Live Dealer Casino Games

Author: Sylvia Garcia

In live dealer casino games, a human dealer runs the game in real time from a casino gambling table. The action is viewed through a live-streaming video link. Players place wagers via a console on their computer screen, and can communicate with a live dealer using a text chat function.

The results of the dealer’s transactions, such as the outcome of a roulette spin or the dealing of cards, are translated into data that can be utilized by the software via optical character recognition (OCR) technology. This technology enables the player to interact with the game in much the same way as they would in a virtual casino game, except that the results are determined by real life actions rather than automated processes.

These live dealer games are much more expensive for websites to host than virtual games, as they involve a greater investment in technology and staffing. A live dealer casino studio typically employs one or more cameramen, several croupiers running the various games, an IT manager to ensure that any technical glitches are dealt with quickly, and a pit boss who acts as adjudicator in the case of disputes between players and croupiers.

In most cases this requires at least a three-room set-up, comprising a live studio, a server/software room and an analyst’s room. The configuration of these rooms varies from casino to casino, with some having several gaming tables in one room, and others featuring a single table in each room.

The high cost of operating live dealer casino games is the reason online casinos mainly tend to offer the most popular games in this format, such as Roulette, Blackjack, Sic Bo, Baccarat and Poker. By comparison, the costs associated with virtual games are very low, so it is not uncommon for online casinos to offer hundreds of different virtual casino games to players on their sites.

Online casinos vary in their approach to the hosting of live games, with some providing live games via their own television channel and others offering their games exclusively on their website. In the case of televised games, players often have the option of using their mobile phones or television remote controls to place wagers instead of doing so via a computer connected to the internet.

In a nutshell, live dealer casino games online combine the excitement of a richer, fuller gaming experience that rivals playing at a brick and mortar casino, with the convenience of not having to leave your home. They also serve to alleviate concerns of skeptics regarding the fairness of random number generator casino games and are the next best thing to playing at a live table.