmed tables, once considered a complementary option in digital casinos, gradually become a pillar of the iGaming offer.
In this context, NetEnt must adapt its infrastructure. Studios must produce more content, welcome more players and maintain a level of quality capable of competing with actors already well established in the sector. This is precisely the logic highlighted by Andres Rengifo, then director of NetEnt Live, when he refers to the evolution of the Maltese studio.
“Considering the recent achievements of NetEnt Live, it was wise to strategically expand the operations of our studio in Malta in order to strengthen capacity for the expected future growth.”
The statement may appear institutional. Yet it reflects a real challenge for the provider. Increasing the capacity of a live studio does not simply mean adding a few additional tables. It involves anticipating traffic growth, investing in video equipment, recruiting and training new dealers. It also means optimizing the technical infrastructures that support live broadcasting.
In an environment where thousands of players can join a table in a few seconds, service stability becomes essential. Every video stream must remain fluid, every session must follow without interruption and each table must be able to absorb a volume of players that varies depending on the time of day. The extension of the studio responds precisely to this need for anticipation.
Andres Rengifo also mentions the importance of the partnership concluded with EveryMatrix, which accompanies this increase in capacity:
“By establishing a key reseller partnership with EveryMatrix, we have strengthened our position within the live casino industry as a trusted provider for dedicated activities.”
This clarification is far from insignificant. In the iGaming ecosystem, content distribution plays a role as important as its production. Tables filmed in a studio must be integrated quickly into online casino platforms. Technological solutions like CasinoEngine facilitate this distribution. Indeed, they give operators easier access to NetEnt Live tables.
Behind these statements, a clear vision emerges. NetEnt does not simply seek to follow the growth of the live casino sector. The provider aims to reinforce its position in this segment by developing its infrastructures, multiplying partnerships and consolidating its distribution network.
The extension of the Qormi studio therefore becomes a logical step in this journey. Perhaps a discreet step, but an essential one to support the development of a sector where the player experience relies on technology as much as on the illusion of a real casino table.
A live strategy built progressively
When observing the evolution of NetEnt Live, one quickly understands that the provider has never tried to rush the process. Unlike some actors who invested massively and very early in live casino studios, NetEnt adopted a more progressive approach. The Swedish studio first built its reputation on its video slot machines. Over time, these became references within online casinos. But as the market evolved, it became clear that another playground was gaining importance: the live casino segment.
At the end of the 2010s, players began spending more time on live-streamed tables. Operators noticed it in their statistics. Live sessions were longer, player engagement was stronger and the experience offered was closer to that of a land-based casino. For a provider like NetEnt, remaining focused only on slot machines would not have been enough to follow this transformation of the market.
The strategy adopted therefore consisted of progressively developing a division dedicated to live casino while preserving the technological foundations of the studio. The objective was not simply to reproduce what already existed elsewhere. The goal was to bring a different approach, one more oriented toward user interface and visual innovation.
A first turning point came in June 2019, when NetEnt unveiled Auto Roulette Studio. The concept relies on an automatic roulette broadcast from an immersive studio equipped with several wheels. The experience is designed to offer a fast pace and constant availability. The goal is to preserve the visual atmosphere of a casino stage. For players, the attraction is immediate. Indeed, they can chain spins without interruption. They can also enjoy a filmed environment that recalls physical tables.
The same year, the provider introduced another project that illustrates this desire for experimentation: Perfect Blackjack™, launched in June 2019 in partnership with Rank Group, particularly for Grosvenor casinos. The idea behind this live table is relatively original. Rather than offering a classic blackjack table, NetEnt attempts to guide players toward the mathematically optimal strategy depending on their hand and the dealer’s visible card.
This positioning clearly shows the direction taken by the studio at that time. NetEnt does not simply seek to produce additional live tables. It attempts to explore new ways of presenting these games, relying on its technological expertise and on a deep understanding of player behavior.
Over time, this strategy gave birth to a live offer that became increasingly structured. The provider worked on several aspects simultaneously: optimization of interfaces, quality of video streams, table ergonomics and diversification of game formats. Each evolution complemented the previous one, progressively creating a catalogue capable of competing with established actors in the sector.
The extension of the Qormi studio in Malta in 2020 fits precisely within this continuity. After experimenting with new formats and consolidating its live catalogue, NetEnt now had to strengthen its infrastructure in order to support the growth of its activity. The three new blackjack tables added to the studio are therefore not an isolated initiative. They represent another step in a broader project aimed at establishing NetEnt among providers capable of offering a complete live experience.
This gradual path also reflects a certain philosophy of the studio. Rather than seeking rapid expansion, NetEnt preferred to build its live offer step by step, like a solid architecture. A strategy constructed innovation after innovation until the whole structure takes shape. And in a sector as competitive as iGaming, such strategic patience can sometimes become a decisive advantage.
A technological vision focused on the future
In online casinos, technology acts somewhat like the invisible machinery of a theatre. The spectator sees the stage, the actors and the light. But everything that allows the show to function remains hidden behind the scenes. Live casino operates exactly in this way. The player sees a table, a dealer and a few cards distributed under a camera. Behind this seemingly simple image lies a complex technical architecture where every detail matters.
For NetEnt, the extension of the Qormi studio is only one piece of a broader system. The provider knows that the success of live casino does not depend only on the number of tables or the design of the set. The experience also relies on the fluidity of streaming, the stability of servers, the precision of interfaces and the ability of platforms to handle thousands of simultaneous connections.
