Live casino games, also known as live dealer games, combine the convenience of online gambling with the immersive experience of playing in a real casino.
By streaming live dealers and real-time gameplay to your computer or mobile device, live casinos offer an engaging and interactive way to enjoy popular casino games from the comfort of your home. Many of the best U.S. online casinos, such as OnlineCasinoGames and Lucky Red Casino, offer live dealer games, which gives them an advantage for some players over gambling sites that don’t offer live play.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about live casino games, including their benefits, how they work, popular live dealer games, strategies, and tips for maximizing your experience.
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This guide to live dealer games is just one of the many pages we have devoted to educating players of all experience levels on all aspects of casino games and gambling.
Our guides cover the rules, strategy, and other valuable information for the most popular online casino games, as well as online casino bonuses, popular terms and concepts such as RTP and RNGs, similarities and differences between traditional physical casinos and online casinos, and other important information about gambling online at desktop sites or mobile casinos.
If you would like to learn more about everything from how to choose an online casino, to online casino terminology, to how to play popular table games such as baccarat, to tips for responsible gambling, we have you covered.
Our goal is to be a vital resource for players who love online slots or enjoy playing blackjack games like Perfect Pair Blackjack, roulette, video poker and its variants (including Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild), casino poker games (including Caribbean Stud Poker and Pai Gow Poker), and more.
What Are Live Casino Games?
Live casinos are online platforms that offer players real-time, interactive gaming experiences from the comfort of their computer or mobile device.
Many games at gambling sites such as Red Stag Casino and Uptown Aces Casino are RNG-based games. Random number generators are used to determine the outcome of games, which are played against a virtual dealer, with virtual machines, or with virtual tables.
Live casino games are streamed from professional studios or land-based casinos. This allows players to interact with dealers and other players through a live chat feature.
Live casinos bridge the gap between online and brick-and-mortar casinos, providing an authentic and social gaming experience.
Benefits of Live Dealer Games
Live casino games offer several advantages over RNG-based games that you can play at real money online casinos:
- Real-Time Interaction: Interact with live dealers and other players, creating a more social and engaging atmosphere.
- Authentic Experience: Enjoy the sights and sounds of a real casino, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- Transparency: Witnessing the action unfold in real-time ensures fairness and transparency in the gameplay.
- Variety: Access a wide range of popular casino games, often with multiple variants and betting limits.
- Convenience: Play from the comfort of your home or on the go, without the need to visit a physical casino. If you don’t live near a physical casino or merely wish to enjoy a game of blackjack without having to leave your home, live dealer games are a perfect option.
How Do Live Casino Games Work?
Live dealer games are powered by sophisticated technology that enables real-time streaming and interaction.
Here’s a breakdown of how they work:
- Live Streaming: High-definition cameras capture the action at the gaming table and stream it to your device. Multiple camera angles may be used to provide different perspectives.
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR): This technology converts the physical actions of the dealer (e.g., dealing cards, spinning the roulette wheel) into data that can be processed by the software.
- Game Control Unit (GCU): A crucial component that encodes the video stream and ensures smooth communication between the dealer and the players.
- Interactive Interface: Players place bets and make decisions using an interactive interface on their device. The interface displays the game results and other relevant information.
- Live Chat: A live chat feature allows players to communicate with the dealer and other players, enhancing the social aspect of the game.
Popular Live Casino Games
Live casinos offer a wide variety of popular games. Each game comes with its own unique features and variants.
What are some of the most popular live casino games?
Live Dealer Blackjack
Live dealer blackjack is one of the most popular live casino games. For example, at Wild Casino, Super Slots Casino, and HighRoller Casino, there are two dozen live blackjack games.
Some of the live blackjack variants offered at real money gambling sites may include options such as Standard Blackjack, VIP Blackjack, and Early Payout Blackjack.
As with other blackjack games, the main objective of live blackjack games is to beat the dealer and reach or get as close to 21 without going over.
Live Dealer Roulette
Do you enjoy the suspense and excitement of watching the roulette wheel spin and potentially land on your chosen number(s)?
You can enjoy those thrills in real-time without having to leave your couch thanks to live dealer roulette. Common live roulette games include European Roulette, American Roulette, and Lightning Roulette.
Live Dealer Baccarat
Along with blackjack and roulette, baccarat is one of the most popular table games at both physical and online casinos. Live dealer baccarat is also one of the most popular live casino games, and some gambling sites offer live baccarat games from multiple online casino game developers.
Some online casinos also offer live three-card poker games, as well as live casino versions of Wheel of Fortune, Super 6, Lucky 5, Lucky 6, and Lucky 7.
Strategies for Playing Live Casino Games
All casino games have an element of chance involved, and that includes live casino games. Even with games that require a significant amount of skill and strategy, chance and the luck of the draw, spin, roll, or click come into play.
That said, employing certain strategies and principles can enhance your experience and potentially improve your results.
What are some strategies for live dealer games such as blackjack, baccarat, and roulette?
Live Blackjack Strategy
Basic Strategy
Familiarize yourself with basic blackjack strategy, which involves making statistically optimal decisions based on your hand and the dealer’s upcard.
