Live Dealer CASINO GAMES

What Are Live Casino Games?

Live casino games are gambling games that are played in live mode. Typically, a live casino game is a broadcast of a real-life table with a real dealer. Players who want to play that game must enter the broadcast and bet on the table by watching the action unfold before them on the screen.

The concept is not new, it emerged during the 1990s. However, these games did not become popular overnight. Steadily, over the years, more and more players have expressed interest in betting on real-life tables on the internet.

However, it was the COVID outbreak that helped live casino technology really blossom. During the 2020s, gambling facilities across the globe closed their doors, leaving players no other option except to turn to online gambling as a source of entertainment.

Game suppliers also increased the production of games, so there has been an increase in live blackjack, live roulette, and various other game tables.

Not only that, but modern technology such as AR, VR, and artificial intelligence are increasingly being used in the development of live dealer tables. That means that, not only are these games a new trend, but they are also not going out of fashion anytime soon.

Live Dealer Vs Online Games

Here’s a brief comparison of live dealer and RNG gambling games.

There’s a significantly higher number of RNG games than live tables. Still, quantity does not guarantee quality, so that cannot be used as an argument in favor of RNG games.

One thing that is a massive advantage of regular games is freeplay. Namely, players can play gambling games for free, but only RNG games, not live. Freeplay is important for novices, which is why beginners are not advised to jump into real mode straight away.

On the other hand, live games have something that RNG does not: authenticity. They are far closer to the real deal, as they are actual broadcasts from gambling halls. Some are set in custom studios, but many are streamed directly from casinos.

Playing Live Dealer Games on Mobile

With modern technology, casinos went full circle and are again becoming focused on content download. What we mean by that is that, earlier versions of online casinos offered ‘download software’, which meant that entire lobbies with games could be downloaded and played on desktop.

As technology advanced, this became obsolete, but thanks to mobile support, it’s coming back as a trend today. Only, it’s a bit different than before, as players now download mobile casino apps to play on their phones, instead of lobbies for desktop.

The great news is that all live dealer games are playable in mobile mode. There are two ways to access content on mobile – by visiting the site on mobile browsers, or by downloading a casino app.

Both options have their pros and cons. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and you can pick the option that suits your lifestyle better.

Browser-based mobile casinos with live games are always a safer choice because there is no need to worry about your device’s operating system and compatibility. Not all casinos have both Android and IOS apps, so it’s easier to just visit via browsers (Safari, Chrome, whatever you use). You might have to sacrifice graphics for smoother use, though, but that seems like a small price to pay for a hassle-free experience.

How Live Dealer Games Work

The technology behind live games is very interesting.

In case you were wondering what exactly is happening behind the scenes in live games, here’s your answer. Let’s see the most important elements of live gambling and how live dealer games work.

Game Studio

Before a player enters a game, the company must first decide on a location for the game. There are two options: either a game studio, or an actual casino floor. The table equipment will vary depending on the type of game and location. The studio also employs a dealer that is trained professional to operate the game and interact with players.

Game Controls

The experience is not just about the visual aspect, audio matters too. For real-life streams, the background noise does half the job, but with studios, companies must do extra work to create an immersive place for the players to enjoy. High-quality cameras, microphones, and all other hi-tech equipment is used to create an environment that is as authentic as possible. This is even more important if the game does not have a dealer (like Auto Roulette).

Software Integration

The integration is where the game meets the casino. In case of exclusive games, this is when the site will choose to add unique branding to the game to showcase its exclusive status to players. During software integration, all technical details such as registration, account balance, and other details are handled, mostly as background processes. Players have little contact with this part of the process.

Gameplay

The final part and the most important phase for the players is the actual gameplay. Players enter the casino game, set bets during the betting phase, and play the game. The dealers (if present) will announce the start and end of betting stages and announce the game results. The way that this looks depends greatly on the choice of game. For example, roulette tables may seat an unlimited number of players, while 7-seat blackjack games can host a maximum of 7 players simultaneously.

Most Popular Live Casino Game Types

Live dealer games used to be very limited back in the day. They’ve come a long way since then, and today it’s possible to play almost every gambling game under the sun in real mode.

Craps proved to be the trickiest category to translate into live mode. It’s a game deeply rooted in social interaction, which was hard to fabricate in online casino terms. Still, here’s an overview of the most popular categories of live casino games.

Live Blackjack

Blackjack is perhaps the most popular game category, along with roulette. In live mode, you can try European Blackjack, as well as many other variants – Blackjack Switch, Pontoon, Vegas Strip Blackjack, Spanish Blackjack and various other. Live blackjack is very convenient because it offers players a wide scope of table limits, features, and ways to practice blackjack strategy. Of course, tables with 3:2 Blackjack payouts are considered the best options overall.

The biggest producer of live blackjack is Evolution, which became popular for its Bet Stacker Blackjack and Free Bet Blackjack tables. Other notable producers include Playtech and Pragmatic Play.

