Live Dealer

Live Dealer

Live dealer games are the up and coming thing in the online gambling world because they are the next best thing to a live casino experience. All it takes is a quick look around and you’ll soon notice that nearly all online casinos feature a live dealer category.

In live dealer games, the players can communicate in real-time with a real-live dealer, simulating the fun of playing at a table in a real-life casino. A dealer is a real person, spinning a real Roulette wheel and dealing real cards for Baccarat and Blackjack. The best part? You get the closest thing to a live casino experience right from your computer.

With live dealer casinos, players not only get the thrill and excitement of a brick-and-mortar casino but also enjoy the features of online casinos that make them worthwhile. These features include a variety of live dealer games, well-heeled gameplay, and plenty of casino bonuses. 

Do you want to take your online gambling to an exciting new level? If you answered yes, live dealer casinos could be the solution. We've listed and reviewed many of the top live dealer casinos. In addition, we’ve scraped the Internet to find the best live dealer bonuses to keep you playing longer.

A Look Into How Live Dealer Casinos Work

Live dealer casinos add a human touch to well-loved casino games. That's especially true with traditional table games like Roulette, Baccarat, Craps, Blackjack, and more. If you prefer to have a live croupier (gambling speak for “dealer”) spinning the wheel instead of a piece of random number generator (RNG) software determine the fate of your bet, a live dealer casino is just what you need.

In addition to the human interaction, when you play with a live dealer you can be assured that the game is honest since you are watching in real-time. Just as you might expect when playing at a brick-and-mortar casino, you can even ask your dealer for advice on how to place your bets.

Live Dealer Casinos vs. Traditional Online Casinos: The Main Differences

Live dealer casinos combine the best of both worlds; you can gamble at table games without crossing your doorstep and enjoy a little human interaction. The fun of playing with real people is the appeal of playing at a land-based casino. If you like the convenience of gambling online but long for the human interaction that gambling in person brings, then live dealer casinos are your best bet.

Ordinary online casino games use random number generators, which help to level the playing field for all players. On the flip side, live dealer games are delivered by real-life croupiers, which can either be a good thing or a bad thing spending on your gambling style. Let’s compare the key features between the two:

Key Features of Live Dealer Casinos

• Players can enjoy the sounds, sights, and human interactions of a real casino, without having to leave their homes.
• You can join other players who are also members of the live dealer casino, as well as interact with the dealer in real-time.
• The pacing and speed of gameplay at live dealer casinos are determined by the dealer.
• The choice of games offered by a live dealer casino is generally much smaller than other online casinos. That's due to the cost of renting and staffing the live studio.

Main Features of Online Casinos

• They usually offer many, many games, spanning all genres. These include hundreds, or even thousands, of video slots,3 reel classicslots, video poker, bingo games,  scratch cards, table games, and so much more. 
• They usually offer lower minimum bets and higher maximum bets compared to a live dealer casino.
• Unfortunately, you can burn through your bankroll very quickly because most online casino games have a lower return to player (RTP).
• Online casinos usually offer much larger and more profitable promotions and bonuses.
• Online casino games often look “cartoonish” and “fake” and players sometimes think the games are rigged to favor the casino.

The Pluses and Minuses of Live Dealer Casinos

Now that we’ve covered the main features of live dealer casinos, it's time to choose between a typical online casino or a live dealer casino. Here are some pluses and minuses that will help you with your decision:

Pluses

Soak in the excitement of gambling in real-time with real, live dealers. The thrill of a live dealer casino can take your game up a notch. Following the gameplay and understanding what’s happening is easy.

Live dealer games can be played anywhere, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are also optimized to play on any device. You can play nearly any popular table game, such as poker, roulette, and blackjack without leaving home. This convenience and level of human interaction are unrivaled.

The live chat feature live dealer games feature is something to take advantage of. It allows you to communicate with the other players and the dealer at the table. Live chat adds to the social environment that you can’t get from an ordinary online casino.

Enjoy quick and easy payouts – You can expect to claim your winnings instantly.

Each month, top live dealer providers like Evolution, Playtech Gaming, Ezugi, Microgaming and NetEnt are rolling out more and better live dealer games. At the rate new live games are rolling out, we can expect every type of live dealer game in the near future.

Better customer support – At a live dealer casino, you have access to above average customer service. Rather than using emails, or chat, many of your support questions can be answered during the game by a live pit boss.

It’s not surprising that, like most companies, casinos take in-person complaints much more seriously than email complaints. Since live dealer games are performed by a real person, casinos are more likely to accept responsibility and take quick action.

Minuses

Live dealer games can take a slower pace since the game depends on the pace set by the real-life dealer.

The selection of games presented by live dealer casinos remains limited compared to other online casinos.

Many live dealer studios are hosted overseas, particularly in Eastern Europe. This means there can be a language barrier, depending on the dealer.

