The introduction of live dealer games has been a major milestone in the history of the online gambling industry. Players worldwide can now enjoy their favorite table games in a highly realistic environment that rivals the ambiance of brick-and-mortar casinos.
The experience is so authentic that many players never return to conventional RNG games after challenging live dealers. Live games provide all the excitement of land-based casinos, plus the convenience of playing online from the comfort of your own surroundings.
Live dealer games offer plenty of advantages, and this is not up for debate. However, as great as they are, live casinos also come with several drawbacks that might put some players off. SuperCasinoSites weighs the pros and cons of live gaming, information that could prove relevant when choosing live dealer games over their standard RNG-based counterparts.
Live Dealer Immersive Roulette Gameplay
How Live Dealer Tables Outbest RNG-Run Games
Live casinos are currently all the rage, which is not surprising given the many benefits they offer players. From blackjack and baccarat to roulette and Sic Bo, live casinos cater to all gaming styles, budgets, and preferences. In the following paragraphs, SuperCasinoSites breaks down five of the biggest advantages of transitioning from RNG-based games to live dealer titles.
Authentic Experience in the Absence of Annoying Casino Goers
Socialization and Player Interaction
The Relaxed Pace of Play Saves You Money
Live Games Are Impossible to Rig
Broad Table Limits and Customization OptionsAuthentic Experience in the Absence of Annoying Casino Goers
Authenticity is one of the most obvious advantages of playing live casino games. These titles provide an enhanced experience because you can watch the action conducted by human dealers in unique settings.
Professionally Trained Dealers
Everything about these games is real. You have real people shuffling the decks, dealing the cards, or spinning the roulette wheels, just as in any land-based gaming venue around the world. Perhaps more importantly, all newly recruited dealers undergo in-depth training, enabling them to provide a highly professional service.
Multi-Angle View of the Tables
Multiple HD cameras are deployed, giving players a closer look at the live tables from different angles. The live action is usually streamed from dedicated studio facilities, although it is also possible to find streams from some of the world’s most sumptuous land-based casinos, including the Ritz Club in London and the Maltese Dragonara Casino.
Round-the-Clock Access
Just like in a land-based casino, there are shifts and dealer rotations, with pit bosses and shift managers supervising everything happening on the gaming floor. Players have round-the-clock access to the authentic live tables. You can join the dealers on any device of your choice, since live casinos are typically cross-compatible.
No Traveling Expenses and Noisy Patrons
Additionally, live games do not incur extra costs for players. There is no need to travel to a land-based casino or pay for accommodations. Even better, you are spared from enduring the quirks of other patrons who spill drinks, blow smoke in your face, or dispute your playing decisions. It is just you and your friendly dealer manning the table.
Socialization and Player Interaction
There is no denying that playing against the Random Number Generator is a solitary experience that can quickly become tiresome. This is not the case with live dealer games, where players benefit from a more social form of entertainment.
Interaction via the Chat Facility
All live casinos feature a built-in IM function that enhances interaction between players. You can greet everyone at the table, discuss the gameplay, exchange tips, and congratulate fellow players on their winning streaks.
The chat feature also lets you converse with the dealers, who are always happy to engage in friendly banter or answer rule-related questions. Each username is highlighted in a unique color, making it easier for dealers to follow the conversation and join in. The dealers read players’ messages on their monitors and reply verbally.
Socializing in Your Native Language
Furthermore, the live chat is not limited to English-speaking players. The largest live casino platforms offer tables with native-speaking dealers who can converse fluently in various languages. Language is never a barrier, as some platforms support as many as thirty languages, including Japanese, Spanish, Italian, French, and Swedish. Tipping the dealers for their high-quality service is sometimes an option, further enhancing the experience.
Chat Etiquette
As fun as bantering with live dealers is, online players must follow certain rules of etiquette when using the chat feature. Refrain from making sexual innuendos, using explicit language, or blaming the dealer if you hit a bad streak. Respect the dealers and remember they are just doing their job. Keep in mind the chat is monitored, and being disrespectful can get you banned from using the feature.
The Relaxed Pace of Play Saves You Money
Another thing that sets live-streamed games apart from their RNG counterparts is the more relaxed pace of play they offer. While players accustomed to faster action often frown upon this, a slower tempo can be beneficial because it saves you money in the long run.
Betting Timers
Most live casino games feature timers that count down the seconds until betting closes. Depending on the table, players usually have between 25 and 45 seconds, but the exact timeframe varies between platforms and games. These timers are typically implemented at tables designed to accommodate an unlimited number of players. The faster you play, the quicker the house edge grinds down your bankroll.
