The Live Dealer Experience!

If you want to add some additional excitement to your play, you might want to try one of the live casino games. The live casino brings a whole new dimension to the world of online gaming. The moment you click the button on your screen, you’ll be launched straight into the heart of the action. Once you’ve joined a table, you’ll watch everything unfold in real time, and you can make your decisions accordingly. You’ll even be able to interact with the dealer and with the other players. What more do you need to bring your game to life!

The Advantages of the Live Casino

There are many different benefits to playing at an online casino, as opposed to a bricks and mortar venue. For a start, you don’t even have to leave home, which obviously saves some costs. You don’t have any travel expenses, or the hassle of booking a hotel room. There’s no dress code to worry about, and you won’t have to wait in line for your chips or for a seat at a table. You’ll be able to make some notes as you play, or you can even count the cards, if you like. But the live dealer games bring you the best of both worlds – you are able to engage in some real life action in the relaxing surroundings of your own home.

Best Live Dealer Online Casinos

• Best Live Dealer Online Casinos
• Why Live Dealer Online Casino?
• Types of Live Casinos
• Live Dealer Games Providers
• Live Dealer Games
• Live Dealer Casino Bonus

So What is a Live Casino?

There are actually three different types of live casinos. The games can either be broadcast from a studio, from a land-based venue, or via an online television channel. Whichever one is used, the process is much the same. In all of these cases, there has to be an entire team of people involved in the filming. The crews consist of cameramen, lighting and sound engineers, and directors. There also has to be a pit boss on hand, who will adjudicate in the case of any player issues.

The Live Dealer Studios

This is the most common type you’ll come across in the live casinos. The games are streamed from a custom-designed studio, which has been designed to resemble a land-based venue. These are just like a film set – everything is real from the tables to the chips. You can optimize your online experience by adjusting the cameras for the best angles, and zooming in whenever you want a closer look at the action. You’ll also have the opportunity to interact with the other players and with the dealer, via the chat facility on the screen.

The Live Streams

Some land-based casinos provide a live stream direct from the floor of the venue, and they give you the chance to participate, too. Many members find this the best of the options. In this situation, you’ll be sitting right beside players who are actually in the casino, and you’ll be placing your bets alongside them, as well. You can’t get much closer to the action without actually being there! If that doesn’t appeal to you, there are also some dedicated television channels online or on the cable networks that offer live games. These versions always have a show host, so you’ll still be able to experience a bit of chat and banter as you play.

How to Decide upon the Right Live Casino

The best casinos will have a number of features that will make them stand out from the rest. It’s good to know that the better websites allow you to look inside the live rooms before you sign up to anything. This means that you can check out how they work and see if they are for you before you’ve made any firm commitments. Let’s go through a few things that you should think about while you’re making your choice.

• The selection on offer. Most online sites tend to list the classic cards and roulette games, but you’ll find a few variants if you search around a bit.
• The stakes. Most venues cater for a range of budgets, but it’s worth looking at the table limits before you make your decision. There tend to be options for higher rollers, as well as those who are just playing for a bit of fun. You might also want to see which language is being used during play, as this may affect your choice.
• The equipment. Check the quality of the live feed. For you to be fully absorbed in the experience, you need the sharpest picture possible, and the clearest audio so that you can follow the dealer’s chat.
• The general ambiance. The differences between the live casinos might be subtle, but when it comes down to it, it’s the atmosphere that will be the deciding factor. It might be the decor that sways you, or the way the dealer interacts with the players. Whatever it is, you’ll know when you’ve found something that appeals to you.

How to Join In

Once you’ve made your decision, you’ll be keen to start playing. It’s incredibly easy to get started. You just need to select the live game that you’d like to play, and you’ll be taken straight to the casino floor. Most venues will have several tables available, so you can pick the one that’s best for you. You’ll be shown if there are any free seats, and if there are, you simply need to click on one of them to join in. You’ll be using your computer interface to place your bets online, just as you would in your regular gaming sessions. The difference is that you’ll be able to watch the cards being dealt or the roulette wheel being spun, and you’ll see your wins in real time as they happen!

Who Provides the Live Games?

The majority of the top software providers have moved into the live casino arena, and they will all provide you with high-quality audio and graphics. At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much difference in the games selection, either. Whatever your genre preference is, you can be assured of a superior product when you’re playing online. So, in order to discern which developer is the best for you, you’ll need to take a closer look at the service each of them provides.

Evolution Gaming Sets the Standard

At the forefront of the industry is Evolution Gaming. The company focuses solely on live games, and so its development in this area is second to none. It provides products for all types of casinos – for the land-based venues, for the dedicated studios, and for the online and cable television channels. There are also options for mobile play. As well as being one of the leading providers for the largest online sites, Evolution Gaming also has its own studios. These are based in several European cities, with a new facility opening in Canada shortly.

NetEnt Goes Mobile

NetEnt has also thrown itself into the live casino market, and has placed its focus on the mobile aspect of the delivery. The company uses Chroma Key technology, which enables smooth play on the smaller screen. All of the games can be played in either landscape or portrait, without any lag in the audio or the video. Interestingly, NetEnt developed its listings after some collaboration with players, and the result is a collection that has something for everyone.

Playtech’s Asian Tables

Playtech caters for the Asian markets, as well as the European ones. The company promises to deliver the fastest streaming of all of the providers, and uses cutting-edge Omni-Channel software in order to fulfill this pledge. Playtech also provides services for players with a bit more cash to splash. These members are allowed into a VIP area called the Ruby Room, and can play at some exclusive tables with higher limits.

