The first real money casino game became available online back in 1994, and we have come a long way since then! With technological advancements aplenty and the ever-growing demand for more interactive and engaging games, live dealer titles have come to the forefront of this industry, blending the convenience of online access with exciting real time interaction. 

What are Live Dealer Games?

You should think about live dealer games as the bridge between online casinos and traditional land-based gambling venues. These games get streamed in real time from either professional studios or physical casino floors, and you get to communicate with real dealers via high-definition video feeds. You’ll be placing your bets using the online interface, and the croupiers will manage the game the same way they would in a brick-and-mortar casino. 

This distinctive setup provides you with a truly authentic atmosphere in which to play games, complete with real time action and friendly croupiers. You can use the chat feature available in most titles to communicate with the dealer and your fellow players, so you can enjoy the social element of playing that’s missing in traditional online experiences. 

The Technology Behind Live Dealer Games

The smooth integration of live dealer games into real money online gambling sites depends on state-of-the-art technology. 

High-definition cameras capture the game from multiple angles to ensure you don’t miss a single detail. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology gets used to convert the physical game limits, like cards and other equipment, into digital information, allowing for streamlined interaction between your screen and the game as it’s happening. Plus, the latest streaming technology guarantees low-latency connections, so you can look forward to instant communication with no interruptions. 

These new measures have made live dealer games accessible to players the world over, regardless of what device they’re using or their location. Respected sites like Black Lotus online casino have embraced this innovative style of gameplay, offering their players the chance to interact with professionally trained croupiers as well as other players and bringing the excitement of traditional casino games to your living room or wherever you’re playing from. 

Popular Live Dealer Games

Although all live dealer games have something unique to offer, there are a few that stand out from the crowd in terms of player approval:

Baccarat

In live baccarat games, your job is to bet on which hand will have cards closest to nine points, the player’s or the bankers, or whether there will be a tie. 

Two cards are dealt to the dealer and the player face down as the game begins, with neither you nor the house having anything to do with these hands. If the card totals added together equal more than nine points, the first digit gets dropped. So, if the cards dealt were a nine and a three, the total would be 12, and the first digit, the one, would be dropped. This scenario would mean that this hand would ultimately be valued at two points. 

​​Blackjack

Blackjack is a player favourite the world over, with its title stemming from a game called vingt-et-un that was being played as far back as the 1700s. The goal of the game is simple. To beat the dealer, you must score a hand of 21 points or as close to that amount as possible. 

After receiving two cards, you have the option to either hit (take another card) or stand (maintain your existing hand). Aces are worth 1 or 11, face cards are worth 10, and number cards are worth their face value. The dealer also plays according to specific rules, usually hitting until they have 17 or higher. 

You win by having a hand closer to 21 than the dealer or if the dealer busts (goes over 21 points).

Poker

The origins of poker date back to the early 19th century in the United States. As online casinos grew in popularity during the 1990s, poker transitioned to digital platforms, and in the mid-2000s, live dealer games began to emerge. 

​​In live dealer poker, you play against other players, with a real dealer managing the game and cards. The most common variants available are Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Caribbean Stud. 

To begin, you’ll need to place a bet on the table, and the dealer will deal the cards via a live stream. In Texas Hold’em, for example, you and the other players are dealt two private cards, and five community cards are gradually revealed in the middle of the table. You will all take turns deciding whether to bet, raise, call, or fold based on the strength of your hand. The dealer handles the community cards and ensures that the game follows the proper rules. 

Winning hands are determined according to poker hand rankings, with the player who has the best combination of cards taking the pot.

Roulette

The game of roulette has roots that date back to 18th-century France, where it was first introduced by a French mathematician named Blaise Pascal. Over the centuries, roulette evolved into a staple of casinos worldwide, with various versions emerging, such as European, American, and French roulette. 

The game features a wheel with numbered pockets ranging from 0 to 36 (or a double zero in American roulette). You place your bets on a table layout with options like red or black, odd or even, and individual numbers. Once you’ve placed your bets, the dealer spins the wheel and releases a ball, and you wait to see where it lands. 

You can bet on various outcomes, such as a single number, a group of numbers, or the colour of the pocket. Winning bets are paid out based on their odds as the dealer announces the winning number.

The Endgame

Live dealer games have transformed the online gambling experience by merging the excitement of a physical casino with the ease of playing online. With continuous technological advancements and increasing player demand, this format is set to remain a cornerstone of the online casino industry.