Why Play A Computer When You Can Play Against Live Dealers?

An issue that comes up a lot for some players is that online casinos offer a different experience than that of a live venue. The social factor, interacting with the dealers and the overall feeling of the game isn't the same when you play in traditional online casinos, and that turns a lot of players off.

With advances in technology, the viability of live dealer casinos on the Internet has increased a great deal, and now you can play games that are designed specifically for players who want to be able to have as close to a land-based casino experience as possible from the comfort of their computers.

There are a few specific live dealer casinos that we recommend, and while they're all good in their own right, they have differences that will usually be the deciding factor for most players. Simply put, not everyone is looking for the same thing when they play online, so we're going to give you the information that you need to make the best decision for what your personal tastes are like. At the same time, we're going to give you advice on how to get the most value for your live casino play at these establishments.

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What To Look For

A 'good' live casino is a bit of a subjective term as it all really comes down to personal preference, but there are several factors we'd recommend keeping in mind to help make the difference. 

Visuals

The first bite is with the eye they say, and that's true across a number of things unrelated to food - how a live casino looks for instance, also plays an important part in its quality. You want to ensure the video stream is clear, but also that the computer generated graphics make it easy for you to keep track of your hand. 

A lot of live casinos offer some form of customisation, even if it's just a small amount. Often, this comes in the form of a choice between a 'virtual' table that brings the video stream front and centre as if you were sat in front of the dealer at a physical casino and an alternative view which is closer to other online gaming rooms, except you have the video stream included in the corner of the screen. 

Check to see if there are:

• multiple fixed screen layouts that can be toggled between.
• Customisable elements such as resizeable video streams. 
• Clear graphics that complement the live video stream.

Playing Speed

Are you happy with how fast the game progresses? In particular, how long do you have to wait between plays when you're seated at a fairly empty table, and at a full one. 

The best kind of live casinos makes players feel comfortable even if they're the only player seated at the table, or if they're one of many. You might also want to see how much attention the live dealer gives you as it should be equal amongst all players. 

There are several factors that might influence the pace of play like: 

• The number of players. 
• Time allowed for each play.
• The specific dealer hosting the table.
• The game being played.

Table Limits

Like with any kind of online gambling site, the amount you can bet is going to play a big part in how happy you are with your gaming experience, whether you're looking at how little, or how much you can stake. 

If you're a new player, or you like to bet a bit more conservatively, you might want to look out for tables that allow low wagers and build from there towards higher-stakes games. 

Choices of Games

The choices of games at a live casino can vary, but most will at least offer the standard casino games that you'd expect to find in a real brick and mortar casino. These include Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and of course, Poker. Where casinos begin to stand out is on the number of variants of these types of games they have to offer, as well as any smaller, lesser known games. 

Some live casinos, for instance, offer more than a dozen types of Roulette, including, Speed Roulette, Double Ball Roulette and Double Wheel Roulette to name just a few. You'll also find a number of variants for Blackjack and Baccarat which offer players a fresh, new experience. 

Some live casinos offer an incredible amount of game choices, which for a new or inexperienced player, could wind up being confusing. If you're unsure how a game is played, you want to ensure that you know all the details before you start so that you're not losing out on any bets due to misunderstanding the game. Knowing all the details of any game you play will also help you maximise your winnings in the long run. 

There are plenty of online resources that can get any player acquainted with their chosen game, whether you want to look at other player's reviews, or just how the game is played, they can all be useful in helping your knowledge of what to expect at a live casino. 

How it works

The excitement of a live casino all stems from the fact that all the games are run in real time by a human dealer that you can play and interact with from your computer. Physical transactions made by the dealers are translated into data used by the software, otherwise known as the Optical Character Recognition, which is how the cards being dealt are communicated to the software which the players are using to play. The results of the games are also determined by a person rather than an automated process. 

A live casino will normally consist of three rooms. One will be the live studio, the second is designed as a software room and last but not least, there will also be an analyst room. The components that make up a live casino will include:

• Cameras
• Game Control Unit
• Wheel
• Dealer
• Monitor

The live dealer tables work as one would expect when visiting any brick and mortar casino. In roulette, for example, you will see the croupier set the wheel in motion at regular intervals without waiting for all the other players to make their bet. For card games, you'll see the cards being shuffled and cut in real time. 

Most casinos will also have an interactive control panel where you can place wagers on a virtual betting table, read instructions on how to play, check your account balance, as well as interact with the dealer. Some casinos require the download of separate software to become accessible, while a lot of other offers the experience right from your browser or even your mobile.

Software

It's a rare thing when a live casino offers its live experience with software from the casino itself. In most cases, a live dealer experience and its associated services like the video feed technology, dealer studio and sometimes even the dealers themselves are sourced from a third party. It's good to know which developer is providing the software for your chosen casino as that can play a big part into what kind of experience you can expect. 

There are a number of live casinos provided by some of the biggest software developers in the business like Evolution Gaming, Microgaming and Playtech. All of these developers have great size and reputations, as well as putting an incredible amount of detail into their live casino experiences, so if you find yourself on a live casino brought to you by one of these titans, you know you're in good hands. 

Recommended

Betfair's Live Casino Games

When it comes to brands that you can trust, Betfair is up there with the best of them. Their live casino is a great example of how they try to be the best in everything that they do, and they have a lot of promotions and special rules that help the live casino to run as smoothly as possible.

For example, new players will automatically get 10 free spins at live roulette. They tend to target players at small and medium stakes, but exclusive high stakes tables can be created upon request. You also have the option to play with European dealers or Asian dealers, and you'll get a different game selection with each.

Baccarat, blackjack and roulette are available with both sets of dealers. With the European dealers, you'll also have casino hold'em, unlimited blackjack and a couple of roulette variations. However, with Asian dealers, you'll gain access to Sic Bo. Your game selection will be most of what determines your choice between the Asian and European dealers since, other than the dealers themselves, there aren't any differences in the common games.

 

Bgo's Live Casino Games

Bgo has proven time and time again that they want to create the best gaming experience for their players, and with their live casino, that's exactly what players can expect. Their live casino is stocked full of games, even featuring some of their own variations on the classics like Bgo Prime Roulette and Prime Blackjack. 

What's more is they have a lot of information that will guide players through the live casino process, whether they're looking to learn more about it, or they're struggling with something, it can all be accessed from their live casino page. 

If you've never played with Bgo before, they have a great welcome offer that's sure to get you started just right!

 

Mr Green's Live Casino Games

To stand out from the crowd, Mr Green's Live Casino is provided by Extreme Live Gaming who is a relatively new software company that offers some unique features. For instance, Extreme Live Roulette contains a Golden Ball option that allows players to win bonuses during the game. They also offer players the ability to dictate certain actions that happen within the game, such as when the roulette ball is released. 

Their betting limits for games start at £0.25 and scale up to a whopping £25,000, which means there's a level for everyone. A lot of the games are provided by Extreme Live Gaming so expect more unique twists on some of your favourite games, and for all you mobile gamers out there, you can access this live casino on your device courtesy of Evolution Gaming. 

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Our Verdict

Live dealer games are an excellent choice for players who prefer the land-based environment. Between Betfair Casino, Bgo and Mr Green Casino, it really just comes down to what you want in your experience. For higher betting limits, Mr Green is probably the best option. If you want more of a game selection, then go with Betfair. 

Whichever you choose, be sure to signup via Cashbacker to be eligible for our exclusive cashback offers on losses incurred - read more here.