Although regular players of online casino games may have come across live dealer casino games before, it’s possible that they were unsure what these online casino games have to offer. For those who have yet to dip their toes into the water and who want to learn more about live online casinos and the games they offer, this post explains how live dealer games work as well as the differences between online casinos and their more traditional counterparts. Players can also learn more about some of the popular categories of live dealer casino games available online.
What Is a Live Dealer Casino Game?
When online casinos were first created, they offered players an opportunity to enjoy gambling games from the comfort of their homes. These games didn’t try to replicate the traditional casino experience. Instead, using random number generator (RNG) software to generate random results, they simulated luck and used on-screen animations to simulate the action.
As technology evolved, the demand for more realistic games increased, and as streaming technology became more accessible, online casinos acquired the ability to provide even more immersive online gambling experiences with live dealer casino games.
But what are live dealer games? To put it simply, they’re a category of online casino games that bridge the gap between classic RNG-based online casino games and real-life casino experiences. These gambling experiences allow online gamblers to interact with real dealers and casino games via special software and with a live video stream. Here’s a closer look at how these online casino games work.
How Live Dealer Games Work
When one considers both live dealer and online casino games, the key difference is that with a live dealer people get to play against a real dealer instead of a computer simulation. But players no longer need to visit a land-based casino to have this experience because the same games are now streamed from a studio and in real time via the casino’s website directly to a player’s device.
These studios offer a variety of classic casino table games, including roulette, poker, craps, blackjack, and more. The games are captured in real time on high definition cameras and transmitted to players around the world. Players can then interact with the game via special online casino gaming software, including placing bets and chatting to other players and the online casino live dealer. As with any other online casino game, the equipment involved is certified for fairness by third-party agencies like eCOGRA.
In order to participate, all players need to do is log into their online casino account, load their preferred live dealer casino game, and use the game’s interface to place their bets.
Traditional Online Casino vs. Live Dealer
The main difference between a live dealer game and an old-school online casino game is the use of real, live dealers and casino equipment. Where traditional casino games display animated clips and computer graphics that represent a computer-generated equivalent of luck, live dealer games employ real people and tangible hardware to reproduce luck the same way that a casino game in a real casino does.
For example, when people play live dealer blackjack, they can expect to see a croupier dealing real cards. The dealer will interact with all the players at the table while they instruct the dealer to hit, stand, or split. The dealer will reveal cards from a blackjack dealer shoe and the winners and losers will be decided in the usual way.
Live Casino Pros and Cons
Although regular players of online casino games may have come across live dealer casino games before, it’s possible that they were unsure what these online casino games have to offer. For those who have yet to dip their toes into the water and who want to learn more about live online casinos and the games they offer, this post explains how live dealer games work as well as the differences between online casinos and their more traditional counterparts. Players can also learn more about some of the popular categories of live dealer casino games available online.
What Is a Live Dealer Casino Game?
When online casinos were first created, they offered players an opportunity to enjoy gambling games from the comfort of their homes. These games didn’t try to replicate the traditional casino experience. Instead, using random number generator (RNG) software to generate random results, they simulated luck and used on-screen animations to simulate the action.
As technology evolved, the demand for more realistic games increased, and as streaming technology became more accessible, online casinos acquired the ability to provide even more immersive online gambling experiences with live dealer casino games.
But what are live dealer games? To put it simply, they’re a category of online casino games that bridge the gap between classic RNG-based online casino games and real-life casino experiences. These gambling experiences allow online gamblers to interact with real dealers and casino games via special software and with a live video stream. Here’s a closer look at how these online casino games work.
How Live Dealer Games Work
When one considers both live dealer and online casino games, the key difference is that with a live dealer people get to play against a real dealer instead of a computer simulation. But players no longer need to visit a land-based casino to have this experience because the same games are now streamed from a studio and in real time via the casino’s website directly to a player’s device.
These studios offer a variety of classic casino table games, including roulette, poker, craps, blackjack, and more. The games are captured in real time on high definition cameras and transmitted to players around the world. Players can then interact with the game via special online casino gaming software, including placing bets and chatting to other players and the online casino live dealer. As with any other online casino game, the equipment involved is certified for fairness by third-party agencies like eCOGRA.
