Dragon Tiger by Pragmatic Play Ltd.

There has been a definite trend in the online casino industry of late, where Eastern-style games are enjoying massive success in Western markets.

Pragmatic Play looks to get in on this action in their latest live dealer offering!

Modeled on their excellent Dragon Tiger online slot, this new release offers similar Asian aesthetics…

… but that’s where the similarities end!

There’s nothing remotely slot-like about this game. If anything, it’s closer to live baccarat in its betting style and RTP. It’s a straightforward release in terms of gaming substance, uncomplicated by the endless bells and whistles of modern video slots, but with an understated elegance that’s hard to resist. And of course, there’s the live human being dealing the cards!

Before we get into the nitty gritty of the gameplay, however, let’s take an in-depth look at the company that created it. 

The Designer

The online gaming sector is no stranger to scandal. 

There are all kinds of crazy stories of malfeasance, fraud, and outright theft in the history of casino gambling! 

Even so, it’s possible that Pragmatic Play sector might have the most interesting story of all. 

This company was technically founded in 2015, but its origins are masked by the storm clouds of endless scandal and outright malfeasance that was TopGame. This company was known for unbelievably poor-quality control (memorably, it once left jackpot icons necessary to win its bonus feature off of a major slot release’s reels) and customer service so poor it bordered on outright thievery. 

Mercifully, it is now defunct. However, some or all of its assets were purchased by Pragmatic Play around the time it was founded.

At first, there was speculation that Pragmatic Play would just be the same bad industry actor as its predecessor, just under a new name. This hasn’t turned out to be the case, however… 

… indeed, the company has seemed to be thoroughly above board in the intervening years. There has been no whiff of further scandal, and they received some important notices, such as a Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) Certificate of Integrity for their Random Number Generator (RNG) in 2016, and the Software Rising Star award at the 2017 EGR B2B Awards. 

They’ve been making big moves in recent months, expanding their international footprint and generally boosting their profile. It appears that this company’s troubled past has indeed been left in the rearview. 

So how does the design team do here?

The Game

In terms of visual design, this title is an absolute home run. 

Everything looks absolutely gorgeous, from the golden busts of the titular creatures to the midnight blue concentric circles in the background, to the dealer’s striking red garments against the dark red felt. 

The user interaction is simple and easy to understand, streamed 24/7 from the designer’s state-of-the-art studio in Bucharest, Romania. The hosts speak English, but player interface is possible in more than 30 languages.

The game itself resembles a simplified version of live baccarat, with elements of war added in. Instead of player and banker bets with two cards each, the two sides are Dragon and Tiger, each of which is dealt one card. The object of the game is to predict which section – Dragon or Tiger – will get the highest card. 

Players can place their bets on either side, or on a tie, or suited tie. 

Since the game structure is so simple, there’s really no strategic approach to speak of… it’s like war in that way – purely a game of chance. With that said, the simple set of rules and bets has certain advantages for players, such as an RTP considerably higher than more complex games. 

When combined with that excellent visual approach, the player is left with a formidable live dealer game well worthy of trying out at the very least. 

Where to Play

With all the success Pragmatic Play’s releases have enjoyed, it shouldn’t be surprising to discover that player’s have a great many options when it comes to where to play their titles. They’re licensed in a great many locations, which means their games are available across a long and diverse list of casinos…

… a list that includes some of the industry’s top names. 

One excellent contender for discerning player’s business is Mr Bit Casino, a fine outfit that offers reliably exceptional bonuses at sign up, 2nd deposit, and so on. 

For that matter, Vegas Paradise is no slouch either, with its PayPal-enabled gaming acting as a kind of seal of approval. 

There are some excellent options to consider too, though: the player favorite iLUCKI Casino, MegaCasino, and Queen Vegas Casino should be a part of the conversation for sure. For those who prefer crypto gaming, 1xBet Casino is also an excellent choice.