In the early years of live casino, these technical questions often represented the main challenge. Mobile connections were slower, video streams less stable and interfaces sometimes poorly adapted to touch screens. But the market evolved quickly. Today, players want to access a table in a few seconds, place their bets without latency and follow every movement of the dealer with a perfectly clear image.
Faced with these expectations, providers must constantly adjust their technology. At NetEnt, several development directions gradually emerge around live activity.
Among the technical priorities are notably:
Optimization of high-definition video streams, in order to guarantee a smooth image even when the number of connected players increases significantly.
Improvement of the ergonomics of gaming interfaces, which must remain readable and intuitive, even on smaller screens.
Integration of immersive visual environments, made possible through technologies such as chroma-key production.
Reduction of the loading time of live tables, an element that has become essential for mobile players.
This last point is particularly important. Over the years, the smartphone has become the main access point to online casinos. Players connect from their sofa, in transport, sometimes even during a break at work. The live experience must therefore be designed for these mobile screens, where every second of loading time can influence the decision to stay or leave the table.
Within this new interface, several elements are redesigned:
Fast access to live tables, with more direct navigation in the lobby.
Betting controls optimized for touch screens, facilitating interactions during the game.
Better management of visual space, allowing good readability even on a smartphone.
Improved fluidity between different tables, making it possible to switch from one game to another without interruption.
At first glance, these improvements may appear discreet. Yet they profoundly transform the way players experience live casino. Where early mobile interfaces sometimes required several steps to join a table, the newer versions prioritize speed and simplicity.
In this context, the extension of the Maltese studio takes on an additional dimension. The tables filmed in Qormi must be able to integrate perfectly into this evolving technological ecosystem. The camera, the video stream, the mobile interface and the server infrastructure form an inseparable system.
Ultimately, live casino is based on a simple promise. The ambition is to offer the illusion of a real gaming table that must remain accessible at any moment and from any screen. And for this illusion to remain credible, the technology must stay completely invisible. This is precisely the challenge that providers like NetEnt attempt to overcome every day, behind the scenes of online gaming.
FAQ: NetEnt Live, EveryMatrix and the evolution of live casino
Why is live casino becoming so important in the iGaming industry?
Live casino responds to an expectation that the first generations of online casinos could not completely satisfy: recreating the atmosphere of a real gaming room. Seeing a dealer manipulate the cards, watching a roulette wheel spin under a camera, following the progress of a game in real time… these elements recreate tension and immersion that fully automated games do not always reproduce.
For operators, live casino also represents a particularly interesting format. Sessions tend to last longer, players interact more with the interface and the overall experience becomes more immersive. In an increasingly competitive market, offering a strong catalogue of live tables has become a real strategic advantage.
Why does NetEnt invest in the expansion of its live studios?
The development of NetEnt Live studios directly responds to the growth of the market. When the number of players increases, existing tables can quickly reach their maximum capacity. Providers must therefore anticipate this evolution by increasing the number of available tables and strengthening their infrastructure.
The extension of the Qormi studio in Malta follows this logic. By adding new blackjack tables, NetEnt improves game availability for players and offers operators greater flexibility in the management of their player traffic.
What is the role of EveryMatrix in the iGaming ecosystem?
EveryMatrix develops technological solutions intended for online gaming operators. The company is particularly known for CasinoEngine, which is an aggregation platform that allows online casinos to easily integrate games from many providers.
Instead of connecting each provider individually, operators can use CasinoEngine as a single gateway to gaming content. This approach simplifies technical integrations and allows faster access to a very large catalogue of games. This library includes slot machines, table games and live casino tables.
What is a dedicated blackjack table in live casino?
A dedicated table is a gaming table associated with a specific operator or a group of operators. Unlike public tables accessible to all casinos connected to the stream, a dedicated table can be customized and integrated into the specific experience of an online casino.
In some cases, the visual environment of the table can reflect the identity of the casino offering it. For players, this creates a more identifiable and sometimes more exclusive experience.
What advantages do dedicated tables offer to operators and players?
Dedicated tables bring several benefits to the organization of live casino.
For operators, they notably make it possible to:
offer a more personalized experience to their players
better manage player traffic between different tables
integrate tables into promotional campaigns or events
reinforce the visual identity of their casino
For players, the advantage is often more subtle. They sometimes encounter the same tables, the same dealers and a familiar environment. All of this contributes to creating a more immersive experience.
How is the player experience evolving in live casino?
The live casino experience continues to improve thanks to technological advances. The quality of video streaming, the stability of connections and the ergonomics of interfaces have progressed significantly in recent years.
Providers are particularly working on several essential aspects:
the fluidity of high-definition video streaming
the optimization of interfaces for mobile devices
the speed of access to gaming tables
the integration of more immersive visual environments
These evolutions now allow players to join a table in a few seconds and enjoy an experience very close to that of a land-based casino.
Will live casino continue to develop?
All indications suggest that the growth of live casino should continue in the coming years. Progress in streaming technology, improvements in mobile interfaces and changes in gaming habits favor this type of immersive experience.
Providers continue to invest in new studios, diversify game formats and develop technologies capable of making live tables even more accessible. For both players and operators, live casino is now establishing itself as one of the pillars of the iGaming industry.
