If you’re a fan of online casino gaming, then you’ve probably heard of live dealer games. Otherwise known as the live casino, these games give you the chance to play a variety of games in real-time, from any device, anywhere you have internet access.
But that’s not all – a real-life, professionally trained dealer will host the game, streamed directly from a specialist studio. With so many themes and varieties to choose from, the question remains – what exactly are live dealer games and how do they work?
Read on to find out.
Welcome to live casino gaming
Once you’ve logged into your chosen online casino site, you’ll see the live casino tab ready and waiting for you to explore. There’ll be a range of games, from the classics like online Blackjack games, Roulette and Poker, to themed variations like Lightning Roulette and Quantum Blackjack. You might also find new game inventions such as Wheel-of-Fortune and other gameshow-inspired chance-based wheels like Monopoly Live and Crazy Time!
The games will differ in theme, with animations, graphics and a live chat feature for you to communicate with the real-life dealer as gameplay unravels.
Behind the scenes
As technology has advanced, so have live dealer games. When the idea first came about in the early 2000s, the games would be easily interrupted by a simple phone call to the landline. In the mid-2000s, as smartphones developed, the demand for better internet speeds and greater bandwidth grew. This paved the way for live dealer games to become the incredible experience we know today.
Live dealer games have truly stood the test of time, flourishing in the modern, digital age. Now, they use state-of-the-art technology. This includes:
- Cameras and monitors – High-definition cameras are used to capture gameplay from all angles. Monitors are also used, so the dealer can see exactly what the camera is picking up and showing on your screen as you play. This helps them keep track of bets and reply to messages in the live chat feature.
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software – OCR software is used to keep track of important details, like symbols on cards or the numbers on the Roulette wheel as it spins. This essentially processes the data so the outcome of each game can be announced without any delay.
- Game Control Unit (GCU) – The GCU is what ties everything together. It takes care of the encoding process which translates the data into visuals so the game can be streamed live!
How to play live casino games
Playing live casino games is pretty similar to what it would be like if you were to play your chosen game at a land-based venue. However, rather than going out, you can log in to your chosen casino site on your particular device, just like if you were playing a digital game online.
Then, you’ll want to find the ‘live games’ tab, where there’ll be a selection of chance-based for you to choose from. Once you’ve found the game you’d like to play, you don’t have to wait in a queue to take a seat at the table. If you wish to play, place your wager and enjoy gameplay as usual. The live dealer will host the game as though you were in a land-based venue, and there’ll be a live chat feature for you to communicate with them as the action unfolds.
What’s the difference between digital and live games?
Now you know the ins and outs of live dealer games – you might be wondering – what makes them so different from digital games? Well, digital games rely on computer software known as a Random Number Generator (RNG) to reveal unpredictable outcomes. However, the live dealer games often use a professionally-trained dealer.
Instead of high-tech graphics, the high-definition cameras will stream gameplay directly to your device.
What’s more – unlike when playing at a land-based venue, you can enjoy live dealer games at any time of day, anywhere you have internet access!
A look to the future
It’s clear how much technology has improved live dealer games over the years, and the experience you can receive right at your fingertips is close to that of a trip to your favourite land-based venue.
But with this in mind, it’s natural to wonder what further advancements in technology might bring in the future. Well, some online casino sites have already seen the introduction of Virtual Reality (VR), meaning you can put on a compatible headset, and experience the eligible game in a whole new way.
Now you know exactly what the live dealer casino is, the games you can play, how it works and what the future might bring – do you think you’ll be trying your chances at a live game anytime soon? Or, will you be sticking to the more familiar, digital games?
