Purpose: To provide bettors with a detailed overview of how live dealer games at online casinos work
What are live casinos?
Even if you have never experienced any live casino games personally, there’s a good chance you have heard the term and your favorite online casino offers them. So, if you would like to know more about how these games work and what makes them different from other online casino games, this article will whet your curiosity.
If you love the thrill and excitement of playing your favorite slots and table games in a real brick and mortar casino, it’s got to be a bummer not having the time to make these fun outings a lot more often. But as you have probably discovered, online casinos provide a great alternative. Even with a very busy schedule, you can still find time to play your favorite games because you can start and stop anytime you wish, at your convenience, and you don’t have to travel anywhere. However, there is one important element missing from most online casino games–the social interaction that you get in a real casino.
That is why live dealer games were created. If you are not one of the countless online casino players who have already discovered and love live dealer games at online casinos, you owe it to yourself to try them.
Live Dealer Casino Games vs. Traditional Online Casino Games
You can play live dealer casino games anytime you want online or with the casino mobile app at any online casino that has a live dealer platform where you have an account. just as you would play traditional online casino table games. However, instead of the solitary playing experience associated with traditional online games, you get the opportunity to interact with other players and a real live dealer. Through advanced online or mobile technology, the dealer spins the wheel or deals the cards from a gaming studio, and every move is live-streamed in real-time directly to the screen of your desktop or mobile device. High-resolution cameras give every player a close-up view not only of the dealer and the gaming table but also of every step of the action. There is also a live chat window that you can use to engage in light conversation with the other players and the dealer.
Top Online Casinos That Offer Live Dealer Games
Prior to 2016, live dealer games were plentiful in overseas online casinos but nonexistent in legal US online casinos. However, that is no longer the case. Many, if not most legal online casinos in the US now offer this option as well.
If you need help choosing an excellent live casino in your state, we highly recommend any of the following:
- BetMGM
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- Caesars
- BetRivers
These are the top five legal online casinos in the US with live dealer games based on the number and variety of online casino live dealer games offered and their availability in multiple states.
How to Find Live Dealer Casino Games
If you are already registered with one or more online casinos, check to see if the casino offers live dealer games. If so, whenever you are ready, you can start playing them with the same account you use to access the casino’s other games.
Unlike most other online casino table games, where many casinos give you the option to play either for free in demo mode or for real money, live dealer games can only be played for real money. So, in order to get started, the first thing you need to do, if you haven’t already, is to sign up as a new player, create an account, and make a deposit.
Suppose, for example, that you have chosen BetMGM as the online casino where you wish to learn how to play live dealer games. The information in the next two sections will walk you through the process.
How to Register for an Account at BetMGM Online Casino
BetMGM Online Casino is currently available in four states: New Jersey, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. BetMGM also offers players in these states online sports betting and for players in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, online poker as well.
So, if you live in one of these states or have frequent access to its games, this is another great reason to join this online casino. You can take advantage of one-stop gambling for both casino play and sports betting with the same login.
You can complete the registration process either online or via the BetMGM mobile app, whichever you prefer. Either way, Step 1 will entail clicking on the tab marked “Register” in the upper right-hand corner of the home page and completing all of the information requested. This is the same basic personal information that all legal gambling sites in the US require for new sign-ups (your first and last name, date of birth, last four digits of your Social Security number, complete mailing address, email address, and phone number). You will also be asked to choose a username and password for your account). Lastly, you will need to certify that you are 21 years of age or older and agree to the account holder terms and conditions.
The casino will then complete its standard verification process in order to ascertain that you are who you say you are and your eligibility to play. However, the agency which regulates New Jersey online casinos, the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement, now requires all prospective players to submit to more extensive “two-factor authentication,” which provides an “extra layer of security.
At BetMGM NJ Online Casino, every 14 days, customers are sent a new code via email, which they then have to duplicate to log into their account. (Other NJ online casinos might implement the two-factor authentication requirement slightly differently, i.e., send a text message to your mobile phone).
How to Claim Your BetMGM Online Casino Welcome Bonus
As soon as your application is approved and an account is opened in your name, you will receive $25 in free play. You can use this money to play any online casino games you wish, but before you will be permitted to withdraw the bonus and any resulting winnings, you have up to seven days to meet the casino’s wagering requirement of 1x the bonus.
