Live Dealer Casino Games Guide

The evolution of online gambling has led to the rise in popularity for live casinos. Playing casino games with a live dealer, unlike RNG (random number generator) games, makes you feel as if you were sitting at a traditional ‘brick and mortar’ casino, but in fact you’re streaming it all on video! You can now get a real-life experience that is impossible to find anywhere else but in person!

Play live Blackjack and Roulette, as many as other different games – all while being able to play them anytime, anywhere. Not only does this improve accessibility, but player comfort too. Now there is no need to wait forever just so someone could take their turn – everything happens instantaneously right before your eyes.

Want to know what are the different available live dealer games online? Ever wanted to play authentic casino games with real dealers from the comfort of your own home? If so, we’ve got you covered.

This card game is a race to 21. You’re aiming to make a total that’s closer to 21 than the dealer. When you play live Blackjack, there are traditional rulesets, such as Vegas rules Blackjack, as well as modern versions, like Lightning Blackjack, which offer enhanced payouts.

The aim of Roulette is to predict where the ball is going to land on a wheel. The more specific you are, the bigger the potential payouts. For example, if you bet on specific numbers, the payout on correct bets is 35X. Certain live games, such as Lightning Roulette, offer enhanced payouts worth up to 500X.

Playing Live Baccarat is all about choosing the right hand. You can either bet on the banker or the dealer. Once you’ve done that, the hand with a total closest to 9 is declared the winner.

All forms of live dealer Poker are similar in the sense that you’re aiming to make the best hand. In this context, “best” means a ranked Poker hand. So, you’re aiming to make hands such as straights, flushes, and full houses.

Live dealer technology has opened up new possibilities. As such, you can now play live game shows. These games don’t necessarily fit the traditional mould, but they’re just as entertaining and, in turn, potentially lucrative. Products such as Dreamcatcher, Crazy Time, and Live Monopoly use prize wheels and bonus features to create a gameshow dynamic.

The latest innovations in live casino gaming are slots. Basically, you can bet on the outcome of a slot spin. The game is controlled by a live dealer, so it creates a new twist on these popular casino games.

The main reason to play these games is the fact you get to interact with real dealers. This creates a more immersive gaming experience. We’ll highlight some more benefits of live casino gaming throughout this guide. However, some of the most interesting aspects of live gaming online to keep in mind are:

What’s the difference between live dealer online casino games and their land-based counterparts?

Live dealer casino gaming is enjoyable and potentially profitable in its own right. However, it’s always nice to get something extra and our recommended US live casinos are all willing to give you something extra. These extras are known as casino bonuses, and they come in the following forms:

US online casino gaming is state-based. In other words, the regulations in one state might not necessarily match those in another. However, in general, live dealer casinos are legal in any state that has online gambling regulations. Therefore, if you’re in US casino gaming states, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Michigan, you’ll be able to find a live casino online.

In terms of casino software providers, Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, and Microgaming are the three biggest names in live gaming. They’re not only responsible for bringing casino classics like Blackjack or Roulette into the live online casino arena, but they’ve also created new products such as live game shows. These products are available at many of the best US online casinos, including:

We’ve given you a lot of information about live dealer casino games, what they are, and how they work. We’ve also told you that there are plenty of games at the top US casinos online. What we haven’t explained is how you find the right game. Everyone has their own preferences with regard to online casino gaming. That’s why our reviews cover a broad range of topics.

Our experts understand that you not only need to know everything about a game but what it can offer you on a personal level. For example, some people value aesthetics over betting limits. Some people want to play for mega payouts, others prefer to focus on entertainment. Live dealer games can offer something for everyone, so our casino reviews cover all the important bits.

In the interests of full disclosure, here are the qualities our experts assess when they’re sizing up a new live casino online. Only platforms that score highly in all of these areas get put forward as suggested places to play live casino games online:

We judge this based on things like if it has a technical team that repairs faults instantly or has customer service team that helps you solve problems in just a few minutes. Basically, if the company does everything possible to create a smooth online gaming experience, we rate it highly.  

Live casino games are hosted in two venues: studios and land-based casinos. So, before we get into the nuances of how a live casino online functions, here’s a quick overview of studio and land-based games:

These games take place in studios dedicated to live online gaming. They’re owned by a company, such as Evolution Gaming, and they’re regulated just like any other legal casino. Action from these studios is broadcast to a network of online casinos and there will be dozens of games taking place in a single venue.