Manual Shuffling
Conversely, the relaxed pace of live dealer games means you play fewer hands per hour, resulting in smaller hourly losses. At some tables, dealers shuffle the decks manually, creating a natural pause in the gameplay and further slowing the action.
Some people simply prefer slower gameplay because they find it more engaging. Betting in RNG games can become automatic and monotonous, causing players to lose interest quickly.
Live Games Are Impossible to Rig
Although RNG-based games undergo regular independent audits, some players still question their fairness, especially after losing several hands or rounds in a row. You can put such doubts to rest when playing at a live casino because all the action unfolds in real time before your eyes.
No Room for Frauds
You can observe every aspect of the gaming experience, including the reshuffling procedures, the dealing of the cards, and the release of the ball onto the roulette wheel. Live dealer games are offered by the largest and most reputable gambling operators, largely because of the higher operational costs associated with this format.
Game Identification Numbers
Every single round is monitored and saved in the live casino’s database so staff can check for dealer errors or misplayed hands. Each round has a unique identification number that records the exact hour, minute, and second the hand was played. If you suspect foul play, you can contact support and provide this number for reference. They can then immediately review the round for potential errors.
Broad Table Limits and Customization Options
Many gaming enthusiasts simply cannot afford to gamble at land-based casinos because of the higher table limits. Take blackjack, for example. The minimum you can wager at many land-based blackjack tables in Las Vegas or Atlantic City is $5, although it can rise to $25 or even $100 in some games. At best, you will struggle to find a $3 table.
Low Table Minimums
This is not the case online, as most live casinos allow customers to play for nominal amounts. You will not search long before finding live tables where you can wager as little as $0.50 per round. Of course, some RNG-based games offer even lower minimums, but playing $0.50 per hand at a relaxed pace fits most gamblers’ budgets.
High Maximums for Large-Scale Players
The upper limits are just as flexible and can easily satisfy the betting appetites of high rollers. It is not unheard of to find tables where you can risk as much as $10,000 on a single hand. There are also live tables exclusively dedicated to VIP customers who crave more action.
Join the Action Whenever You Like
On top of that, you can join a table whenever you like as long as there are vacant seats. This is not the case in many land-based casinos, where blackjack players must wait until after the reshuffle to join the game because of the “No mid-shoe entry” rule.
Customization
Live casino platforms offer multiple customization options, allowing players to tailor the gameplay to their preferences. Apart from being able to choose between European and Asian dealers in some cases, you can adjust the quality of the live stream to match your connection. Players can also choose different camera angles or save their favorite bets and bet combinations for quick access during future sessions.
The Other Side of the Coin - Cons of Playing Live Dealer Games
As appealing and authentic as live dealer games are, they are not entirely free of drawbacks. Some online players may find the aspects described below disadvantageous. If one or more of them are deal breakers for you, live dealer games may not be the optimal option.
Poorer Range of Available Games
Advantage Play is Next to Impossible
Free Play Is Largely Not an Option
Lags and Interruptions
Limited Capacity at Some TablesPoorer Range of Available Games
Live dealer casinos mostly provide traditional versions of classic table games such as blackjack, poker, baccarat, and roulette. While you can choose from different table settings, the range of live games is much narrower. Most tables follow the standard rules, so you can forget about playing exotic variations with live dealers.
Unorthodox Rules Are Exclusive to RNG Games
By contrast, you can pick from numerous unorthodox RNG variants that add unexpected twists to make the gameplay more interesting. Options like Pinball Roulette, Blackjack Switch, and Duel Blackjack are available solely in the RNG format. If you crave diversity and unconventional rules, live dealer games are probably not the best choice for you.
Advantage Play is Next to Impossible
Players familiar with online gambling know it is impossible to beat the Random Number Generator. Each outcome in randomly generated games is completely independent, so using advanced techniques like card counting or exploiting biased wheels is out of the question.
Frequent Dealer Rotations
The bad news is the same holds true for live dealer games. Advantage play is possible in theory but does not yield satisfactory results in practice, as live casinos take every precaution to prevent players from exploiting their games.
All equipment at the live roulette tables is regularly inspected for imperfections that could interfere with randomness. Frequent dealer rotations prevent players from picking up on what is known as the dealer’s signature. The wheels are sometimes spun in alternating directions as an additional safeguard against spotting patterns.
