Looking to play your favorite card and dice games in a live setting? Well, we’re here to tell you the search is over, as GamblingCity has curated a top list of the best live dealer casinos that offer a fantastic selection of blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat, and other popular table games that you can indulge in and start playing for real money immediately.
What is Live Gambling?
If you’re someone who delights in the thrills and social aspects of land-based casino gaming but also values their privacy, live dealer games are an ideal solution to all your problems. These games are all live-streamed in HD from a real casino in real-time and played online via your computer, mobile, or tablet. You also have the added value of having a real human being as your dealer or croupier and the ability to interact with other players through a chatbox.
Thanks to the quality and high definition of these games, players are able to feel like they’re sitting down at a real felt table in a casino; watching the cards get shuffled and the chips moved around right in front of their very eyes. As opposed to playing tables games through a screen, your experience is much more enhanced playing this way and it adds a whole new level of excitement to placing wagers.
When it comes to payouts, you won’t just get a congratulations from the dealer and your fellow players when you’ve won, but rather than needing to wait in a long line at a typical brick-and-mortar casino, you’ll see your bankroll update with the new balance instantly and then you can decide specifically how you want your winnings to be paid out when you request a withdrawal. If you thought it couldn’t get better than that, you’ll also be pleased to know that many live dealer casinos also dish out lucrative bonus deals to use on these types of games. Some deals include things like free spins, free chips, or discounts on your deposit, giving you the ability to play for longer and stretch your own funds further.
Land-Based vs Online Live Gambling
Even though live dealer games incorporate a real live person to handle and manage your bets as well as determine the game outcomes, naturally, there are still some significant differences between these types of games and gambling in a land-based casino. There are undeniably pros and cons to both types of gaming as well. For starters, your connection can easily drop out when you play at live dealer casinos, and this can be pretty frustrating if you’re on a hot streak or just about to reveal a winning hand. However, if you’re playing a game like poker, you don’t have to worry about putting on a poker face or anyone trying to second-guess your expressions or body language when you play at live dealer casino sites, and this can give you a huge advantage.
Below, we’ve outlined the other differences between land-based casino gaming and live dealer games, so you can come to know what to expect if you decide to try out either one.
Accessibility
One if not the main reason why players opt to gamble online is the ease of access. Thanks to live dealer games, you no longer need to fork out on expensive cab fares or hotel rooms for the night to have a few rounds on blackjack – everything you need to play is just a few clicks away, and as long as your connection is stable, you can just load up any live dealer game from your computer, mobile, or tablet, and start having fun immediately.
Game Variety
Online gambling sites tend to have a much broader selection of casino games compared to land-based casinos, particularly when it comes to slot machines. As brick-and-mortar casinos are limited to the space they have on their gaming floors, they can only offer a certain number of machines and table games to play. Online casinos don’t have these kinds of restrictions to deal with, therefore, they can offer dozens of different table games in all their exotic variations. Even though you’ll only find the most popular table games available at live dealer casinos, the fact that players have all the other gaming options, including sports betting at their disposal is one of the reasons why many people prefer to gamble online instead of in a real venue.
More importantly, you don’t need to wait for anyone to start the game, and you can set your own preferences. As soon as you’ve signed into your real money account and loaded up a game, the action starts in seconds.
Casino Bonuses and Rewards
As online casinos don’t need to account for high overheads or operating costs, they can afford to offer players much bigger and better incentives compared to land-based casinos. This is also the case for live dealer casinos, which provide a diversity of regular bonuses to real money players. From no deposit bonuses and match bonuses to free spins, cashback, comp points, and other great rewards, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars at a table to be entitled to these deals, and most online casinos and live dealer casinos will offer you a lucrative welcome package from the moment you sign up.
In addition, it’s not uncommon for live dealers to surprise players with a one-off bonus or offer during the gameplay. As it’s all happening in real-time, this could include some free spins on roulette, a free round of blackjack, or a spontaneous prize draw entry. This is a great motivator to keep playing and a great way to prolong your gaming sessions. When you compare this kind of treatment to land-based casinos, you’re often expected to spend an arm and a leg in drinks before you get any kind of reward. This gives online casino players a much bigger advantage because they can get instant benefits without needing to spend anything extra on top of their original wager. The games normally have much better odds of winning too.
Other Services
What land-based casinos can offer players that online gambling sites and live dealer casinos can’t are the other services and amenities that are part and parcel of visiting these types of venues. Most brick-and-mortar establishments usually feature luxurious accommodation and wellness facilities, plus dining options, shows and entertainment, and shopping outlets.
On top of this, there are staff everywhere in casinos, including waiters, bar staff, bank clerks, security guards, and other important but necessary people to help run operations and keep things flowing smoothly. At online sites, you have your live croupiers and dealers, plus a customer support team to help you if things go wrong or there are any questions or concerns you have. But that’s as far as it goes, and these people can’t exactly refill your glass or perform a song for you.
Best Games to Play Live Online
As you can probably guess, it doesn’t make much sense to have a live dealer for games like slots or keno, but live dealer casinos still offer a great range of table games to play for real money. These include classic card games like blackjack, baccarat and poker, plus craps and roulette.
These games are becoming so popular that even top iGaming operators are beginning to release casino games that can feature a live dealer. These include prestigious names like Playtech, Evolution, and Microgaming. All of them feature English-speaking humans that players can interact with in real-time, and all that’s needed to play is a solid internet connection and a bankroll to place wagers and buy-ins.