These games take place in a functioning land-based casino. Webcams are placed above certain tables within the casino. Players in the casino play as normal, while you watch from afar. In essence, you’re more of an outsider observer in these games. You are able to place bets though, but the dealer won’t talk to you like the ones in a live gaming studio do.

In addition to the usual dealers, chips, cards, etc., there are three key ingredients to live dealer casino games: webcams, RFID transmitters, and a digital interface. 

The webcam provides a constant view of the action. Ideally, you’ll have a fast internet connection so you can view the live stream in full HD. However, what’s nice about modern live casino games is that you can adjust the stream quality. So, if your connection is slow, you can lower the quality and avoid any lag.

The RFID transmitters are inside the table and anything that goes across it i.e. cards. These transmitters send a signal to an online database. For example, if you’re playing live Blackjack and an ace is dealt, transmitters on the table send that information to a database. This tells the system an ace has been dealt. This process happens for every action and creates an irrefutable database of results.

The digital interface is how you make bets. It appears as an overlay on the screen. You select the amount you want to stake, place chips in the digital betting box, and this gets noted in the game’s database. Then, once the RFID transmitters send the result to the database, it gets cross-referenced with your bets. If a match is found, you win. If not, you lose.

The final pieces of the live casino puzzle are the hosts. These people are highly trained dealers and croupiers that know how to shuffle, count bets, and call the action. They also know how to multitask, which is why they’ll talk to you while overseeing the game. As you can imagine, this is an intense experience. Therefore, dealers rotate in and out of games on a regular basis.

The time in between rotations can vary, but it’s usually every 15 minutes. As well as rotating the dealers, a live casino online will constantly change the cards and Roulette balls. Therefore, if you see someone come to the table with a freshly shuffled set of cards or a new Roulette ball, just know that this happens because it’s required by law to help ensure every game is fair.

As you can see, live dealer games cover the action from all angles. You get to see everything happen in real-time. The game’s software also tracks the action so there’s no dispute over the result. All of this creates an immersive experience that allows you to play authentic games from the comfort of your own home.

Because you can only play live dealer casino games for real money, you have to make a deposit. All of our recommended live casinos are legal and licensed, this means they only offer secure, reputable banking options. Moreover, each operator is legally required to store your money in protected bank accounts. That prevents your money from being used for operational purposes.

In short, your money is safe at all times. So, you shouldn’t have any problem making deposits using processors such as Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, PayNearMe, Neteller, and bank transfers. Once you’ve done that, find your favorite casino game, place a bet that’s equal to or greater than the table minimum, and play. 

Live dealer online casino games offer an all-around entertainment experience. The first thing you’ll notice is the backdrop. Companies such as Evolution Gaming spend a lot of time and money on their studios. They purchase the highest quality tables, cards, chips, and Roulette wheels. They also work with designers to create unique backgrounds for each game.

For example, you can play on a high stake Roulette table with a plush backdrop, or you can try something like Party Blackjack complete with disco lights and music. Then, of course, you add dealers into the mix and the casino games, and you’ve got entertainment from all angles. It’s this ability to provide a complete sensory experience and, in turn, cater to all tastes, which makes live casino gaming immersive, enjoyable, and popular.

As we’ve said, a live casino online-only offers real-money tables. In most cases, you’ll be able to wager less than $1 to play. There will be standard wagers, such as a winning bet in Blackjack. There will also be bonus bets, such as 21+3 or lightning numbers in Lightning Roulette.

What’s also important to note is that live casino gaming isn’t all about betting. That’s a major part of the experience. However, you have to remember that real people are hosting the game. These people aren’t just there to deal cards or spin Roulette wheels. They’re there to interact with players, explain the rules, announce results, and generally create a friendly atmosphere.

You should take advantage of this. Indeed, the main reason to play live casino games online is the fact you can see the action play out in real-time with the help of human dealers. You don’t have to chat, but it’s a dynamic you can’t find anywhere else online. Therefore, if you want to get maximum value from your experience, it’s worth embracing the interactive atmosphere.

In general, you can’t play live dealer casino games for free, however, you can play free casino games online. They’re technically known as demo games.

The great thing about free demo casino games is that they offer full functionality without the cost. In other words, all the rules, betting dynamics, and outcomes are authentic. The only difference is that the chips you wager/win don’t have any real-world value.

Because free casino demo games offer full functionality without the cost, you can use them to enjoy learning the basics. So, you can join our recommended US casinos, play Blackjack and Roulette for free, and then take the lessons learned over to the live gaming arena. Doing this will give you a much better understanding of what’s going on and, in turn, the best chance of getting maximum value from your experience.