AI Live Dealers Get A New Push As BetHog Raises $10 Million

Crypto casino BetHog Casino has raised $10 million in Series A funding to push its proprietary AI live casino dealer tech into a B2B product called Sentient Studios. The round was co-led by Will Ventures and RockawayX, with participation from PCV, 6MV, Bullpen Capital, and Advancit Capital. BetHog says the raise brings total funding to $16 million.

The company plans to use the new capital to expand AI dealer capabilities on its own platform while accelerating Sentient Studios adoption with online casino operators worldwide.

Sentient Studios: A Live Casino Supply Model Built for Speed

BetHog is pitching Sentient Studios as a software-driven alternative to traditional live dealer supply, designed to give operators more control over capacity, localization, and differentiation. Instead of relying entirely on third-party studios and staffing schedules, operators can test, launch, and scale dealer-led games with fewer operational constraints.

BetHog says Sentient Studios runs on a pure revenue-share model with no setup fees, no monthly minimums, and no fixed-term contracts, positioning it as a lower-friction way for operators to trial new live casino formats before committing long-term resources.

“10X More Popular”: BetHog Points to Early AI Dealer Results

BetHog Co-Founder and CEO Nigel Eccles said the company’s internal testing has produced a major engagement lift versus traditional tables.

“We’ve tested our basic AI dealer over the past six months and have discovered that it is 10X more popular than its live dealer equivalent. In addition, we’ve seen better retention and player satisfaction,” Eccles said.

He added that the goal is to help other casinos launch dealer experiences instantly, run them continuously, and create more personalized player interactions - benefits that are typically harder to deliver when capacity is tied to physical studios and shift schedules.

Why Operators Are Paying Attention Now

Most operators leaning on third-party live dealer networks face familiar bottlenecks: table limits during peak hours, slower rollout for new languages, and less room to build something that feels truly brand-owned. BetHog argues AI dealers flip that equation by letting operators scale tables on demand, tailor experiences to specific player segments, and adjust the presentation in real time.

Sentient Studios also supports unique dealer personas and branded environments, giving operators more ways to stand out in a category where many lobbies can look and feel identical across competing sites.

From “Sunny” the AI Blackjack Dealer to a Full Table-Game Roadmap

Sentient Studios builds on BetHog’s AI blackjack dealer, Sunny, introduced in October 2025. BetHog says Sunny is now available in 12 languages and has become one of the most played games on its platform, helping validate the case for AI-hosted live casino at scale.

Next up, BetHog plans to expand its AI dealer lineup later this year with baccarat and roulette - two staples that could significantly widen the addressable market for the B2B product if performance metrics track with the blackjack results.

BetHog’s Wider Platform Play as the Product Expands

The raise also puts a brighter spotlight on BetHog’s broader ecosystem as it continues building out its casino offering, including a wide software lineup spanning providers like Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, and NoLimit City. Players looking for the full platform snapshot, including payments (Bitcoin/BTC, Visa, and MasterCard support) and site features, can find it in our BetHog Casino review.

With fresh funding, a productized B2B model, and a clear roadmap beyond blackjack, BetHog is making a direct bid to redefine how dealer-led table games are produced, scaled, and branded - and whether AI-hosted tables can become a mainstream layer in the live casino stack rather than a novelty confined to crypto-first platforms.