Clearly, the pluses of live dealer casinos outweigh the minuses. Obviously, the biggest advantage of live dealer casinos is that they have the look and feel of a real casino.

Tips For Choosing the Right Live Dealer Casino

Tip #1: Check the live dealer casino’s reputation

Reputation should be the first thing about a casino that you consider. First and foremost, a trustworthy and reputable live dealer casino has a gambling license from a trusted authority like a provincial gaming authority, the UKGC, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, or the Government of Curacao. 

A gambling license demonstrates that the casino is monitored continuously for the fairness of its games and also adheres to best practices for the gaming industry. It also means that eventually, persistent complaints about the casino will be investigated by the licensing authorities. This way, you can be assured that you are in good hands.

Good reputations are earned, and of course, this applies also to live dealer casinos. If you see that a particular casino has a lot of consistent complaints from its players, you are better off gambling elsewhere. Because of this, you're advised to check out review sites, gambling forums, and other venues to read other players’ feedback about the casino.

Tip #2: Do thorough research

You must do extensive research on any live dealer casinos you wish to open an account with. Your research should delve into every corner of the internet. Study fair, live dealer casino reviews. This is the only way to get a clear, unbiased opinion of the casino before you even place your first bet.

Pay particular attention to these areas of the casino review: gambling license, quality of customer support, quality and selection of games, banking options, mobile compatibility, available bonuses, and much more.

Next, check out the casino’s live dealer games. Does it load quickly? Does the website look professional? How many live dealer games are displayed at the casino lobby?

Tip #3: Take advantage of bonuses

Some live dealer casinos offer a variety of bonuses, including welcome bonuses, free credits/spins, no deposit bonuses, cashback bonuses, and deposit match bonuses among other perks. To keep playing nonstop, lay claim to as many bonuses as you can.

Bonus offers and other promotions can let you try a live dealer casino while risking little or no real money. If the casino seems like a good fit, you can feel good about placing bets using your own money.

Tip #4: Customer support

In general, live dealer casinos provide users with a high level of customer support. But, you still need to check out the ways in which the casino provides support to its users. Do they allow players to speak directly to the live pit boss? Can the dealer give you advice? How responsive is their customer service? Do they respond quickly?

Tip #5: Check the number of live dealer games available

This one is a no-brainer. When choosing the right live casino for you, pick one with many high-quality games that you like, dealt with by friendly and professional dealers. The games should be streamed in high definition and match your gambling style.

Use any free credits and bonus offers that you have to try the games out and get a feel for the casino.

Tip #6: Payment methods

Once you have selected a reputable and dependable live dealer casino, it’s important to consider the banking options. A good casino should offer several ways to make deposits and withdrawals for easy and efficient banking.

The casino should also serve players who want the security, anonymity, and convenience of using cryptocurrency. That being said, Bitcoin betting on a live dealer casino is a plus.

Tip #7: Consider bet limits

At first, it may not seem important, but restrictive limits on winnings can be a big drawback. This is most important for high rollers who want to bet big sums of money. Players should be able to cash out and withdraw an equal amount to their winnings.

Likewise, long delays to cash out and withdraw your earnings is a bad sign.

What are the Types of Live Dealer Games?

While the selection of live dealer games is much more modest than other online casino games, there will be a good assortment. The most popular types include the following:

Live baccarat

Baccarat is basic to real-life casinos. It’s a card game that involves the banker's and the player's hands. The fun of playing live dealer baccarat involves watching your opponent’s cues in live-time. The highly interactive nature makes Baccarat a worthy game.

Live blackjack

Without a doubt, Blackjack is one of the best live casino games. It’s easy to learn and play, and better yet, blackjack has odds that favor the player. Live casino blackjack takes the online casino experience to a new level. The cards are shuffled and dealt with in real-time. You can also use any blackjack strategies that you know to better your odds of winning.

Live roulette

Are you tired of the fake-looking roulette wheels on online casinos? If so, live roulette will be a welcome change. The dealer drops the ball and does everything you would expect from a brick-and-mortar casino. A good thing about live roulette is that the previous results are displayed on the screen allowing to you to make better wagers.

Live poker

If you love watching the World Series of Poker, you'll love live dealer poker games. But, rather than betting against other players, you'll bet on the odds that your hand will beat that of the dealer. Every card is dealt with in real-time, and you can even get real-time advice from other players through live chat.

These are just a few of the live dealer games you can play. You can also play live keno, live Sic Po, live craps, live Dragon Tiger, and live bingo, depending on the casino you choose.

How to Play Live Dealer Games

If you've played at an online casino before, then you're ready to jump right into playing live dealer games. But, there are a few steps that you should take to get your live dealer casino experience started on a good note:

Step #1: Pick the right live dealer casino

We’ve shared our tips on how to choose the right live dealer casino for your needs and gambling style. But you don't have to go through all that trouble when you can sign up with one of our suggested live dealer casinos.