As with playing RNG-based versions or physical casino versions of blackjack variants such as American blackjack, European blackjack, and single-deck blackjack, you have to play your cards right during live dealer blackjack to maximize your chances of success.
Time your blackjack side bets well, exercise smart decisions with doubling down and splitting, and play close attention to the dealer’s choices so you stay on top of when to hit or stand.
Card counting is possible in live dealer blackjack, whereas it is not in RNG-based blackjack. However, live online casino dealers have methods to minimize the ability to count cards and the impact of doing so.
Live Roulette Strategy
Betting Systems
Consider using betting systems like the Martingale strategy, Fibonacci, or D’Alembert to manage your bets and potentially increase your winnings.
Focus on Outside Bets
Outside bets (e.g., red/black, odd/even) offer better odds and more consistent wins than inside bets, making them ideal for conservative players.
Live Baccarat Strategy
Bet on the Banker
Statistically, the Banker bet has the lowest house edge, making it the most favorable option in the long run.
Avoid the Tie Bet
The Tie bet has a significantly higher house edge, making it less advantageous despite its attractive payout.
Tips for Maximizing Your Live Casino Experience
To get the most out of your live casino experience, consider the following tips:
Choose a Reputable Casino
Online casino security and fair play is paramount to a positive experience for players, so be sure to select a licensed and regulated online casino, such as a Curacao-licensed casino, with a strong reputation for fairness and reliability.
Look for casinos that use reputable software providers. Well-known live casino game developers include Fresh Deck Studios and Visionary iGaming. Many top online casinos offer live dealer games by one or both of those providers.
Further to this, only use online casino payment methods that you feel secure with.
Check Your Internet Connection
Ensure you have a stable and fast internet connection to avoid interruptions and delays during gameplay.
Set a Budget for Live Dealer Games
Determine your bankroll for each session and stick to it. Avoid chasing losses and know when to walk away.
Take Advantage of Bonuses and Rewards
At many online casinos, live casino gameplay does not count towards bonus play. That is also the case with progressive jackpot slots.
Still, players should make the most of bonuses, as the best online casino bonuses are rather sizable. Welcome bonuses typically offer the biggest percentages, but some sites offer robust reload bonuses as well. So, look for a site that has a high deposit match bonus on the first deposit as well as bonuses for future deposits.
Casino bonuses are especially generous at crypto casinos, as gambling sites love to incentivize players for using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. These big bonuses can help players substantially build their bankroll, which can then be used in part on live games.
Also, some casino promos do allow live dealer games to contribute to requirements. That includes the Night Owl Rewards promo at HighRoller Casino, where you can get 100 free slots spins every Thursday for accruing at least $500 in all casino play between the hours of 10 pm ET Wednesday and 6:00 am ET Thursday.
Also, while online casino bonuses typically do not include live dealer games, your play in those games could still prove to be rewarding. If you choose a casino with a lucrative rewards program, all of your bets during live dealer blackjack and other live casino games can help you move through the levels and unlock some excellent rewards, such as free spins offers and birthday gifts.
With any casino promos and perks, always read the terms and conditions carefully. Knowing any requirements or restrictions will help you make the most of these offers.
Learn the Rules
Familiarize yourself with the rules and strategies of the live dealer games you plan to play. Knowledge enhances your enjoyment and decision-making.
Interact with the Dealer
Use the live chat feature to interact with the dealer and other players. This only adds to the social aspect of the game and makes it more enjoyable.
Play Responsibly
Remember that live casino games are meant to be fun and entertaining. Play responsibly and avoid gambling more than you can afford to lose.
What Is the Future of Live Casino Games?
As technology continues to advance, the future of live casinos looks promising. Here are some trends and innovations to watch for:
How Will VR & AR Impact Live Dealer Games?
Virtual reality (VR) technology is expected to revolutionize live casinos by providing an even more immersive and interactive gaming experience. Players can enter a virtual casino environment and interact with dealers and other players in real-time.
Augmented reality (AR) technology can enhance live dealer games by overlaying digital elements onto the real world. This could include interactive features, 3D graphics, and more.
How Will Mobile Compatibility Improve at Live Casinos?
As mobile devices become more powerful, live casinos are optimizing their platforms for seamless mobile gaming. Players can enjoy high-quality live casino games on their smartphones and tablets, anytime and anywhere.
Will Social Features Be Enhanced?
Future live dealer games may incorporate more social features, such as friend lists, private tables, and multiplayer options, to create a more community-driven experience.
What New Live Casino Game Variants Will Be Added?
Developers are continually innovating and introducing new game variants to keep the live casino experience fresh and exciting. Expect to see more unique and creative live dealer games in the future.
Live casinos offer an exciting way to enjoy popular casino games from the comfort of your home. Many of the top online casinos offer live dealer games. Are you interested in trying them but haven’t taken the leap yet? Hopefully this guide has given you the inspiration to at least dip your toes into the water.
Understanding how live casinos work, exploring popular games, employing strategies, and following tips for maximizing your experience can enhance your enjoyment and potentially increase your winnings.
Choose reputable casinos, always play responsibly, and embrace the social aspects of live casino gaming. With the future looking bright, there has never been a better time to dive into this thrilling and interactive world.
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