Live Dealer Casino Explained | Full Guide
Live dealer games are popular playing options amongst players all over the UK. But how do these work and why are they better than regular table games? Let’s explore the technology behind live dealer casinos and their games and see how they gained such popularity!
- What Are Live Dealer Casinos?
- Live Casino Etiquette: Interacting With Dealers and Other Players
- Common Mistakes to Avoid At Live Dealer Tables
- Live Dealer Providers and Popular Games
- How to Win at Live Dealer Casinos
- How to Maximize Your Live Casino Winnings?
- Key Takeaways About Live Dealer Casinos
What Are Live Dealer Casinos?
Live dealer casinos are online casinos with live dealer lobbies. Such lobbies have all the table games in a real casino, but they are transmitted through a video stream from a casino studio. The transmissions show live dealers taking real-time bets from players who connect simultaneously to the same virtual table.
Live dealer casinos differ from land-based casinos because none of the players are on site. However, you get a virtual spot at a table, and all tables have a limited number of seats.
How Do Live Casinos Work?
Live casinos work with the latest streaming technology. Live dealer studios broadcast the games from a studio or from a land-based casino and facilitate games.
Here is how it works in detail:
- You place real-time bets through an online casino platform.
- The dealer uses real cards and chips and interacts with your comments in real time.
- While you play, you can also use the live chat to interact with other players.
- Most of the rules and etiquette used in land-based venues apply during the live dealer game.
- Winnings and losses are automatically credited to your account or taken from it.
Renowned game providers in the UK build live dealer studios and streaming technology. They also hire the dealers and create the games.
Live Casino Etiquette: Interacting With Dealers and Other Players
- Place bets before the time runs out. Otherwise, you risk interrupting the flow of the game for the other players and making the dealers’ job more difficult.
- Use the game chat to interact in a polite manner. Abuse is not tolerated at live casinos.
- Don’t interrupt the dealer or other players when it’s their turn. This could disrupt the entire game and you may be asked to leave the table.
- Win and lose respectfully. Becoming too emotional and reacting dismissively towards the dealer or other players can get you banned from the game.
- Don’t give unsolicited advice, as it may offend and interrupt the session. Unless a player asks for your opinion directly, giving advice at a game table can be seen as disruptive or, worse, it can be interpreted as collusion. Collusion with other players is a serious offence that can cost you your casino account.
- Follow the rules of the game to avoid being accused of cheating. When you are unsure about a rule, you may ask the dealer directly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid At Live Dealer Tables
- Ignoring basic strategy. Every live dealer game has a basic strategy on which you should base your moves. Ignoring this strategy, even when you use other tricks, can lead to unnecessary losses.
- Over-extending your budget once: When you overextend your budget, you are already making emotional decisions. Doing this once signals that you cannot enforce your limits and stand the risk of losing considerably.
- Playing while under the influence: Alcohol or drugs will make you emotional and cloud your judgment. Playing while using alcohol or other substances signals is a high loss risk.
- Chasing losses: This is when you continue to play just to get back money that you’ve lost, which could happen much later than you anticipated. By that point, you may be in extensive debt.
Live Dealer Providers and Popular Games
Provider | No. of Live Games | Most Popular Game | Game Types Created |
---|---|---|---|
Evolution Gaming | +150 | Lightning Roulette | Live Roulette, Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Live Poker, Live Game Shows |
Pragmatic Play Live | +100 | Mega Wheel | Live Roulette, Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Live Poker, Game Shows |
Skywind Group | +30 | Dragon Tiger | Live Roulette, Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Live Poker, Game Shows |
Playtech Live | +20 | Quantum Roulette | Live Roulette, Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Live Poker, Game Shows |
Evolution Gaming
Evolution Gaming is one of the most renowned UK live casino game providers. It has the widest portfolio of games, including Live Game Shows like Dream Catcher. In selecting Evolution casinos, we considered the high production quality and flexible betting limits, which are above Evolution’s competitors.
Pragmatic Play Live
Pragmatic Play Live is one of the best live casino providers because of its great variety of Live game types, including new games like Mega Sic Bo. Most Pragmatic Play casinos are known for fast-paced games and a large number of tables for each game type.
Skywind Group
Skywind Group specializes in all Live casino game types, but is especially known for its Baccarat series that includes Dragon Bonus Baccarat and Golden Baccarat. Skywind casinos provide top-quality graphics and an extensive number of tables available 24/7 for each game.
Playtech Live
Playtech Live is best known for its varied Roulette lobbies and Casino Hold’em. Although it is a newer developer with a limited portfolio compared to Evolution Gaming, the Playtech casinos we analyze tend to have extensive lobbies that load quickly.
How to Win at Live Dealer Casinos
To win at live dealer casinos, you need to have the right combination of skill, strategy, and pure luck. Our experts will explain a few simple tips to increase your chances of winning:
Step 1: Choose the Right Game
Choosing the right game for your budget and play style increases your winning chances by 60%. Here is how to do it easily:
- Pick a game with a lower house edge to reduce the risk of high losses.
