BetHog has closed a $10 million Series A funding round and launched Sentient Studios, a B2B provider enabling operators to integrate AI-powered dealers into their live casino offerings.
BetHog is a crypto casino and sportsbook founded in early 2024 by the team behind FanDuel. Its digital-asset investor base, anchored by RockawayX, adds further strategic alignment for those targeting crypto-friendly or Web3 demographics.
Will Ventures and RockawayX co-led the roun, which closed BetHog’s total funding at $16 million. There has also been involvement from PCV, 6MV, Bullpen Capital and Advancit Capital.
According to a statement on Wednesday the capital will be used to enhance AI live dealer capabilities on its platform and accelerate Sentient Studios’ commercial rollout to operators globally.
Sentient Studios: A software-first alternative
Sentient Studios positions itself as a direct challenge to the traditional live dealer model, which relies on third-party studios and human croupiers. To lower the barrier for operators to trial and scale, the platform operates on a pure revenue-share basis with no upfront costs.
Unlike traditional live dealer setups, the platform offers far greater flexibility. Without the constraints of studio staffing, operators can scale tables dynamically, customise dealer personas and branded environments and maintain continuous gameplay. Multi-language support further broadens the addressable player base.
The offering builds on BetHog’s AI blackjack dealer, Sunny. Launched in October 2025, Sunny is now available in 12 languages. Baccarat and Roulette are planned additions later this year.
“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,” said Nigel Eccles, CEO and co-founder of BetHog.
AI dealer technology faces regulatory and market test
AI dealers are not without challenges. Live casino has long been built around authentic, physical studio setups. Players view real dealers and equipment as crucial for establishing trust and credibility. Certain jurisdictions also maintain strict regulatory oversight.
Operators will need to satisfy both regulators and players on questions of game integrity, data privacy and transparency. Industry observers have previously flagged copyright and intellectual property concerns around synthetic alternatives, which is an issue for operators to address contractually before going to market.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/tech-innovation/bethog-raises-10m-ai-dealers/
