What is a live online casino?
I often see a misunderstanding with what an online live casino is. It’s not some type of special site – it’s essentially just any online casino that features live dealer games. You may be wondering what live dealer games are though, so let me explain.
A live dealer game is one where you connect via a video feed to a casino studio. The studio will have a human dealer or game host and equipment needed to play the game, such as a roulette wheel or blackjack card table. The human dealer will control the flow of play in the same way they would in a physical casino environment.
You can interact with the dealer and other players via a chat system and play the game as much or as little as you want. For example, you could play every round, or you can skip rounds – the game will continue regardless of your participation or not as it’s live. Prominent developers of live dealer games include Evolution and Pragmatic Play.
Popular games at online live casinos
So, you know what an online live casino is – it’s basically a casino that offers live dealer games. But what games exactly? I’ve had immense experience playing at these sites and I’ve found that you can always find blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and game shows. I’ve delved into these game categories in more detail below.
Live blackjack
Live blackjack is easily the most popular live dealer game and it’s my favorite too. It has an interesting dynamic as you might have 10+ people playing the same round, with everyone making different decisions. It’s fun to see the choices people make and the strategies they use. You can usually find a range of blackjack variants, including:
- American blackjack.
- European blackjack.
- Multi-hand blackjack.
- Quantum Blackjack.
- Infinite Blackjack.
- Lightning Blackjack.
Lightning Blackjack is one of my favorite variants – each round has a lightning bonus that you can get if your hand wins on a specific number such as 19, 20, or 21. You have to pay an additional lightning round bet, but the rewards can be huge.
Live blackjack is easily the most popular live dealer game and it’s my favorite too. It has an interesting dynamic as you might have 10+ people playing the same round, with everyone making different decisions. It’s fun to see the choices people make and the strategies they use. You can usually find a range of blackjack variants, including:
- American blackjack.
- European blackjack.
- Multi-hand blackjack.
- Quantum Blackjack.
- Infinite Blackjack.
- Lightning Blackjack.
Lightning Blackjack is one of my favorite variants – each round has a lightning bonus that you can get if your hand wins on a specific number such as 19, 20, or 21. You have to pay an additional lightning round bet, but the rewards can be huge.
Who doesn’t love classic roulette? Instead of a 3D animated roulette wheel, live roulette gives you a full roulette wheel and play table where you can make your bets and watch the action. You usually get multiple camera angles including a top-down view of the roulette wheel, plus a cinematic view of the studio setup and dealer. Some popular live roulette variants include:
- American roulette.
- European roulette.
- Lightning Roulette.
- Auto roulette.
I’ve found that few live casinos have French roulette, but you can typically play the American and European versions. Lightning Roulette is my favorite though as it has an additional multiplier element like in Lightning Blackjack that can increase your winnings.
Live baccarat is another hugely popular game due to its fast-paced rounds and simple gameplay. You have to bet on whether you think your hand or the dealer’s hand will be closer to 9. I’ve found this is the live dealer game that usually has the least variants but there is Lightning Baccarat plus games with different versions of the core rules.
More recently I’ve seen a huge surge in live game shows. These take the immersive nature of live dealer games to the next level and give you a different gaming experience compared to traditional casino games. Live game shows often have a wheel of fortune aspect or some type of classic game show element and some of the most popular titles include:
- Crazy Time. Crash Live.
- Top Card.
- Dream Catcher.
- Treasure Island.
- Monopoly Live.
- Deal or No Deal.
I love the theming and studio setups that these games have as they often use elaborate sets with bright lights and props, and the human dealers usually have matching outfits. I recommend checking out live game shows from Evolution and Pragmatic as they have come up with some superb and unique titles.
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How to pick the best live casino sites
As with
crypto casino reviews, you’ll see that not all live casinos are created equal and some are better than others. There are a range of awesome recommendations for you in the links and banners on this page, but you should still understand what constitutes a good online live casino. To that end, I’ve listed five features I typically look for when picking a site to play at.
1. Licensing
I only ever play at online live casino sites that have a gambling license. This should ideally be from a reputable licensing authority such as the UK Gambling Commission or Malta Gaming Authority. To obtain a gambling license, an online casino has to comply with regulations set by the license provider and adhere to certain quality standards.
This includes things like fair play, security features, and smooth payment processing. If you play at a live casino without a license, there is no guarantee that they will act fairly or that you will be able to resolve any disputes.
2. Game selection
Obviously I check the live dealer game selection too! I usually play live blackjack so I check that they at least have a standard blackjack variant available with table limits I am comfortable playing with. I also look for special blackjack variants that I enjoy such as blackjack with side bets, or alternative versions like Quantum and Infinite Blackjack.