- Choose a game created by one of the renowned Live casino providers to ensure fairness.
- Check the licensing of the live casino that offers the game. Make sure you play live dealer games on legal and trustworthy sites to avoid scams.
- Pick a game you know well, so you can develop a strategy that actually works.
- Choose a game you enjoy. You’ll be much more likely to strategize correctly when you enjoy the gameplay.
Step 2: Play Live Dealer Games from Reliable Providers
Playing a live casino game created by a reliable UK game provider is not only a fairness guarantee. It’s also an extra safety measure for your budget, because renowned game providers are also licensed and regulated. So, they have extra security protocols against hacking or information leaking.
Bets are always higher in live dealer games. The security protocols of such games are essential because, in the event of a safety breach, your losses could be substantial.
Step 3: Get Specific on Live Dealer Game Rules
Knowing well the rules of a live casino game when you play it can help you avoid many costly mistakes like overbetting or asking for a card in the wrong circumstances.
With live casino game rules, you must understand:
- Who you play against: is it the dealer, the other players or both?
- The goal of the game.
- Various game stages.
- The betting table and all the bets allowed.
- When you should choose specific actions and when it is wiser to wait.
- Your options for every game stage.
Step 4: Compare the Best Strategies for Your Live Dealer Game
Comparing multiple strategies can assist you in:
- Selecting the best one for the live casino game you are playing.
- Choosing a strategy that works well with your budget.
- Avoiding overspending.
- Combining different strategies to achieve more winnings.
Every Live casino game has a specific set of strategies that apply in particular situations. Make sure you compare them and memorize a few, so you can pick your strategy according to your game situation.
For example, in Blackjack, you can use basic strategy to see when you can hit, stand, double down, or split. But you can combine it with strategic betting to increase your odds more efficiently. We suggest you combine expert guides on live casino strategy with player discussions on gambling forums to understand different strategies and when to use them in real money play.
Step 5: Manage Your Funds
Managing your funds in instrumental when you play live casino games because:
- You can manage your emotions better by gaining control of your spending
- You can plan your bets strategically
- You can make informed decisions during a live game sessions that minimize your losses
The most effective ways to manage your funds include:
- Deciding on a weekly or monthly budget for live dealer gambling
- Deciding how long you want your sessions to last
- Dividing your budget by the number of sessions you play in a week/month
- Checking if the result of this division is enough to cover the intended session
- Adjusting play times and sessions according to the budget you have
- Refraining from chasing losses or not sticking to your limits
- Using a Financial monitoring tool to see how much you’ve wagered, lost and won
Step 6: Use Specific Casino Bonuses
Using bonuses that apply specifically to live dealer games is a great way of supporting your budget, especially in the beginning.
The bonus types we recommend for live casino play are:
- Match deposit bonuses with high match percentages and bonus caps
- Reload bonuses
- Weekly and monthly cashbacks
Some live dealer games only contribute to the bonuses’ wagering requirements in a small percentage. Pick a bonus that allows live casino games to contribute 100% to the playthrough. In this way, you avoid having to lose your winnings just because you had to keep wagering the bonus.
Step 7: Quit at The Right Time
To quit at the right time can save you from substantial financial loss. Here are the peak times when we advise you to exit the live casino game session:
- When you’re on top: when you’ve made a substantial profit, it’s time to step away. Live dealer games are random and you could lose your winnings quickly.
- When you’re on a losing streak: chasing losses only leads to more loss, especially if you run over your budget.
- When you get emotional: intense emotions cloud your judgement and increase your risks of entering a losing streak due to poor decision-making.
How to Maximize Your Live Casino Winnings?
- Pick the live dealer site that is UKGC-licensed and regulated. This is important for your winnings because the games cannot be rigged.
- Check the system requirements for the live casino. Its compatibility with your device can affect the games’ loading speed and your chances of keeping up with the games.
- Make sure you pick a live casino site with a high game variety. You should be able to compare multiple options to pick a winning game.
- Select a game with high loading speed to ensure you can keep up with the dealer and other players.
- Choose a casino with promotions that allow live dealer games to contribute 100% to the playthrough requirements. This protects your winnings.
Key Takeaways About Live Dealer Casinos
To sum up, here are the most important facts about live dealer casinos and how to win when playing live casino games:
- Live casinos stream real-time games from studios or land-based venues, with renowned providers offering better security and odds.
- Choosing games with a low house edge, understanding the rules, and aligning with your budget boosts your chances of winning.
- Learn the rules and basic strategies before playing to avoid losses.
- Use expert guides and player forums to refine your strategies and improve your gameplay.
- Manage your funds wisely, and take advantage of live casino bonuses to stretch your budget.
- Know when to quit and stay disciplined, as responsible gaming leads to better outcomes.