Live Roulette

Besides skill-based blackjack, players can try their luck with roulette. Roulette in live mode appears as European Roulette, American Roulette, and even occasionally as French Roulette. The French variant is the rarest, mostly because it works in players’ favor the most. Besides classic roulette, players can also explore other newer variants, including those bolstered by Multipliers and other bonus rounds.

Multiplier-based Roulette tables have different RTP rates than the standard variants, as well as table limits and payouts. Be sure to check out our game reviews to check out the best roulette strategies that you can use in unique live roulette variants.

Live Baccarat

Live baccarat is yet another popular choice for live casino enthusiasts. It was always popular, but it has seen massive expansion in recent years thanks to its simplicity and elegance. Evolution is the one that pushed the envelope with new variants. Previously, game suppliers limited themselves to experimenting with Baccarat Squeeze, but today that has taken a whole new direction with Peek Baccarat, Golden Wealth Baccarat, and other tables.

If you want to try new and exciting baccarat versions that still retain the well-known charm of the card game, try Speed Baccarat and No Commission Baccarat. Explore tables that feature a wealth of new rules and features, including side bets (Player Bonus, Banker Bonus, Perfect Pairs, etc.) and roads.

Live Poker

Poker is typically the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions casino gaming. However, in live mode, poker is not always the first choice, simply because there are so many games to choose from. Still, there’s more than enough live poker tables to join, as they tend to cover almost every poker variant that you can possibly think of.

Most well-stocked gambling websites offer at least Texas Hold’em, but it’s possible to find  Casino Hold’em, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, and Bonus Poker. There are also poker tables with tournaments, bonuses, and progressive jackpots. Better stocked casinos also tend to offer a good choice of exclusive VIP tables, too.

Live Sic Bo

Even though card games are extremely sought-after, dice games are not forgotten. In fact, dice games are reaching new heights, with new dice games being introduced to the live vertical each year. At the moment, the biggest hits are Sic Bo and all its variants. Almost every major game producer has at least one Sic Bo Live game in its arsenal.

There are also hybrid games with dice. The so-called live game shows featuring dice such as Boom City are very popular among the players. Outside of dice elements, these games also include other boosters which enhance gameplay and keep players occupied longer.

Top 5 Live Casino Software Providers

Here’s a brief list of the best game suppliers you can find at live dealer casinos.

Evolution

Evolution is one of the leading game providers in the live casino sector. It’s one of the most famous brands that has successfully built a brand that goes beyond live gambling. The company acquired several major brands such as NetEnt and Big Time Gaming, allowing them to expand into live slots. Today, the company has several brands under its roof, including Ezugi and Nolimit City.

Recommended Evolution Games

• Lightning Roulette
• Mega Ball
• Crazy Time
• Speed Super Sic Bo
• Monopoly Live Big Baller

Playtech

Another industry leader, Playtech is famous for working with select casino that offer Playtech casino games exclusively. Besides live content, Playtech is also a pro at online games, especially slots with progressive jackpots. Playtech and Evolution have been considered main competitors for years. Playtech is famous for live game shows that were exclusively licensed, such as Who Wants to Become a Millionaire.

Recommended Playtech Games

• Majority Rules Speed Blackjack
• Quantum Blackjack
• FashionTV Jackpot Baccarat
• Sic Bo Deluxe
• Spin & Win Roulette

Ezugi

Ezugi is a brand that’s working under the Evolution brand. Before it was acquired by Evolution, Ezugi was one of the aspiring studios designing live dealer games targeted at Asian customers. In fact, it’s a master of Asian themed gambling games such as Andar Bahar and Teen Patti. Since the acquisition, Ezugi continued to produce high-quality content that is available in a range of markets, including Asia, Europe, Canada, and wider.

Recommended Ezugi Games

• Andar Bahar
• Bet on Teen Patti
• Salsa Baccarat
• Live Sic Bo
• Ultimate Andar Bahar

Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play is, like Playtech, a multi-faceted game studio working on a number of casino genres. What started out as a slot company soon turned into a global gaming studio with a clear focus on both slots and live casino content. However, Pragmatic Play kept the pace of innovation and soon debuted in crash gambling circles, with a couple of crash games under its belt. The most notable thing about the company is that it launches a slot every week, while live casino games are produced at a slower rate.

Recommended Pragmatic Play Games

• PowerUP Roulette
• Sic Bo
• Mega Roulette
• ONE Blackjack
• Dragon Tiger

Vivo Gaming

The final name on the list is Vivo Gaming, one of the most prolific game studios in the live niche. They command a lot of respect, thanks to the high quality of games and strict professionalism exuded by the team. They’ve been around for over a decade, so they know their way around various game categories. One of the key things about Vivo Gaming is that it’s the first studio to launch Live Craps, even before Evolution. Vivo Gaming also has a number of notable partnerships with international brands.

Recommended Vivo Gaming Games

• Caribbean Stud
• Dragon Tiger
• Live Craps
• Live Blackjack
• Casino Hold’Em