XPro Gaming (XPG) Review
One of the biggest complaints we hear about live dealer casinos is that they simply don’t offer enough variety for many gamblers. While the concept of having wagers determined with real cards or wheels is appealing, being forced into the same handful of games over and over again is not, which ultimately sends many players back to more traditional Internet gambling options to find more variety.
But some developers have tried to mitigate this problem by offering a wider variety of table games through their live packages. One such company is XPG, which was previously known as XPro Gaming. Their live dealer system covers eight games in total, including some Asian favorites and newer games that we rarely see from other developers. And with all the games housed inside of a solid, reliable package, that makes for a mix that will appeal to many people tired of the same old games.
Solid Game Variety
XPG offers a very strong variety of games from their platform, one that compares favorably with even most of the other major developers in the industry. Not only are the games you expect to be covered included in this package, but there are a few less common alternatives that add some much appreciated diversity and flavor to their offerings.
Before we get into the games themselves, let’s take a moment to look at how these tables are presented. The live streaming video is of average quality; the fact that it is not quite top-of-the-line only really becomes clear when you expand the games to full screen, when some of the details start to get a bit grainy. That’s only really a problem if you want a sharp look at the dealers, though: everything you need to see in order to play is still crystal clear even on a large monitor. All cards used feature big suit and rank indicators as well to aid players in visually recognizing what’s going on during play. The studio itself is fairly bland, but looks like an authentic casino, which is the most important thing.
The betting areas are integrated well into each game, and the interface as a whole is fairly simple to use, including a bar at the bottom from which you can select chips, track your balance, and manage your bets. A small chat box is also included on the left side of the screen, though it’s usually pretty quiet, and table limits are posted to the right. Some games, like baccarat and roulette, also offer informational overlays that show recent trends; players have the option of hiding or showing most of these widows. Overall, the screens are fairly uncluttered and look professional, if not particularly stylish or innovative.
As for casino games, XPG offers up eight different options for players to choose from. First, there are the obligatory blackjack tables, each of which can sit seven players. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of limits at different tables, and additional players can bet behind those actually taking up the seats, opening up even more opportunities to play.
Two versions of baccarat are included in the suite. The first is a standard version of the game in which any number of players may step up to the table and bet on the player, the banker, or a tie. Also available are a set of side bets, including pairs and the dragon/tiger bets. Alternately, XPG also offers up Super 6 Baccarat, a common variant that is also known as “no commission” baccarat. The idea here is that banker bets are no longer subject to their normal 5% commission, which is normally where the house gets their advantage on that particular wager. Of course, they won’t give this away for free, so there’s a twist: if you bet on the banker hand and it wins with an exact hand score of six, you’ll only win half of a bet instead of the normal even money. Again, the same side bets are also available if you’re looking for more action.
Roulette is also featured on this platform. As is typical, this is the game that ventures the furthest from the “standard” layout: the actual video of the wheel and the croupier only take up the upper middle portion of your screen, while a large layout that you can use to place bets is included below. As usual, European roulette rules are used, which mainly means a single zero wheel. An alternative racetrack layout is also included for those who like to make some of the bets that cover various sections of the wheel.
One game that we don’t see enough of from live dealer providers is Caribbean Stud Poker. XPG includes a pretty basic implementation of the game here, with five seats per table and what appear to be typical rules. The big missing element here is the lack of a progressive jackpot side bet, which is usually a major driver of traffic to this game in brick-and-mortar venues.
Another offbeat game you’ll find in this package is Texas Hold’em. In this case, we mean the table game variant, in which the general action of the popular poker variant is used as the basis for a battle against a dealer. There’s a lot of strategy involved, as players can make multiple bets during the game based on the perceived strength of their hand. There’s a bonus side bet that pays out based on your starting hand as well, with a pair of aces earning you 30-1.
A couple of more traditional Asian gaming options are also included in the selection. First, there is the relatively common dice game of Sic Bo, which is a regular inclusion at many casinos around the world. Three dice are rolled on each round, and players can bet on a wide variety of possible outcomes at different odds, making this something like a dice-based roulette. This is joined by Dragon Tiger, a game that is very similar to Casino War: players are simply asked to predict which of two cards will be higher, with some other side wagers also available on each round.
European Focus, But Global Reach
There’s no doubt that XPG is a company with a focus on European markets. Their studios are based on European nations, and utilize staff that have experience in casinos in Europe. In addition, the company only employs English-speaking dealers (though the software and gaming system can support a much wider variety of languages), and while that’s not exactly enough to exclude other populations from playing, it certainly doesn’t show a committed effort to attract players who speak other languages, either.
Still, there are signs that the company has a broader audience in mind. The inclusion of Asian games suggests that they know gamblers from around the world might have access to their offerings. And the company advertises their platform as a “white label” solution that just about anyone could license and set up quickly as the basis of an online casino, including a fully-functioning back-end management system. There’s also the odd fact that there’s very little information available on the regulatory steps taken by the company: neither their website nor the software itself makes any noticeable mention of licenses or regulation.
When it comes to stakes, players are generally presented with a great deal of options. This is particularly true in blackjack, where there are several tables with different limits available. In roulette, typical limits range from $1 to $5,000 (with lower maximums for single-number bets), while games like Caribbean Poker start at $5 per hand. However, there are no free play options, so if you want to give these games a try, you’ll have to pony up at least a little cash.
Diverse Platform with Little Transparency
For the most part, XPG has created a live casino platform that features enough in the way of gaming variety and features to satisfy your typical online gambler. The game selection is one of the largest we’ve seen, going far beyond the mandatory inclusions and offering tables for a number of proprietary and Asian games. The presentation and atmosphere aren’t exactly mind-blowing, but they get the job done, and the dealers are professional and friendly enough, if not as outgoing as on some platforms.
That’s about all most players are asking for, so we think gamblers will by and large enjoy playing at sites that implement this platform. However, those that are particularly choosy about the companies they play with might find that some aspects of XPG give them pause. We’ve seen other reviewers point out the lack of transparency that’s apparent in their operations, and we have to agree that this is a bit odd. It’s hard to find confirmation of the specific rules for their games, the locations of offices and studios aren’t entirely clear, and they give little insight into their regulatory situation.
None of those factors actually impact your gameplay, of course, so if they don’t bother you, then we can heartily recommend this platform for its outstanding game selection and solid overall performance. But if you’re the type of person who needs to know exactly how the sausage is made before you’ll take a bite, then you might have to look elsewhere to get the depth of information that will make you comfortable.
