When the first virtual casinos debuted on the web, the online gambling industry was very different from what it is today. When the World Wide Web was introduced in 1993, most people who could afford a home computer with internet access used dial-up connections limited to a meager 56 kbps.
Given the technological limitations of the time, most online casinos could hardly provide a truly lifelike experience for their patrons. The only option players had was to install their chosen casino’s downloadable software on their desktop computers.
This provided access to a limited selection of graphically unimpressive casino games, all governed by Random Number Generators. As technology advanced, online casinos gradually evolved, giving their customers the opportunity to play a new breed of games.
These games are hosted by live dealers, with the action streamed in high definition to players’ mobile or desktop screens. Today’s live casinos offer a higher level of authenticity, leaving you with the impression you are seated at a land-based felt table. The option to interact with the dealers and tip them further enhances one’s live gaming experience.
If you are looking to join the live tables but lack previous experience, the following article by SuperCasinoSites may be a great place to start. Aimed exclusively at beginners, it covers all the steps you must follow when choosing a live casino, registering an account, depositing, and playing live games.
Traits All Good Live Casinos Share
The first step is inevitably choosing a good online casino with live dealer games. This is easier said than done, given the large number of live casinos that have emerged in recent years. Not all live casino operators are created equal; some offer better playing conditions, a safer gaming environment, richer selections of live tables, better bonuses, and more flexible table limits. Below are some of the most common traits that all good live casinos share.
Licensing
Security
Rich Selection of Live Tables
Table Limits
Professional Training
Native-language Tables
Authentic Environments
Software
Licensing
Licensing and transparency are of utmost importance, especially if you want to enjoy fair gaming conditions. All reputable live casinos online are fully transparent about who regulates, owns, and manages their operations. The licensing jurisdictions worth looking for include the UK, Alderney, Malta, Gibraltar, New Jersey, and the Isle of Man. These six regulators monitor their licensees closely to ensure full compliance with their terms and requirements.
Security
The use of encryption technologies is another essential factor to check. Never gamble at a live dealer casino that does not take the security of your funds and personal information seriously. An encrypted live gambling site is easy to spot by the padlock icon displayed next to its web address. In addition to encryption, the best live casinos also strengthen their customers’ security by implementing sophisticated firewalls that deter hackers.
Rich Selection of Live Tables
A rich selection of live tables is another key factor when choosing a live casino. The best operators cater to a wide range of preferences, offering live blackjack, roulette, casino-banked poker, baccarat, and dice games. This variety is especially useful for players who prefer not to limit themselves to a single game type. You can often join multiple tables at once, playing live roulette at one table and live blackjack at another.
Table Limits
The availability of table limits that accommodate all budgets is also essential. A good online casino should cater to both high rollers and small-stake bettors. After all, not everyone can afford to risk $50 or $100 per hand or round. At the best live casinos, limits typically range from as low as $0.10 to an impressive $10,000, sometimes even more. In many cases, there are dedicated high-limit tables designed exclusively for VIP players.
Professional Training
All good live casinos employ well-versed dealers who have undergone professional training. They know the ins and outs of each game, ensuring players enjoy an enhanced experience without dealer errors, mispaid bets, or other nuisances that detract from the fun.
Native-language Tables
Native-language tables are essential, especially for players who are not fluent in English. Some live casinos even let you choose between European and Asian dealers. The more languages available, the better for international players.
The leading providers of live dealer games offer multiple language options, including Dutch, German, French, Russian, Swedish, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, and many more. In some cases, the live software supports more than thirty languages.
Authentic Environments
The best live casinos deliver a lifelike experience in authentic environments that recreate the atmosphere of land-based gaming venues. In some cases, the setting is tailored exclusively to the brand, featuring unique dealer attire, custom backdrops, and dedicated tables.
Software
A good live casino also implements feature-rich software that offers options such as betting behind, playing at multiple tables simultaneously, choosing different camera angles, tipping, built-in chat, detailed game history, and comprehensive statistics.
