What is a Live Casino?

Online casinos are a multi-billion dollar global industry that has gone from fairly primitive two dimensional games with limited choice to the vast array of options available today. One of the key objectives for operators has been to make gaming as close to playing in a bricks and mortar casino as possible. That has given rise to live casino games, where players can play alongside a real dealer and using real cards and roulette wheels.

The term ‘live’ refers to the fact that everything happens in real time and players can interact with the dealers via a chat feature, just like they would in a physical casino. Shooting for the games takes place in specially built studios and often at genuine casinos to give a sense of being there.

In addition to the human element, which is important to create the feeling of being there, there are also a lot of technological factors in play. For example, the digital technology of an online casino is interfaced with the physical equipment by the use of OCR software (optical character recognition). This is the same sort of thing that car parks use to recognise number plates and enables the software to recognise symbols on the cards and numbers on the roulette wheel so that the game can be run smoothly.

Another piece of essential hardware is called a GCU (Game Control Unit) which is about the size of a shoe box and every table has one. This is responsible for encoding the video broadcast and without it live games wouldn’t work. In terms of the actual croupiers, they are all trained professionals who are highly experienced and well-trained in how to deal with players. They are also familiar with all the rules and regulations of the games they are dealing.

A monitor in the studio enables players to interact with the dealer by typing into a chat box which appears within the dealer’s line of sight. This means that the dealer can answer questions and discuss betting with the players in exactly the same way as they would in a Las Vegas casino.

Despite the fact that they are played in real-time, the game rules and limits are similar to those of a regular online casino game. In order to keep things as fair as possible, most live casino games have a maximum bet that can be placed by each player.

When choosing a live casino, players should always check out the reputation of the site and read the terms and conditions carefully before making any deposits. This will help to avoid any problems or scams in the future. Players should also make sure that the casino they choose has a licence from an official body. This is important as it helps to ensure that the casino adheres to strict regulations and has enough funds in reserve to honour any winnings.

If you’re looking for a new way to enjoy your favourite casino games, live dealer casinos are definitely worth a try. They offer the best of both worlds – the convenience and safety of playing online and the heart-racing experience of a real casino floor.