Once you've pinpointed the best casino, sign up and be sure to claim any bonuses they offer.

Step #2: Deposit money

Once you have set up your account with a reputable live dealer casino, you can deposit money through a secure banking option.

Step #3: Look through the live dealer section

Here are all of the live dealer games that are offered for your enjoyment. Pick the ones that best fit your tastes and your bankroll. Whether it’s live blackjack, live baccarat, live roulette, or live poker, make sure to relax, and have fun.

Step #4: Familiarize yourself with the layout of the live dealer casino, the rules, and the games

Become familiar with the casino’s etiquette and rules so you won’t get into trouble. Find out how the live chat works. Know how to get support. Find out how to buy chips. Know the minimum buy-ins for the tables. Know all these things before you start playing.

Step #5: Get ready to play

Once you feel comfortable with the layout and rules of the casino, start playing the games of your choice. And remember to follow the dealer’s instructions.

Getting the Best Experience with Live Dealer Casinos

Here are a few solid tips to remember if you not only want to have fun but also increase your odds of winning at a live dealer casino:

Tip #1: Ensure you have a stable, high-speed internet connection

Every player expects uninterrupted live video streaming and exceptional game play to be standard when they visit a live dealer casino. But, a slow and unstable internet connection on your end can ruin that experience. Look into the technical requirements concerning the specs of your internet connection and devices. These should be somewhere on the live dealer casino.

Tip #2: Establish a win limit and loss limit

One of the worst mistakes any gambler can make when playing at any casino is to chase their losses. You can burn through your money quickly if you don’t watch it. That's why it is extremely to set win and loss limits immediately before you play.

When you've reached your limit, simply log off your computer and stop for the day. Don’t let the idea of winning your money back get the better of you. The same can be said for reaching your win limit. Cash in your winnings and call it a day.

Tip #3: Seek help directly from the pit boss

The supervisor of a casino table or floor is called the pit boss. It’s the pit boss’s duty to make sure everything is on point. If you have a problem, by asking the live Pit Boss, you'll most likely get the best help.

Tip #4: Use a sophisticated gambling strategy

Most live dealer games are traditional table games. That means you can use a variety of strategies and tactics to boost your odds of winning. To maximize your chances of winning, use advanced strategies and tactics to win at poker, blackjack, baccarat, or roulette.

Tip #5: Adopt live casino etiquette

Just like traditional casinos, live dealer casinos have definite rules of etiquette. For example, only take a seat at the table if you are sure that you’re ready to begin playing. Most importantly, always treat the dealer and other players respectfully. Using nasty and angry language is a big faux pas.

Tip #6: Take advantage of bonuses and awards

If you are an enthusiastic fan of any game, make sure to claim any bonuses related to the live game. These promotions can help you build up your bankroll and boost your chances of logging off a winner. Remember to thoroughly read the terms and conditions for each bonus, including the wagering requirement, validity, bet limit, and cash-out limit.

Live Dealer Casino FAQs

What is a live dealer casino?

To put it simply, an online live dealer casino uses real-life dealers. They deal with the games before live cameras, streaming the games in real-time to play from the comfort of your home.

How do live dealer games differ from online casino games?

Typically, ordinary online casino games are animated games using random number generators to generate the outcomes. On the other hand, live dealer games are operated by real, live dealers.

What makes for an exceptional live dealer casino?

All of this lies in the casino’s reputation. This includes the live dealer casino possessing a license from a genuine gambling authority, friendly and professional dealers, robust customer support, a decent selection of games, good banking options, and fast payouts, just to name a few things.

Are live dealer games available on mobile?

While most live dealer games are best played on desktop, more live casinos are launching versions that are more mobile-friendly. It is worth noting that streaming live dealer games will eat up our mobile data. Considering that, you should only play when you can connect your mobile to a WIFI network.

If you have unlimited mobile data, go ahead and try it. However, mobile bandwidth is not always stable, which means the games will buffer and stall. But, most mobile casino apps are streamlined to use fewer data.

Are live dealer games time-restricted?

As we mentioned before, the dealer sets the pace of the game. That means you can expect a live dealer game to follow a pace similar to that of an in-person game. If you're in a hurry, consider playing automated casino games.

How can I know that a live dealer game is not rigged against the player?

While there is always a slight chance that a live dealer game could be compromised, this is rare. Considering that live casinos are relatively new, no live casino wants to get a bad reputation for unfair gaming. Also, online casinos routinely use software that has been tested and certified for fairness by third-party auditors like iTech Labs, GLI, and eCOGRA.

Due diligence is of utmost importance. The only way to be certain of fairness is to only register and play at a reliable, safe, and trusted live dealer casino.