With this in mind, make sure you check the game catalog of the online casino to see if they have a wide enough selection of live titles that you want to play. It’s also a great idea to check the other categories such as slots and arcade games.
3. Banking system
Whether you’re using a
casino download, a mobile app, or desktop version, you want to be able to make deposits easily and get your winnings quickly. I always look at the banking system and check for the following things:
- Accepted payment methods.
- Min/max deposit and withdrawal limits.
- Payment fees.
- Withdrawal processing times.
Ideally, the limits should be low enough with the levels I am comfortable playing at, and I expect online casinos to offer fast withdrawal processing – within 24 hours where possible.
If you are a new customer then you should look out for the welcome bonus that an online live casino provides. For example, they may give a live
blackjack no deposit bonus
where you get a cash lump sum to play with. Also look for promos for existing customers that can be used on live dealer games such as reload bonuses, cashback, free chips, and deposit match bonus.
5. Customer support
Lastly, I look at the customer support methods offered by the online live casino. I prefer to use live chat if I need help so this is what I look for first. I usually test the live chat response times too and make sure that I can actually speak to a real human support rep as opposed to just an AI chatbot. Hopefully I never encounter an issue, but it’s comforting knowing that the support is there if I need it.
Tips for making the most of the best live casinos online
Whether you want to play
live baccarat online, improve your blackjack skill, or are taking your first steps into the world of online live casinos, I’ve given some simple tips that you can follow. These will help you have the most fun while also managing your bankroll efficiently.
🌐 Make sure you have a stable internet connection
The crux of live dealer games is that the gameplay is in real-time and you are connecting to the casino studio via a live streaming feed. This means that there is the potential for the action to pass you buy and you to miss out on rounds. Also, if you have a bad internet connection, you could experience issues with playing your hands or making decisions which could ultimately cost you money. Only ever play at a top live casino if you have a stable connection! I typically only play live dealer games either on my desktop computer or when I am connected to a stable WiFi connection with my smartphone.
🤝 Don’t be afraid to speak to the human dealer!
I see so many people playing live dealer games and never interacting with other players or the human dealer. For me, this is the best part of these casinos and games! The built-in chat function allows you to chat with your fellow gamers, but also have banter with the dealer. Don’t be afraid! I’ve only had a few instances where the human dealer wasn’t engaging or didn’t speak much. 95% of the time you can have a laugh with the dealer and it just improves the atmosphere of the game so much. It’s also incredibly fun to chat to the other players and I often find myself getting into arguments about game strategies which I thrive on!
🎲 Think about game RTP and volatility
RTP relates to the Return to Player and it is the theoretical amount you can expect to make when playing a game over time. For example,
online casino live roulette, if it’s European, has an RTP of 97.30%. As a result, if you spent $100, you’d be expected to get back $97.30. Similarly, volatility relates to how often and how much you win. Low volatility games like live blackjack payout consistently but you don’t get big wins. In contrast, Roulette is more volatile as you can go stretches without winning but also get some epic single number payouts. Think about how volatility affects your chances of winning and what type of game you prefer to play.
📚 Take time to learn the basic game strategies
Most of the live dealer games at the best live casinos online require strategy to play effectively. For example, there is an optimum blackjack strategy you can employ which involves always doubling-down on 11, and hitting on 16 if the dealer has 7+. While gaming should always be fun, if you want the best chance at winning then I recommend taking the time to learn the game strategies. This will help you manage your bankroll more effectively, and make you a more consistent player.
Take your gaming to the next level at an immersive live dealer online casino!
I hope you’ve found this guide to live casino sites enlightening. For me, these sites feature some of the most entertaining and immersive casino games available and they blow classic slots out of the water! If you want a starting point, then I recommend giving live blackjack or roulette a try – you’ll be hooked in no time! Just be sure to gain a firm grasp of the basic rules, and try to learn some strategies to give you a better chance of managing your bankroll.
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Online live casino FAQs
🎰 What is an online live casino?
This is any type of online casino that offers live games. This is usually live dealer games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, but also live game shows like Crazy Time, Top Card, and Crash Live. The best live casinos online also offer non-live games such as video slots and single player table games.
🃏 What can you do at live online casinos?
These online casinos specialize in live dealer games and game shows. You can usually play them for real money and enjoy the immersive action while also speaking to the human dealer and other players.
🌍 Where are online live casinos available?
This depends on your geographical location and the gambling laws for your country. Check out the links and banners on this page and you should see a range of online casinos and promos suitable for your location.
🎲 Which is the best live dealer game?
This is purely subjective and depends on what you enjoy. Some people prefer the strategy and fast-paced action of live blackjack, while others love the randomness and potential for big prizes at live roulette.