You will also be invited to make your first deposit using one of the casino’s many accepted deposit methods, which BetMGM will match with a 100% welcome bonus up to $1,000. But wait, and this is very important. Before you will be permitted to withdraw either the bonus, your deposit tied to the bonus, or any resulting winnings, you have up to 14 days to meet the casino’s wagering requirements for clearing the bonus.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that the wagering requirements for this bonus vary with the type of game. The wagering requirement of 15x the bonus only applies to those games that count 100% (i.e., slots and scratch cards). While playing live dealer blackjack is an option, that game only counts 20% and roulette and baccarat (including the live dealer versions) don’t count at all. In other words, for all intents and purposes, the welcome bonus is a slots only bonus. You will have plenty of time to play live dealer games later.
What live dealer games does BetMGM Online Casino offer?
As soon as you are ready to give the live dealer games at this casino a try, click on the live dealer tab in the lobby and make a selection.
The exact game selection, number of tables, and betting limits at each table vary depending on where you are playing. The New Jersey online casino offers the most options, simply because that casino has been in existence the longest. However, because of BetMGM Online Casino’s ongoing partnership with Evolution Gaming, the top provider of live casino games in the US, all of the BetMGM online casinos offer at the very least, all of the following:
- Blackjack
- Infinite Blackjack
- American Roulette
- Baccarat
- Three Card Poker
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Infinite Blackjack is a low table minimum variation of blackjack that eliminates waiting for seats. Instead, any number of people can play since the game relies on a “common draw” where everyone receives the same two-card starting hand against the same dealer up-card.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em is based on Texas Hold’em, but instead of competing against other players, you compete against the dealer.
At some BetMGM casinos, you can also play Unlimited Blackjack, which is like Infinite Blackjack, and Casino Hold’em, which is like Ultimate Texas Hold’em, except that the provider is Playtech rather than Evolution.
As mentioned, table limits vary, but with the possible exception of live dealer blackjack, players of all betting levels should have no problem finding a live dealer game that is well suited to their budget and playing style. However, low stakes and inexperienced blackjack players need to be very careful because the minimum bet of at least $25 (and in Michigan, $30) is probably too high for their budget. Infinite or Unlimited Blackjack, with a minimum bet of only $1 is a better option.
Other Live Dealer Games at Legal Online Casinos
Besides all of the live dealer games already mentioned, some BetMGM and other casinos offer these other versions of live roulette:
- Auto Roulette: A very fast-paced form of roulette that uses an automated wheel
- Lightning Roulette: A game that an unlimited number of people can play where a bet on a number that is randomly picked to be struck by lightning pays big money
Other live dealer games that are starting to appear at a few online casinos include Dream Catcher (featuring a big money wheel) and Dragon Tiger (an Asian-themed simple variation of baccarat).
If you are new to online casino games, be sure to read the article entitled “Live Casino 101,” which includes a brief discussion on how to play live dealer games.
Why Many Players Prefer Live Dealer Games Over Traditional Online Casino Games
When live dealer games were first introduced in American online casinos, it was a gamble. Although they were already an enormous hit in overseas online casinos, it remained to be seen if they would resonate with players here. However, the answer was soon apparent. American online casino players love live dealer games. Many players prefer them to traditional online casino table games.
It is also easy to understand why. Live dealer casino games are as close as you can get to experiencing the vibe of a real casino without actually being there. In other words, you maintain the convenience and comfort of playing at home or wherever you happen to be, but you also feel like you are in an actual casino.
This is not to say that playing traditional online casino games is not also very enjoyable, but after a while, the solitary nature of the activity starts to detract from the enjoyment. You start to miss the social interaction with other people.
On the other hand, during the entire time you are playing at a live dealer table, you get to enjoy the company of the dealer and other players. If you wish, your friends can join you at your table, but you can also chat with people you don’t know.
Another great feature of live dealer games is the relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Beginners are welcome, and if you have any questions or need help, no problem. No one will come down on you if you make a mistake, and when you’re winning, the other players and the dealer will cheer you on. Live dealer games are fun and exciting and never get boring no matter how often you play. That’s why players can’t seem to get enough of these games and keep coming back for more.