The last few years have seen an exciting trend within the gaming and gambling community, towards remodels of TV quiz shows. Many live casinos now offer a selection of live game show choices, which has certainly been catalysed by the introduction of livestream features on most major betting sites. Though a pretty straightforward idea, these modes have gained massive traction amongst players, likely due to the highly immersive experience they offer. You may well have watched the exciting quiz show, ‘The Chase’, which was first featured in 2009, and has seen a variety of 39 different series involving celebrities, families, and regular members of the public. This quiz style show sees contestants try to beat the ‘chaser’ in a general knowledge showdown. This show has truly gripped viewers, with an average viewer count of between 3 to 5 million per episode. The popularity of this show, and the palpable nail-biting atmosphere it invokes may be why Entain’s recent release of the live game show as a casino betting mode has made huge waves in the industry. Entain have had a wide reach in Ireland over the past decade through the rising popularity of Coral and Ladbrokes, which are both brands of Entain, so The Chase is likely to be a hit among many Irish punters.
Entain partnered with both ITV and Playtech to ensure that the live game mode was both true to the nature of the show, emulating the same exciting dynamic, but also to make sure that it landed well in the context of betting. It’s fair to say they have done a tremendous job, which is reflected in the figures. The Chase brought in roughly three times the revenue that previous prominent launches with the same plinko mechanics had yielded.
What’s perhaps most appealing about this game mode is not just its competitive mechanics and the realism it provides, but the fact that the live game show is hosted 24/7, so punters can tune in at any time, day or night. Playtech are hosting the live game show from their headquarters in Riga, Latvia.
The technical aspects of the game are simple but fun. While the main style and concepts from the original TV show are replicated, the live game show version does not require players to recall general knowledge facts. Instead the game is played on a plinko board with two bonus features. This means the game is accessible to all, as it’s common knowledge that not everyone is great at quiz shows! This version of the game is currently available to players from the UK, Ontario, Brazil, and Belgium, but there are plans to make it available in South Africa and Italy, and hopefully further afield in the near future.
The game has seen a huge influx of players and an increase in existing player activity. A FTSE 100 operator reports that the introduction of The Chase has seen a 56% increase in player spending. We can certainly see why. Between the accurate recreation of an absolutely iconic show that gripped the world, and the modern integration that Playtech and Entain have pulled off, it’s clear that this is just the beginning for the next generation of betting games. Many think we may even soon see virtual reality elements incorporated into these live game show modes as technology improves at a rapid pace. It’s certainly an exciting time to be alive.
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