Live Online Casinos Overview
Live dealer casinos are an excellent source of entertainment for players who prefer to gamble in the comfort of their own home but still want that social interaction that comes with land-based casino gaming. All of the games offered at live dealer casinos come with human dealers and croupiers that you can chat to throughout the game. The payouts and jackpots also tend to be much larger compared to real casino venues, and as online casinos are always aiming to attract new players, this also means that the odds of winning are better, there are more bonuses to redeem, and more banking options to choose from at these sites.
How to Choose the Best Live Casinos
Live dealer casino games can be incredibly fun and entertaining, but choosing the right one to play at can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. As is the case with signing up to any online gambling site, you first need to make sure that the live casino you want to play at is legally licensed. Just because there is a real human being taking your bets doesn’t necessarily mean that the casino itself isn’t on a blacklist somewhere, which is why sites like ours take the time to properly test and review every live dealer casino we come across.
Our stringent review process involves checking to make sure that the casino has a variety of different live games available that are streamed in the highest crystal-clear quality. The games should also be compatible with every device, including Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Phone, and tablet, in addition to PC and Mac operating systems. We also check that the site is secure, fair, and has enough banking methods to choose from so players can swiftly make their deposits and receive their winning just as quickly.
All this said you shouldn’t feel intimidated by the vast number of live dealer casinos out there when you’re searching for one to register with. Many of the world’s leading providers like Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic are the ones behind the software that most sites use to host live dealer games, and this is the best quality technology in the online gaming industry. Not only is the gameplay fast, fluid, and instantly accessible, but these providers tailor their games to fit in line with every players’ budget.
Live Casino Tips
Our experts have listed their top tips to help you get started with live dealer casino gaming. You can apply these to any type of live dealer game you want to play and enjoy for real money.
Find a legal and reputable site – The first and foremost tip we can give for playing at live dealer sites is to make sure the casino is fair and secure. This is where doing a bit of research in advance of signing up goes a long way in making sure you’re not going to get tripped up or taken advantage of later down the line. Be sure to check that the site is licensed and verified by an approved gambling authority and that it displays various certificates on the site to back this up. The site should also use industry-standard encryption technology that protects your details and prevents the site from being hacked.
Make sure you have enough bandwidth – Players should settle for no less than impeccable graphics, sound and gameplay when they play at live dealer casinos. All games should be streamed in HD with crystal-clear audio so you can hear what the dealer is saying to you and when they are calling the bets and outcomes, etc. Your bandwidth will also have a big effect on the quality of the gameplay, so if you’re playing outside or remotely, make sure you are in a good spot to receive signal and somewhere that’s not likely to experience interference with the WiFi.
Don’t chase after losses – The number one mistake that players make when they gamble is chasing losses. This is just as common in land-based casino venues as it is online, but it’s still a big problem, nonetheless. When you’re playing live dealer games, you may be encouraged by the dealer and other players to keep playing, even if you are on a losing streak. While offering you little incentives is a nice touch, if you’re already several hundred dollars down or already playing way outside of your budget, this can lead to chasing losses and put you in a worse position than before you started.
Consult the pit boss – Even live casinos have pit bosses and supervisors, and their job is to make sure the dealers and players are doing everything according to the rules of the casino. They also have a responsibility to solve any problems should things go south or there is a problem during the games. If you believe that a dealer has messed up in any way, you can seek assistance from the pit boss and ask them to look back and verify everything. Your bets will be returned if your suspicions turn out to be true.
Apply an optimal playing strategy – When you play any game with an optimal strategy, your odds of winning are naturally increased. If you plan to play a skill-based game like blackjack, using a strategy chart can help you determine the best moves to make according to the cards that appear. Likewise, if you’re planning to play a live dealer game like roulette, there’s nothing stopping you from referring to a roulette strategy chart to increase your winning chances.
Know the etiquette in live casinos – Live dealer games usually include multiple players, therefore it’s in your interest to know and follow good casino etiquette to ensure you don’t get asked to leave the room. This would include things like only starting the game when you’re ready to play, placing the correct minimum wager amount, and not making other players wait around for too long while you assess and decide on your next move. You should also note that discussing other live casinos, abusing the dealer, or egging on other players will not be tolerated.
Organize your time – When you play at live dealer casinos or any other gambling venue, it’s incredibly easy to lose track of time. Land-based venues are renowned for keeping clocks purposefully out of sight and not having any windows on their gaming floors for this precise reason – they want you to forget the time and stay there as long as possible. Set yourself a time limit when you play at live dealer casinos, or at least wear a watch so you know when to call it a day.
Other Forms of Live Gambling
Live gambling doesn’t just stop at live dealer casinos; there is a range of other exciting online gambling activities you can take part in online as well, including live dealer lotteries, live dealer bingo, and, believe it or not, live game shows! Players can take part in live mini-games such as Monopoly Live, lottery-style Mega Ball, and even TV show style games like Deal or No Deal.
Top gaming providers like Evolution have also rolled out live dealer style games that feature several mini-games in one. Crazy time features the main game with several small bonus games including a live coin flip, crazy time bonus, pachinko games, and cash hunt bonus. For more information on live dealer casinos and games, check out our list of top recommended sites that you can register at now for free and jump into some instant live real money action straight away.