What Is a Live Casino Online?

A live casino online is a gambling site that offers the opportunity to play casino games steamed in real-time with live dealers. To be precise, these games are streamed via video link from a casino table directly to your computer, tablet, or smartphone, so you can enjoy a traditional casino experience no matter where you are.

Live dealer casinos typically include popular table games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker – but some brands go one step further and offer live lottery and more. Professional dealers run the game, and you get to place bets and even interact with the dealer via the live chat function.

How do Live Casinos Work?

The live online dealer games are played just like regular casino games. The only difference is that you’ll be playing from home, meaning there is no longer a need to visit a land-based casino and plan a whole day around it.

Online live dealer casino games are not RNG (Random Number Generator) games in the traditional sense. Instead, you will see that live dealer studios use all the traditional equipment found in land-based casinos, such as real cards, roulette wheels, or dice, to determine the outcome of each game.

The whole process is live-streamed from live dealer studios where dealers run the games, let you place bets, raise stakes, and more. You’ll get the same experience as playing at a real casino, complete with real-time dealer action.

Why Play at Live Online Casinos?

It’s easy to see why you’d want to play at the best live online casinos, since it’s got so many perks. Here are a few of them:

Time Restrictions When Making Decisions

To ensure a smooth gaming experience, live dealer games implement a time limit when making decisions. For example, when playing live dealer blackjack, you might only have 10 seconds to decide whether to hit or stay.

This might not appeal to players who like to take their time. After all, you can take as long as you need when visiting a land-based casino.

Slower Withdrawal Process

When visiting a land-based casino, you can cash out your winnings instantly. It’s simply a case of visiting the cashier and exchanging your chips for cash.

In comparison, live online casinos process withdrawals electronically. It can take 24-48 hours for the casino to approve the withdrawal. You’ll then need to wait for the payment issuer to credit the funds.

Regulatory Concerns

It’s important to understand the regulatory status of a live dealer casino before proceeding. This is because not all casino sites are licensed.

Moreover, many live online casinos will be based offshore, meaning you won’t benefit from domestic consumer protections. The best safeguard is to always use a licensed live dealer site.

Fast Internet Speeds are Paramount

Another drawback is that the live dealer experience will be hindered if you don’t have a fast internet connection. Although games will still load, you’ll likely witness a slight delay.

For example, suppose you’re playing live dealer roulette. With a slow connection, the wheel-spinning motion you’re watching might be a second behind. This means the outcome of the game will be known before the roulette wheel has stopped spinning.

Best Live Dealer Casino Games

Live casinos offer a wide variety of games that are popular with players around the world. Here’s an overview of the top ones:

Live Blackjack

Live blackjack is a top favorite where players aim to beat the dealer to 21 points. Popular for its real-time decision-making and strategy, it combines skill, luck, and interaction with options for side bets and multi-hand play. Leading live blackjack casinos offer variations like Atlantic City, Vegas Strip, and Double Exposure.

Live Roulette

Roulette enthusiasts can enjoy spinning wheels anytime, anywhere with live dealer roulette. You place bets on numbers, colors, or sets onscreen, and our recommended live roulette casinos offer variations like European, American, and French (with the lowest house edge).

Live Baccarat

Live casino baccarat combines the classic, sophisticated card game with online convenience. You can wager on Player, Banker, or Tie, with betting options to suit both casual players and high rollers across our recommended operators.

Live Poker

Live dealer poker offers players a chance to face off against professional dealers in games like Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, and Three Card Poker. With real-time betting, folding, and bluffing, plus chat features and multicamera angles, you can enjoy a strategic, social, and immersive experience.

Live Craps

If you’re seeking fast-paced action, you will love live dealer craps with real dealers and live streaming. Short rounds and real-time betting recreate the thrill of a real craps table, with rules, bets, and interactive features adding to the communal casino atmosphere.

Other Live Games

Although blackjack and roulette are the most commonly played games, here are some other popular options:

Live Wheel of Fortune – Bet on the outcome of a spinning wheel, spun by a real dealer in real-time.

Live Deal or No Deal – Play the classic Deal or No Deal game at a live online casino. Select a hidden box and hope to land the jackpot.

Available Live Casino Bonus Options

The best live online casinos offer generous bonuses to both new and existing players. Here’s an overview of the most common bonuses offered.

  • Welcome Bonus: Welcome bonuses are offered to players who have yet to open an account. They typically come as a matched deposit bonus. For example, a 100% match would grant you a $500 bonus if you deposited $500.
  • Reloads: Deposit reloads match player deposits up to a certain amount, like welcome bonuses, but these are offered to existing players.
  • Cashback: Receive a percentage of your casino losses back as cashback. Often comes without wagering requirements.
  • Free Spins: These bonuses are exclusively for slots and cannot be used for live games. They are often part of a welcome package or a reward for deposits made by existing players.
  • VIP Rewards: Many casinos offer VIP rewards where players earn points for deposits and bets made. These points can earn players additional bonuses like cashback, free spins, deposit bonuses, and bonus cash.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a casino live dealer?

Provided you have a decent internet connection that can keep up with streaming video, and aren't hindered by a restrictive monthly data allowance, gambling somewhere with a casino live dealer is the best way to bring a more 'authentic' gaming experience into your home. In fact, it's probably the closest you'll get to feeling like you're in a land-based casino without setting foot outside your front door. Especially with live dealer Hold'em or live dealer blackjack.

Live dealers bring a certain human touch to online gambling, which many people appreciate. Live dealer casinos often offer a chat function, and live dealers will sometimes make small talk with patrons just like in a land-based casino. Just make sure you don't let any frustration get the better of you - angry or otherwise inappropriate comments in the chat box will usually result in a lifetime ban.

One notable disadvantage of live dealer casinos is that it means giving up a little of the control you have over the online gambling experience. Let us explain what we mean by that. Imagine that you've worked out a system that you use when gambling, such as doubling up your real money bet every time your selection loses on the roulette wheel.

In a traditional real cash online gaming situation, you have all the time in the world to place your next bet; the wheel doesn't spin until you press play. If you're using a live dealer roulette casino, you have to make sure you get your bet in before THEY spin the wheel. This isn't a huge problem for most people, but it's worth bearing in mind.

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