A live casino is a type of online gambling game that brings a real-world experience to your computer, smartphone or tablet. The games are played on actual tables with real cards and professional human dealers, all streamed in HD. They’re the closest thing to the Las Vegas vibe you can get from a digital device, with a real-life dealer and live chat options to add social elements to the games.
The most common games you’ll find at a live casino are blackjack, roulette and baccarat. These classic table games are generally offered in a range of different rules and variations. However, some sites also offer a few more niche titles like poker or bingo and even the odd game show.
There are several things that need to be in place for a live casino to operate successfully. The software that controls the gaming experience is developed and maintained in a separate room by engineers. There is also a team of people monitoring the games to ensure that they are fair and that gamblers don’t break the rules of the game or violate any of the player’s personal information.
In order to play a live casino game you’ll first need to sign up for an account with the site in question. Then you’ll need to make a deposit using a credit card or another method that supports payments at an online casino. Once you’ve done this you’ll be ready to start playing.
After you’ve signed up for an account, you can browse the live casino lobby much as you would scope out a table on a physical casino floor. From here, you can click on the game you want to play and you’ll be taken to the table that has an open seat. Some live casinos use cameras to display other players as well as the dealer, while others are just one on one games between you and the dealer.
The interface between the digital technology that powers the games and the real world action is an ingenious piece of hardware called a Game Control Unit (GCU). This little box, which is no bigger than a shoebox, is responsible for encoding all the video that’s broadcast. In fact, without it a live casino wouldn’t be possible.
In addition to blackjack, roulette and baccarat, some of the best live casino sites offer other unique games like Monopoly Live, Football Studio and Side Bet City. These are the kinds of titles you won’t find at any other casino, and they give the live casino an extra dimension that sets it apart from traditional online casinos.