Picking a Live Casino Bonus
To encourage new and existing customers to play against live dealers, casinos typically offer various bonuses and promotions. Many operators even tailor unique promotional offers specifically for live casino players. Before you redeem any offer, read the casino’s terms and conditions to confirm that the bonus can be used at live tables. Some bonuses apply only to RNG-based games.
Welcome Bonuses
Reload Bonuses
Cashbacks
VIP Programs
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are reserved exclusively for newly registered customers. They are granted after the player’s first deposit, which is then matched with a specific percentage (typically 100%) in free casino credits.
For example, a 100% welcome bonus of up to $200 can earn you an additional $200 when you deposit $200, giving you a total of $400 to play against the live dealers. Some live casinos offer entire welcome packages, consisting of bonuses on your first one to five deposits.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses generally work the same way welcome offers do, with the main difference being that they are available only to returning customers. To qualify, you must have made at least one real-money deposit previously.
Depending on the live casino, you might be able to redeem reload bonuses after subsequent deposits on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Similar to incentives for new players, reload bonuses are usually percentage-based, meaning how much you receive depends on the size of your qualifying deposit.
Cashbacks
Cashbacks are another promotional incentive for existing customers and are again percentage-based. This type of bonus is extremely popular with live casino players because it returns a portion of the money they have deposited and lost.
The refund is usually credited either as bonus funds or as withdrawable cash. For example, if your live casino offers a 50% cashback on your weekly net losses and you deposit and lose $200, you would be eligible for a $100 refund.
VIP Programs
Nearly all reputable live casinos reward loyal customers with comp points as part of their VIP programs. New customers are usually enrolled automatically after opening their live-dealer accounts and making a deposit.
Once you collect the required number of points, you can convert them into bonus credits or withdrawable cash. Most VIP programs involve multiple tiers. The higher you climb the loyalty ladder, the bigger and better the perks you receive.
Benefits often include birthday bonuses, exclusive promotional offers, higher withdrawal limits, improved point-conversion rates, free merchandise, event tickets, or vacations. To level up, you must earn the designated number of points, and some casinos require you to wager specific amounts each month just to maintain your current tier.
Playing the Live Games
Assuming you have completed all the steps above, you are now ready to begin your live gaming experience. The interface is generally easy to use, although the gaming controls may differ depending on the developer that supplies the live software. Below is a brief step-by-step explanation of how to start playing against professional dealers.
Open the Live Lobby
Game’s Basic Rules
Adjust the Size Bet
Bet Behind
Winning and Losing Wagers
Enjoy Yourself
Open the Live Lobby
To begin, sign in to your live casino account and make sure you have a sufficient real-money balance. Then open the live lobby, where tables are typically grouped into categories based on game type. In some cases, you can also browse the portfolio by table limits. Click the thumbnail of your preferred live table to join the action.
Game’s Basic Rules
Brush up on the game’s basic rules if you are unsure how it plays. These are usually available through the Help menu, where you can learn about the different decisions, betting options, and casino odds.
Adjust the Size Bet
Once you understand the rules, choose the size of your first live bet and click the corresponding betting spot on the layout to place your wager. Remember, you usually have a limited time to bet and must do so before the round starts. Betting information is encoded with the help of a Game Control Unit (GCU).
If you miss the betting window, you will have to wait for the live dealer to settle the bets and announce the next round. When betting time is over, the dealer will announce “Bets closed” or “No more betting.”
Bet Behind
When playing live blackjack, you can bet behind other players if the table you want is full. Vacant seats usually read “Play Here,” but the exact wording depends on the live software supplier.
Winning and Losing Wagers
Wait for the dealer to settle the winning and losing wagers and announce the start of the next round. If your previous bet wins, the payout is immediately credited to your balance. Then rinse and repeat.
Enjoy Yourself
Enjoy yourself and socialize with the dealer and fellow players by opening the chatbox. Above all, play responsibly and within your means. You can track your results through the History menu, where you can see the duration of your live session, the number and size of bets placed, and their outcomes.