Microgaming Joins Up with Playboy

Microgaming is one of the oldest and the best known names on the scene, but this isn’t their unique selling point when it comes to the live versions. The company has teamed up with Playboy, and so many of their tables are hosted by real bunny girl dealers! Microgaming has more than twenty tables on offer, with studios in a variety of locations. They also provide a multi-play option, so you can participate in several games at once, if you wish.

Which Games Are On Offer?

Naturally, the table versions dominate in the live dealer casinos, as the online slots don’t really feature in this category. You’ll find a variety of cards, dice and roulette games available. Although it is the classic versions that are mostly found, you can still find some variants if you have a look around. In some venues, you’ll see Sic Bo, Hi-Lo, or Hold ‘Em available. If you fancy something a bit out of the ordinary, you might like to give one of them a try.

Everyone Loves Blackjack!

Blackjack is the first choice for most members of the live casinos. It might be because it suits the style of play. It’s good to actually look the dealer in the eye as you make your decisions! The blackjack table has seven places, but you’ll be usually offered the bet behind option if all the seats are taken. In this situation, you’ll be wagering on another player’s hand. In most cases, you’ll find all the standard options available, such as double down, perfect pairs, and insurance bets. The online games vary though, so check the finer details before you join in.

Playtech’s Ultimate Blackjack

This version is played with eight decks. Although most blackjack tables only have seven seats, this variant allows an unlimited amount of people to participate at once. The games follows the standard rules, apart from one key aspect – you are able to bet on another players cards, and they can wager on yours! Your hand is still exclusively yours though, so your stakes won’t be affected if someone else decides to hit, while you have elected to stand.

Other Card Games Available

If you don’t like the idea of blackjack, the live casinos have a range of other possibilities for you to pick from. You can opt for three card poker, in which the dealer has to get a ‘Queen High’ in order to beat you. There are several options for baccarat, including a speed and a mini version. There’s also Baccarat Squeeze, in which the dealer builds up the suspense by slowly revealing the cards. Alternatively, you could try a Hold ‘Em game. In this variant, you must form your five-card hand from the two that you’ve been dealt, plus three of the community cards.

Caribbean Stud Poker’s Big Jackpots!

Evolution Gaming offers Caribbean Stud Poker, which gives you the opportunity to net an incredible prize. At the start, you’ll be dealt five cards, and you’ll go up against the dealer, who must have an Ace and a King, or higher, in order to defeat you. It’s the optional side bet that sets this game apart, though. This has a separate progressive jackpot, and it continues to grow until one of the players gets a Royal Flush. There are some fixed payouts for other hands, such as a Full House, or Three of a Kind, too.

Spin the Roulette Wheel

You’ll have lots to choose from if you decide to spin the wheel in the live casinos! You can go for the French or European rules, or you can try your luck with the American version. You may like Speed Roulette, in which each round takes just 25 seconds to play. In this game, betting actually occurs as the wheel turns, so that no time is wasted. You might also come across Slingshot Auto. This variant is streamed live, but it doesn’t actually feature a dealer. Instead, the wheel is spun automatically, albeit in real time.

Evolution Gaming’s Double-Ball Roulette

Evolution Gaming has come up with an industry first with this offering. In this unique take on the game, two balls are used, so every spin of the wheel produces two winning numbers. There are some interesting wagering options, such as the Double Ball one, which pays out at an incredible 1300:1. You’ll also have all the neighboring and call bets, and because of the way that the balls are released onto the wheel, they never actually collide with one another!

The Wonder of the Dream Catcher

This is another amazing first from Evolution Gaming, and it couldn’t be more different to the usual live offerings! It’s a huge money wheel, which was specifically developed with slots and bingo players in mind, so if the cards aren’t your thing, you should give it a try. The rules are very simple. The wheel has a set of numbers on it, as well as some multipliers, and the dealer spins it. You are wagering on the number that it will stop at, and if you have guessed correctly, you’ll win that sum. The game is fully interactive, with lights flashing and music playing, which really sets the mood. You’ll even be able to chat to the host as you play, if you want.

The Welcome Bonus

Occasionally, the sites offer their existing members an additional bonus when they first participate in one of the live casinos. This is usually in the form of a cash sum that is awarded to you when you participate in a certain game. As with any of the special promotions, you should read the terms and conditions carefully. In particular, check the wagering requirements, as this is the part that often trips up new players. Although it’s good to take advantage of these types of incentives, it’s also important that you know what is involved before you start to play.

Some Final Tips for the Live Casinos

It’s really worth giving the live casinos a try. The chances are that you’ll be so impressed that you won’t want to go back to the standard online versions! If you are going to get involved, there are a few things that you should keep in mind so that you can make the best of the experience.

• You’ll usually be able to watch for a while before you join a table. It’s best to take advantage of this opportunity, as it will give you the chance to see how the play is progressing, and also to decide if it is the right one for you.
• The games are sometimes run at a slower pace. This isn’t necessarily a negative, though. It certainly makes everything more realistic, and it allows time for some interaction with the dealer.
• Think carefully before you take any side bets. They can be costly, and it’s easy to get swept away in the moment when the action is live. For that reason, you should set your budget before you start to play, and then keep to it.

Going Live!

What’s not to like about the live casinos? You can experience all the atmosphere of being at a real venue without having any of the hassle. There’s the social aspect to think about too, as you are able to interact with the dealer and the players through the online chat facility. Admittedly, the games selection is a bit smaller, but you’ll still have a good range to choose from, and you’re sure to spot something that appeals to you. The best part about it all is how easy it is to get involved. You just have to take your seat at one of the tables, and then you’re all set to go!