Before live dealer games became a thing, players had to go to a land-based casino to get access to games such as blackjack, roulette, poker, and baccarat. While that option is still available for those who wish to be physically present for the action, online live dealer games provide an alternative to players looking for more convenience.
By allowing players to interact with dealers and other players without the need for physical presence, live dealer games have revolutionized online gambling and betting forever. In this comprehensive guide, we will take our readers through everything that makes up the world of live dealer games. Upon reading this guide, you’ll be well-versed in how live dealer games work, how they’re produced, and what are some of the best live dealer online casinos.
By incorporating elements from brick-and-mortar casinos through a real dealer presenting and executing the game, live casino games perfectly simulate the quintessential casino experience.
This is done by casting a real casino location, and through interaction with the audience via a live stream. This is a major difference between live casino games and online casino games, where the latter are pre-programmed via RNG engines and have a consistent design. On the other hand, live dealer games offer a unique blend of classic games with the live element that cannot be found elsewhere.
Live dealer casinos operate mostly within private rooms with a professional studio setup. They frequently use multiple cameras for abundant coverage of the croupiers, and with sophisticated lighting and microphones, the live streams have a top-tier quality.
Joining a live casino isn’t anything different than joining a classic online casino. What’s more, the process is almost the same. Here’s how you can enter the virtual world of live casinos:
Now that you know how to join a live casino, take a look at some of the most popular live dealer casino games and how they’re played.
The popularity of live casinos is constantly on the rise due to their accessibility. Some of the most common staples of online live casinos are classic table games like baccarat, roulette, poker, and blackjack. Virtual casinos offer innovative spins on these games, which makes the overall experience more unique. Take a look at some of the most common games in live dealer casinos, and some of their variants.
Poker is recognized for its social dimensions, which is why it’s the perfect choice for playing live. If you don’t know how to approach the game as a beginner, it’s best to stick to low-stakes games in the beginning, as it’ll make you ready for the actual experience.
Some of the most popular poker variants include Texas Hold’ Em, Omaha Hold’ Em, Three-Card Poker, Stud Poker, and Five-Card Draw. Make sure you know your way around before you opt for any of these titles.
You can opt for the classic blackjack experience through live dealer casinos, though there are several variants too. While most opt for the classic seven-card version, there are other options to choose from such as European Blackjack, Blackjack Switch, and Vegas Strip Blackjack.
The essence of blackjack remains the same—you keep your initial two-card hand as close to 21 as you can. As long as you don’t go bust, and beat the dealer, the win is yours for the taking.
Those seeking an adrenaline rush will find it through the speed and intensity of live roulette. You’re likely to find versions such as American Roulette, European Roulette, No Zero Roulette, and French Roulette on most live casinos.
The betting limits also range from low for beginners to more high-stakes ones for players looking for more action. There are also side bets and special bets, depending on the version of the game you choose. One of the most popular live roulette games is Lightning Roulette by Evolution Gaming, due to its random multipliers of up to 500x the bet.
Baccarat is one of the simplest games among the ones listed here and one that most players remember by heart. Both croupiers and the participants communicate with each other during the game, which additionally adds to the atmosphere you’re looking for while playing at home. The challenge remains the same—the player’s goal is to bet on the hand that gets closest to a total of 9.
No Commission Baccarat is one of the most popular options as it removes the standard 5% banker bet commission, but there are other versions and variants Lightning Baccarat, Dragon Tiger, and Speed Baccarat, the last of which features quick rounds for faster gameplay.
There are some core differences between live and standard online casinos, including the overall experience, buy-ins, deposit and withdrawal limits, and more. Even the number of hands can be different depending on the game and variant you choose to play.
In terms of table limits, there are generally more diverse options on live casinos, since there are plenty of participants with low and high rollers. While the buy-in might be higher when compared to standard online casinos, the overall experience of live casinos offers exclusivity that just cannot be found in regular casinos online.
The only possible drawback that live casinos feature is a lower number of hands per minute, primarily to accommodate the live dealers themselves. While some might see this as a drawback, this same aspect lends live casinos the realism that is needed for user engagement. You can see yourself score a win, which not only makes the experience thrilling, but also helps users trust the platform itself.
Now that you know exactly what separates a live casino from a standard online casino, here are some of the advantages of joining live dealer tables:
It can be a bit of work to come across a live dealer casino that isn’t needlessly confusing, rigged, or moving at a pace you’re not comfortable with. However, there are several choices available online that are fully legitimate, well-regulated, and optimized to deliver a great experience.
We have an extensive list of live casinos that you can check out, but before that, remember to follow these key factors for making the best choice possible:
Live casinos have made it tremendously easy for players to get the experience of brick-and-mortar casinos from the comfort of their homes. These platforms can reignite the passion for roulette, poker, blackjack, baccarat, and more in players who’ve been out of touch, and even offer a helping hand to beginners looking to experience something different than classic RNG games.