Cutthroat competition led a Cambodian casino operator to branch out into the online live dealer software business and the company claims business has never been better.

Jonny Ferrari (pictured), managing director of Start Live Casino, recently told the Phnom Penh Post that tough competition among the dozen or so casinos in Bavet on Cambodia’s border with Vietnam led the Lucky89 Group to consider other ways to boost business at its two licensed casino operations.

Ferrari said Lucky89 originally hired an outside company to launch an online live dealer casino operation from its brick-and-mortar venues. However, frustrations in getting the vendors to improve the product to Lucky89’s specifications ultimately led the company to develop its own software platform.

Encouraged by the success of its in-house product, Start Live began pitching other casinos on the benefits of adding a live-dealer option. Ferrari said the keys to winning new clients and retaining online customers were threefold: “fast connections, zero problems for the player and easy payouts.”