Overview of a New Generation of Live Dealer Casinos
The phone in your pocket is most probably more powerful than your main computer of just 5 years ago. What is more, the pace of technological innovation is getting faster, with better networks, software and hardware all combining. Live dealer casinos have suddenly gone from being a niche to being mainstream. You can now stream a real croupier into your home, and follow card or Roulette action in real time.
This article gives you an introduction to live dealer casinos online. First of all I have explained how these games work, using a hybrid of net and live games. Next the pros and cons of live dealer games are covered. Finally, I have outlined some of the bonus offers to look out for at live dealer casinos, including how to spot which are the good offers and which ones have hidden clauses which make them difficult to clear.
How Do Live Dealer Casinos Work?
There is more than just a live stream to the real casino experiences online nowadays. This is a hybrid technology which enables you to bet with your mouse (or touch-screen) and to chat with the croupier with your keyboard.
The basic setup is that studios are set up around the world, with Riga (Latvia) and the Philippines being popular choices. Attractive ladies (and a few gentlemen for good measure) host games, chatting with the players as they deal. There are several games on offer including Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Casino Holdem and sometimes Sic Bo. The cards are big so they can be easily streamed and the action is as fast as the multi-player tables allow for.
In Roulette, you’ll see the wheel and dealer in the top portion of your screen and the betting layout below. This is just a matter of clicking on chips and dropping them onto the virtual betting surface. When the spin ends, the bets are settled automatically, and you can re-bet just like on a virtual table. If you prefer the advanced (French) bets, these can normally be accessed from the options on the table.
Live dealer card games work in multi-player format, with up to 7 players at each table. This can slow things down, or it can increase the social element – depending on your perspective. Usually, the dealers have big cards, so everything is clearly visible from the stream. Most of these games give each player their own hand and decisions, though there are also ‘one to many’ games where everyone gets the same hand.
What are the Pros and Cons of Live Dealer Casinos?
The benefits of this form of casino entertainment all come from the ‘real casino’ feeling. Once you have tried playing with a live dealer, the ‘virtual’ games really do feel a little odd. The ability to bring in a high-definition stream to your home, and add a social element to your online casino play takes online casino gaming to a brand new level. My advice is to try it out for yourself soon, it will be difficult to go back to the old computerized versions of the game.
There are also security benefits for some players. You can see the cards being shuffled and dealt right in front of you, and the Roulette ball being spun. There are clocks and some live Studios have CNN on the TV in the background so that you can be sure you are not watching a replay.
My final positive is the ability to interact and chat with the dealers and other players. This is something that casinos did not allow in any format before.
On the negative side, the betting limits are usually higher than those at the virtual tables. This is to help cover the overheads of the studio and the salaries of the dealers. For example there might be a minimum of $5 at some Blackjack tables. If you enjoy the big stakes, then there are live casinos out there that offer games with $50,000 top bets, the host at your casino should be able to advise you on this.
My final negative is that these games can feel a little slower than some casinos. This becomes especially apparent in the live dealer Blackjack games, which can fit up to 7 players on each table. You only need one slow player to grind the table to a halt for the rest of you.
Bonuses at Live Dealer Casinos
Many casinos offer bonuses to encourage players to check out their live dealer casinos. These include offers of free spins with no deposit needed. This is a great time to take advantage of these offers, since as the games become more normal, the initial deals will disappear.
If you are clearing a normal casino bonus, then make sure you read the terms and conditions before heading to the live casino. You might find that this play does not count towards clearance, and that you are better off on the virtual tables until you have completed your offer.