Think of the last online casino catalogue you perused. What did you notice? Live dealer games are quickly becoming some of the most prominent sections. Of course, slots still wear the crown, but increasingly casinos are turning their players' attention towards the live casino library.
👉 Whether you enjoy practising your blackjack strategy in a close-to-life setting or the opportunity to interact with the croupier over a game of baccarat, these games allow you to do exactly this.
What’s more, the quality of the live stream, the variety of games, and the functionality of the user interface are all continuously improving. But how do these games actually work?
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Definition of a live dealer game
Before we start unpicking exactly how live dealer games work, it’s important to understand what they actually are. A live dealer game is any online casino game that live streams an actual human dealer in real-time.
They cover all kinds of table games, from blackjack to baccarat, as well as some unique game show titles.
Basically, if you want to play real casino games that bring you as close to the feeling of an actual casino as possible, then live dealer games are the pick. We’ve actually got a whole section dedicated to live dealer games including tips, bonuses, and strategies.
How are live dealer games set up?
The core technology used in live dealer games is high-definition video streaming. This means that every studio providing these games needs specialised cameras (usually multiple, to capture different views). In addition to the cameras, sound and lighting equipment are also necessary, plus a casino setting to film in.
👉 Some studios opt for specialised rooms, whilst others stream from a room in an actual casino.
With all of the streaming equipment in place, the croupier can be filmed and instantly broadcast to everyone playing at home. But how do the players interact with the dealer? This part of the process is absolutely essential and requires one of the most expensive pieces of kit: the software interface.
This enables the video feed and virtual betting options to be displayed on the screens of the players at home. Most interfaces allow you to place bets, chat with the dealer, and see how the game progresses—all in real-time.
How do the mechanics of live dealer games work?
With all of that high tech equipment out of the way, let's take a look at the mechanics of the game. The first and most important part of any live dealer game is, well, you guessed it, the dealer.
This person is a professional croupier who runs the game just as they would in a brick-and-mortar casino.
They deal cards, spin wheels, roll dice, and generally keep things running smoothly. Another important factor is communication. As well as making sure the game keeps ticking along, dealers can react to messages sent via the chat function. They can do this with a simple nod or verbally, adding a human touch to the game.
As well as the dealer, the interface is key. This is what enables such seamless communication between players and the dealer. Alongside a chat box for asking questions and making conversation, there are also all of the betting options you need. Just click on the buttons on the screen to modify and place your bets.
The final flourishes
So, what’s left before this live dealer game can be put into action? Let’s take a look. Gaming tables are first up. Whilst some live casino games are filmed in actual casinos, the gaming tables are never just regular tables. They’re specially designed with built-in cameras to capture every movement.
👀 They also tend to feature sensors, which are triggered by movement, allowing the players at home to catch the tiniest actions.
Optical Character Recognition technology (OCR) is another essential bit of software. It might sound confusing, but it’s essentially just technology that knows how to ‘read’. You might notice that the cards in live dealer games are usually quite large; not only does this help the players at home to read them quickly, but it’s to help the OCR technology too.
👉 Sometimes you’ll even see the dealer passing the cards directly over the scanner so that the technology can read the card and show the correct symbol and number on the screens at home.
The final cog is the control room. Each game has a control room where a team of technicians monitors operations. If everything is set up properly, then nothing should go wrong. However, if there is a technical issue, it can be rectified speedily thanks to this team.
Benefits and drawbacks of live dealer games
Now we know how live dealer games work and all the modern tech that’s required, but are you ready to take the plunge and try one out? As with all things, there are benefits and drawbacks to live dealer games.
First up is the authenticity of live dealer games compared to classic online casino games. These games pride themselves on providing a more authentic experience compared to RNG table games. You can watch the game in real-time, communicate with the dealer, and enjoy a greater level of transparency than you might otherwise get.
There’s also the social element to consider. Whilst you can’t exactly chat with the dealer like you would in real life, you can communicate via the chat box, which creates a more convivial atmosphere. However, to do this, you need a solid internet connection to avoid experiencing issues. This requirement can put off certain players, especially mobile users on less than perfect 3G connections.
