The internet casino industry has come a long way in the two decades since it began. While the first games were distinctly two-dimensional and limited in terms of scope, operators have spared no expense in making online gaming as realistic and immersive as possible. One of the ways in which they have achieved this is by developing live casino, a variation of online gambling that uses real croupiers and real cards to bring an authentic Las Vegas-style experience straight to players’ homes.
To create the real-life casino experience, live dealers are stationed at a table in a studio or on a specially designed casino floor, with the game being streamed live to your computer, mobile phone or tablet. The croupiers use real cards, chips and roulette wheels while software processes the bets and wagers made by players. Many live casinos also have a chat option to add an extra dimension to the gameplay and further make the experience feel as authentic as possible.
When you choose to play at a live casino, you’ll need to set up a new account with the website. This will usually involve creating a password using special characters to ensure your safety and security. Once you’ve done that, you can choose the game of your choice and begin to place bets. Your bets will be processed until a ‘no more bets’ announcement is made and the betting buttons will be disabled. Once the game has finished, you’ll be informed of your results in real time.
While there are a few variations to the game, most live casino games use the same technology as regular online casino games. This means that the dealer’s actions are filmed by multiple cameras, which are then digitized to provide players with the action as it happens. For example, specific playing cards are recognised with the same optical character recognition technology that car parks use to record license plates and the results of a spin on a roulette wheel are determined by sensors which track where the ball has landed. These digital transactions are converted to data and sent to your screen by a sophisticated piece of hardware called a Game Control Unit, or GCU.
As well as the live casino, some sites also offer a range of other online casino games such as virtual sports and video poker. However, the majority of live casinos will focus on offering roulette, blackjack and baccarat, with some even featuring specialist croupiers. When it comes to live casino games, the best options tend to be those with low minimum deposit amounts and easy to satisfy wagering requirements.
There are also a number of bonuses available to players of live casino. These can be used to boost your bankroll when you’re winning, or to help you out if you are having a bad run. They are often linked to a specific type of game and have different T&Cs, so it’s worth reading them carefully to make sure you’re getting the most out of your bonuses.