Purpose: To give online casino players a detailed overview of how live dealer games differ from online casino games that use traditional casino software
What are live dealer games and how do they work?
Live dealer games are a special category of online casino games that differ from other online casino games in several important respects. First and foremost, instead of using a machine to operate and control the game, they use a live dealer. Furthermore, instead of playing all alone, like in most online casino games, you get to enjoy the company and comradery of other players.
Enjoy the same accessibility and convenience that other online casino games offer
Live dealer games at legal online casinos offer US casino table game players virtually all of the same conveniences that they have come to enjoy in other online casino games. You probably enjoy visiting land-based casinos, too–when you can find the time. But if you live a long distance away and your busy schedule and other responsibilities don’t allow you huge blocks of playing time, it is too impractical to make the trip to an actual casino as often as you would like.
Legal online casinos solve the problem beautifully because the player is in complete control. It is entirely up to you not only what you play but when you play. You decide which times of the day or night are most convenient, and you can end your playing session anytime you want. If you have something else to do, no problem. You still have the option–if you so choose–to return to the same game later and pick up where you left off.
At a brick and mortar casino, you don’t have the same flexibility. If you leave a game and try to return to it later, there is a good chance that your seat will be taken.
Live dealer games are no different from other online casino games in this respect, Not every live dealer table is open 24/7, like other online casino games, but even if it isn’t, the hours of operation are still extensive enough to meet most players’ needs.
What makes live dealer games unique?
Most importantly, all live dealer casino games not only retain the best aspects of other online casino games but offer another feature that is unique to the live dealer platform and virtually impossible to find in any other online casino games. Instead of feeling completely isolated from other people, during the entire time you are playing, you get to enjoy the company of the other players at the table and the dealer.
Advanced technology makes this outstanding feature possible. The games are live-streamed in real-time from a remote location (usually a secure studio that has partnered with the casino but occasionally from the actual casino floor) directly to the screen of your computer or mobile device.
Live Dealer Games vs. Other Online Casino Table Games
Prior to 2016, the option to play online casino live dealer games at legal online casinos did not even exist in this country. Now almost every legal online casino in the US offers them. The simple reason why is that everywhere they are introduced, players flock to the live casino games in droves. Initially, it might be purely by accident that the live dealer tab catches their eye, or curiosity because they want to see for themselves what all of the buzz is about. But as soon as players try these games for the first time, they are hooked and keep coming back for more. Month after month, live dealer games are among the most popular table games at online casinos.
Software games that don’t use a live dealer rely on graphics and animations, whereas the equipment used at licensed live dealer studios consists of real tables, wheels, and cards.
The replica of the table and the fact that you can actually watch the dealer close-up as she spins the wheel or deals out the cards and pays the winners almost makes you forget your whereabouts. You feel like you are in a real casino instead of by yourself in front of your computer or mobile device. You can even engage in light conversation with the dealer and other players, just like you would in a real casino, through the live chat window.
Live Dealer Software
Like all other online casino games, live dealer games depend on software to be able to run smoothly. Some of the software is the same, like the geolocation software that is put in place to make sure all players are situated within the confines of the state where they have opened their account. Other software is game-specific. For example, the use of high-resolution cameras and advanced optical character recognition allows players to follow all of the action of the game step by step from the time they place their bets through the determination of the outcome.
No RNGs needed
One major difference between live dealer games and other online casino table games relates to the use of random number generator software (RNGs). While computer-driven online casino games rely heavily on RNGs to ensure the fairness and randomness of the results, live dealer games, for the most part, dispense with RNGs. The presence of a live dealer usually negates the need for RNGs, although there are a few exceptions, like Dream Catcher, where different slots on the wheel display different prizes.
However, even without the use of RNGs, multiple precautions are taken to give you reasonable certainty that all of the live dealer games are 100% fair. For starters, before any online casino can launch a live dealer platform, the casino and its software partners must be licensed by the state’s online gambling licensing agency. In addition, all games must be approved in advance by the same agency, which subsequently, continues to oversee all aspects of the casino’s operation for the entire duration of its existence
Furthermore, supervisors are assigned to each live dealer table area, just as they are at land-based casinos, to make sure that the dealers are performing their job properly. Every live dealer table also includes a monitor that determines and displays the correct payouts after each betting sequence. If a player disputes the correctness of any betting outcome, there is a record that can be checked. The monitors and cameras can also catch any instances of attempted dealer or playing cheating or collusion.
