A Guide to Live Dealer Games
If you’ve spent any time at an online casino in recent years, you’ll have likely come across live dealer casino games. These are a special type of casino game that combines the convenience and variety of playing online with the immersiveness of visiting a land-based casino.
Live dealer online casino games have exploded in popularity and for good reason: they offer unique game types, epic variants, and a lot more energy. If that sounds like a tantalising prospect, then this guide to live dealer casino games is for you. We’ve packed it full of the information you need to understand what these games are, how they work, and the different types you can choose from.
What is a live dealer game in a casino and how do they work?
Live dealer games are online casino games that replace computer-generated graphics that are used in more traditional options with video feeds of live human dealers. These dealers control the games just as they would in a land-based casino, dealing cards, spinning wheels, and advising you when to place bets and when no more bets can be made on that round.
You interact with live dealer games in a similar way to other forms of online casino titles by clicking or tapping on buttons to select the wager you’d like to make and the size of the bet you want to place.
The dealer will interact with the camera, with most engaging in light conversation with players by responding to messages typed into the game’s live chat feature. This live chat feature can also be used by players to communicate with each other, creating a more social aspect to live games.
Comparison and differences with regular online casino games
There are many similarities between regular online casino games and modern live dealer games, but there are also a few differences.
Rules
For the most part, the rules of live dealer casino games and traditional online casino games are the same. The only times that this isn’t the case is for unique titles and variants, though these games only tweak minor areas so you can easily switch to playing one of these special live variants.
Random Number Generators
Regular online casino games use a random number generator to ensure that the games are fair. They do this by taking a random input from the outside world (such as static from space) and feeding these numbers through an algorithm.
Live dealer games, on the other hand, do not use an RNG. Instead, they use the traditional approach used in most physical casinos, shuffling cards, rolling dice, and spinning wheels.
Unique Games
There are many games that you can find on offer in both regular and live casino formats, including popular table games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and craps. However, you won’t tend to find live variants of traditional slots as the live dealer format wouldn’t really work with these games.
There are also some variants of popular table games that can only be played in live dealer format. This includes live Free Bet Blackjack, Live Infinite Blackjack, Sticky Bandits Roulette, and Lotus Speed Baccarat.
There are also unique live dealer games that aren’t available as traditional online casino games. This includes the hugely popular Crazy Time Live and Live Dream Catcher, as well as Marble Race Live and Balloon Race Live.
Social Interaction
Apart from a few exceptions, regular online casino games are played in a single-player format with no opportunity to interact with other people.
This is different when you play live dealer casino games, as you have the option to have a natter with others at the same table and the dealer using the integrated live chat feature. It is, of course, entirely optional and you are free to just focus on the game but many players opt specifically for live games for this feature.
Types of live dealer casino games
The variety of live dealer games has expanded greatly in recent years, so you can be sure you’ll find something you will enjoy. Below are the most common live dealer games you’re likely to come across.
Card Games
Card games are some of the most popular casino games as a whole, so it’s no surprise that they’re a big hit among those that play live dealer variants. You’ll find all the main options on offer, including blackjack, baccarat, and casino poker games.
These card games work just like they would in a live casino or a land-based casino, using the same basic set of rules.
However, you will notice that there are many more versions of these games on offer than you’d find in the regular casino games section. For example, in our casino, there are more than 30 different baccarat games including versions in Hindi, Super Speed Baccarat for those who enjoy a faster-paced game, and football-themed options like Live Football Studio.
The same is true for blackjack and poker, with unique live variants like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Video Poker Live and Blackjack Party.
Table Games
There are other table games on offer in live dealer format too, the most popular of these are roulette and craps.
Just like with card games, there are also many different and unique variants of table games that you can only find in the live dealer format. Here at BetMGM Casino, this list includes themed games like Sticky Bandits Roulette, BetMGM Diamond Rush Roulette, and Cash Collect Roulette.
Roulette is where you can find many of the most live dealer innovations. For example, Live Double Ball Roulette is a variant that uses two balls instead of one, creating more opportunities to win with each spin.
Similarly, Instant Live Roulette is a version that uses a series of different wheels, each one starting a spin at different times. This means that you never have to wait for the ball to finish spinning as when one wheel completes a game, the next one is ready for the ball to stop.
Game Shows and Prize Wheels
Live dealer casino games have created a space for a new format to take off. Based on the popular casino prize wheel, these games have become known as “live game shows” as they often resemble a television game show in their presentation.
They are led by an energetic and charismatic presenter, often dressed in an eye-catching outfit that matches the theme of the game’s set. They interact with players who communicate using the live chat feature and also provide commentary for the events in the game.
Once bets are placed in that round, the dealer will spin the wheel and announce the results. They’ll also control the game when bonus rounds are triggered, providing instructions for how to play along.
Are live dealer casino games the future of the iGaming world?
Live dealer games have exploded in popularity over the last few years as more players have discovered what they have to offer and game developers have created epic new live casino games.
While it would be wrong to suggest that live dealer casino games will cannibalise all other types of games that you can play at an online casino, they are likely to play an ever-growing and important role in the industry.