Bad Penetration
Card games like blackjack, which are otherwise exploitable, offer poorer playing conditions in live casinos. Penetration is terrible, as fewer decks (sometimes less than half the shoe) are dealt before the dealer reshuffles. Under such conditions, it is impossible to generate enough EV to overcome the built-in house edge.
Continuous Shufflers
On top of that, an increasing number of live tables use continuous shufflers. Dealers feed the discards back into the machines every round, so you can forget about counting cards to gain an advantage. This is the equivalent of playing blackjack against an RNG, the only difference being a human deals the cards for you.
Free Play Is Largely Not an Option
As mentioned earlier, live casino games involve higher operational costs. Everything, from training the staff and paying dealers’ salaries to maintaining the equipment, costs money, which is not the case with RNG games.
Free Play Gives You a Good Feel for the Games
This is the main reason why trying a live game for free with virtual demo credits is rarely an option. By contrast, RNG-based games (except those with progressive jackpots) are usually available for free. Free play is essential for many players because it lets them try the games and get a proper feel for the gameplay.
Real-Money Accounts
The only way to join the live dealers is to sign up for a real-money account, head to the cashier, and fund your balance. This is a minor inconvenience, though, since minimum deposits at most live casinos are as low as $10. That nominal amount is enough for you to test the live games at tables with low minimums of $0.20 or $0.50 per round.
Lags and Interruptions
Streaming casino games live in HD quality can be a double-edged sword. If your Internet connection is not reliable or stable enough, you will suffer annoying lags and interruptions. Needless to say, this is a major turnoff for some players and can completely ruin their online gaming experience.
Disconnection during a Game Round
On a more positive note, if a player gets disconnected during a round, the bets placed previously remain valid and are settled in their absence. Once you reconnect to the Internet, you can check the outcomes in the History section of the interface.
Optimal Speeds
Live games are demanding because they are streamed in real time. This is unlike YouTube videos, for instance, which play smoothly once fully loaded. As for the optimal connection speed, it depends on the platform’s compression, but you ideally need speeds of 1 Mbps or higher to enjoy a decent HD stream.
Limited Capacity at Some Tables
RNG games can support unlimited players simultaneously, but this is not always true for some live casino games, particularly blackjack. Most live blackjack tables offer up to seven seats. If all of them are occupied, you will have to wait until someone leaves.
Solution 1 – Betting Behind
There are two solutions to this problem, the first being the option to bet behind players who are currently seated. This feature allows you to place bets on the hands dealt to other players. You share the outcome of that hand. The seated player makes the hitting and standing decisions, but you can choose whether to double down, split, or take insurance.
Solution 2 – Live Tables for Unlimited Players
You will not encounter such issues if you play games like baccarat, roulette, casino-banked poker, and Sic Bo, which support an unlimited number of players by default. As for live blackjack, we suggest you look for variations with unlimited seats. One of the most popular options is Infinite Blackjack by Evolution Gaming.
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Can some of the issues of Live Casino games be resolved with the latest innovations in the iGaming industry?
Yes. Some of the shortcomings of Live Casinos mentioned above have already been addressed, giving players a better casino experience. A few years ago, the limited supply of table games with unusual rules was a drawback. Today, however, Live Casino lobbies from major software providers feature numerous classic table games and many variations of baccarat, roulette, and blackjack, complete with bonus games, special features, multipliers, and side bets. Additionally, live-dealer providers have begun adding slots, game shows, and other unique titles to their portfolios, allowing players to explore an eclectic range of Live Casino options.
Although Live Casino games cannot be played for free in demo mode, many casinos let you launch any game even if your bankroll is insufficient. This lets you watch the game in real time, observe how bets are placed, the speed of each round, and every possible outcome. All of this helps you gain a general understanding of gameplay for most live-dealer games online.
Some Live Casino games are played at a rather fast pace and I am having trouble adjusting to the tempo, which has caused losing bets without even being able to track them. Should I stick to RNG games?
New players at Live Casinos can feel overwhelmed because many live-dealer games run faster than RNG titles. Since you are rarely the only person at the table or game show, you must place your bet within the allotted time. However, you do not need to wager every round, as you can continue watching even if you skip a betting session.
If you need extra time to adjust to the game’s tempo, place a wager only occasionally until you become comfortable with the gameplay. Make sure you have not activated any auto-bet feature, because it is hard to track your wagers while you are still learning how the live-dealer game works. You can also watch videos of certain games online and learn from experienced Live Casino players. This will help you adapt more quickly to the faster pace of live-dealer games.