How to Get Started
If you have never played live dealer games before but would like to give them a try, the first thing you would need to do is register and make a deposit at one of the many online casinos in your state that offer live dealer games. Then scroll down the list of games organized by category in the lobby and click on the live dealer tab.
As soon as you do, you will see which live casino games are available and what the betting limits are at each table.
At DraftKings Online Casino, for example, your choices include the following:
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Baccarat
- Poker
- Infinite Blackjack: A game where everyone starts with the same two cards against the same dealer up-card, so any number of people can play at once with no waiting for seats
- Game shows
But before you start playing–and this is especially important if you are new to live dealer games–take the necessary time to familiarize yourself with the rules of the game, playing strategy, and house advantage. Keep in mind that live dealer games are very similar to their non-live dealer online game counterparts, but the rules sometimes vary and are usually not in your favor.
Unfortunately, live dealer games can only be played for real money, so if you are new to the game, you don’t have the advantage that you typically have in other online casino games to practice in demo mode for free with no risk to your bankroll. That is why it behooves you to brush up on the basics of the game beforehand.
If you’re in doubt about what to play, keep in mind that blackjack has the lowest house edge, but only if you play with the correct basic strategy, Some live dealer tables include an i-tab with a brief description of how that game works. However, DraftKings has a more extensive Casino Education Hub, including separate tutorials on how to play every live dealer game. This is must reading for any live dealer game player.
Another advantage that DraftKings Casino offers over many other casinos with live dealer games is lower table minimums. While the live dealer tables at most online casinos have hefty minimums of $25 or $30 or higher, at DraftKings, you can bet as little as $5 (or as little as $1 at Infinite Blackjack).
Why You Might Prefer Live Dealer Games to Computer Casino Games
As we mentioned earlier, live dealer games consistently rank as some of the most frequently played online casino games. But if you’re still on the fence about trying them, here are four reasons why you might actually prefer live dealer games over other online casino table games.
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Opportunity for social interaction that is otherwise missing in online play
Live dealer games, far more than any other online casino games, capture the energy and excitement of playing in a real casino. The presence of other players and a real live dealer to chat with and cheer you on makes playing at these tables even more fun.
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New twists on old favorites to ensure that you’re never bored
Even your favorite games can get boring if you keep playing them again and again. Roulette is a good example. However, at some online casinos, you will find entertaining variations such as Lightning Roulette, Auto Roulette, Multiview Roulette, and Casino Floor Roulette that make every playing experience different. In addition, top studios like Evolution and Playtech periodically release brand new live dealer games, and some of them may have already made their way to online casinos in your state.
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Great opportunity for beginners to improve their game play in a friendly setting
As more and more People with little or no casino play experience sign up with online casinos, it may take a while for them to be able to play on a par with the other more experienced players at a table. If you ever played blackjack at a land-based casino, there must have been times when one player did something completely wrong like hitting a hard 16 against a dealer 5, and the other players came down on that person. Maybe, your own play isn’t that bad, but it isn’t great either, and you could use a little friendly guidance. One thing you don’t need is everyone else at the table coming down on you. But even if another player is the butt of the criticism, playing under those conditions is far from pleasant. At live dealer tables, players are more relaxed. Beginners are welcome, and if they need help, they can get it without being yelled at.
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At live dealer tables, you’re not at the mercy of a machine
Lastly, many gamblers distrust machines. Even though the online casino games driven by machine software are fair and honest, it is not uncommon for players who are not having good luck to blame the machine. Although it is flawed reasoning, knowing that a live dealer rather than a machine is running the game might make you feel more comfortable.
What Live Dealer Games Are Available at Legal Online Casinos in the US?
The specific offerings vary depending on where you are playing. Some online casinos only offer three basic titles: blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, while others offer a much wider selection, where players can choose from all or most of the following:
- Blackjack
- Unlimited or Infinite Blackjack
- American Roulette (with both a single and double zero on the wheel)
- European Roulette (with just a single zero on the wheel)
- Casino Floor Roulette: live-streamed directly from the casino floor instead of from a studio
- Multiview Roulette
- Auto Roulette: A very fast game
- Lightning Roulette: Extra prizes for bets on lucky numbers “struck by lightning”
- Baccarat
- Dragon Bonus Baccarat
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em
- Three Card Poker
- Dream Catcher: Similar to the Big Six Wheel but with bigger prizes
- Live Game Shows