In order to participate, all players need to do is log into their online casino account, load their preferred live dealer casino game, and use the game’s interface to place their bets.
Traditional Online Casino vs. Live Dealer
The main difference between a live dealer game and an old-school online casino game is the use of real, live dealers and casino equipment. Where traditional casino games display animated clips and computer graphics that represent a computer-generated equivalent of luck, live dealer games employ real people and tangible hardware to reproduce luck the same way that a casino game in a real casino does.
For example, when people play live dealer blackjack, they can expect to see a croupier dealing real cards. The dealer will interact with all the players at the table while they instruct the dealer to hit, stand, or split. The dealer will reveal cards from a blackjack dealer shoe and the winners and losers will be decided in the usual way.
Live Casino Pros and Cons
Although the rules of each game remain the same, there are some important differences between the two formats. Here are the key differences between live and traditional online casino games.
Realism
Undoubtedly, live casino games are far more realistic than their animated equivalents. Even the slickest of animations is no substitute for the real thing. The clink of the ball hitting the roulette wheel and the flap of a card as it’s turned over to reveal the winner is a very different experience when it features real dealers and real casino games compared to animated sequences in RNG-based online casino games.
Social Element
A trip to the casino is supposed to be entertaining. For instance, players might go to the casino accompanied by friends or family. Even if they’re alone, they’ll no doubt engage in a bit of banter with the dealer or chat with the player next to them. That’s not possible with most animated RNG games, which can feel more isolating. While some players might see this as a positive, it could be a negative for someone who enjoys the social dimension of casino games.
Speed
A potential downside of playing at live dealer tables is that they tend to be slower than animated games. Players have to wait for other players to finish betting, and the dealer must physically spin a wheel or deal the cards. While automated games avoid this delay to some extent, players who are after super-fast action might want to avoid live games or search for games that have very specific time limits for each round of gameplay.
Integrity
Although casinos do their best to prove that their games are fair (by employing third-party testing labs to certify them), some people will always have their doubts. Cynical players may remain convinced that animated games can be rigged and might not be interested in playing them. For these players, live dealer games are an alternative since they involve real casino equipment handled by actual dealers.
Betting Limits
Live games tend to have higher minimum bet requirements due to the costs involved in running them, like paying salaries, studio hire, lightning-fast internet, and other overheads. The lack of these additional costs is why players can often bet as little as one cent on a RNG-based, online casino game.
Most Popular Live Dealer Casino Games
So, what are the most commonly played live dealer games at online casinos? Here are some of the most common and popular live dealer games.
Roulette
Expect to see the standard American, European, and French variants of this classic casino game at live dealer online casino sites. The evolution of live dealer games technology has also driven the development of many spin-offs, including titles with random numbers that offer bonus payouts, rapid-fire roulette games, versions with more than one ball, and more.
Blackjack
Blackjack is another popular live dealer table game and can be played with a wide variety of stakes and a number of different rule variations. Many live casinos offer tables where an unlimited number of people can play at once, or variants that offer their own unique rules, including additional side bets, bonus payouts, and other twists to the classic game’s rules.
Baccarat
More commonly played in Asia, baccarat has been growing in popularity across North America. A simple and fast-paced game with little strategy involved, it lends itself well to the live dealer format. There are several exciting variants, too, including squeezing (slow turning over of the cards), quick games, the removal of commission, and more.
Casino Poker
These aren’t poker tournaments and cash games in which players compete against each other, but versions of poker where players compete against the dealer. Three Card Poker, ultimate Texas hold’em, and Caribbean stud are some popular forms of casino poker, all of which can be played in a live dealer setup.
Game Shows
Although all the games mentioned so far can also be played at any traditional online casino, live dealer sites boast a range of games that simply can’t be replicated using animation. These include a variety of game shows hosted by charismatic and entertaining presenters. Some are simple lottery-style games, many are based on the wheel of fortune concept, and others employ the latest technology, bringing animated characters and fantasy gambling worlds to life before a player’s very eyes.