If you’ve spent any time playing casino games and slots online in the past few years, it’s likely you’ve noticed a huge boom in live casino gaming!
As the name suggests, live casino games aim to bring traditional table and card games ‘alive’ – that is, add an extra dimension to what you might be used to from online and mobile casino games in years gone by.
In this guide, I’ll take you through what you need to know about live casino tables and games, how they differ from traditional online gaming, and how they work in practice.
If you’ve never dipped a toe into the online live casino scene before, use this as a handy introduction. Let’s go!
What is a Live Casino?
A live casino is an online gambling or betting site with live dealer tables and games. Essentially, it means you can play classic casino games with the added bonus of a real dealer or croupier!
Live casino games let you play games such as blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and craps with the assistance of a real dealer at the other end of a video link. But, if you’re feeling self-conscious, don’t worry! You can see them, but they can’t see you!
Unlike traditional casino and card games played online, live casino gaming adds an extra layer of depth. While you’re not talking to the dealer directly, they can still see bets made during a game and make comments. In fact, with many live casino games, you play alongside other logged-in players.
Live casino games also add an extra layer of authenticity. While all the casino games offered here at Tonybet are legitimately random and fair to play, there’s something a little more authentic about playing with a real dealer!
Live games let you see a physical roulette wheel being spun, cards being drawn, and bets being made. It’s as close to real-life table gaming without actually going to a casino.
Why are live casinos so popular?
Live casinos and games have exploded in popularity over the last few years as the world’s become more mobile and remote. Naturally, the COVID-19 pandemic ended up closing a few physical casinos’ doors for a little while, which led players to look for similar experiences online.
Thankfully, big-name live casino developers like Evolution Gaming were already building up catalogues full of live tables and dealer experiences. It’s now easy to log into your casino account from your phone or tablet and play with a live dealer on the go or wherever you might be.
For many people, playing live casino games can feel like they’re taking part in the real deal. Some people can’t get to real or land casinos, meaning live gaming presents an accessible alternative.
Beyond this, live casino games can help players feel like they’re taking part in game shows! In fact, there’s a range of live games that fall under the game show bracket – which I’ll go into a little more detail about shortly.
None of this is to say that live casino games have pushed other online games and slots out of the way! At Tonybet, we try to strike a fair balance between live and virtual games, because we know our players have preferences.
But with all that in mind – how on Earth does live casino gaming actually work?
How does live casino gaming work?
As mentioned, live casino games take place with real dealers – and they run streams of specific tables and games at certain times of day. Some games are available early in the morning, and others late into the night – there’s a rota of presenters!
So, essentially, when you join a live casino table, you’re hopping in on a stream, and you’re placing a bet using a virtual display. Live gaming isn’t at a point where you can hand virtual tokens over onto a physical table yet!
Here are the simple steps you need to take to get into a live casino game for the first time:
- Register with and log into a casino offering live games. For example, you could register with Tonybet, confirm your ID, and log in to get started.
- Look for “live casino” or “live games” in the list of games and services available. At Tonybet, we list our live tables and rooms under the Live Casino heading. Click or tap this, and you can load up the games we have available.
- In the live casino lounge, you’ll see a range of games listed under different types and categories. For example, we list games under blackjack, poker, and roulette, but also list game shows and other titles that don’t fit under any specific category.
- Choose a game or table you’d like to play at and wait for it to load. You’ll join a live stream where a bet or round might be underway, which means you can place a bet ahead of time before the next round starts.
- Using the virtual display offered, you can set your bet and choose what you’d like to place your chips on. For example, if you play live roulette, you might choose to place your bet and chips on red or black, meaning you win if the ball lands in either a red or black space inside the wheel.
- The live dealer will then conduct the round after asking for all bets. At the end of the round, the dealer reveals the result, and, in some cases, will announce winners – you can then choose to bet again for the next round if you wish.
Paying into live casino games works much the same as virtual games. In some live table games, you can make quick deposits from your virtual display, and you can typically use valid debit cards and e-wallets, depending on the casino you play at.
In most cases, support will also be available to you mid-play. That means if you need help navigating a live game or are unsure how to play, a simple help function will be available.
Otherwise, if you want to set limits for how much money or time you spend on live casino games, you can always consult your casino’s responsible gambling tools. Again, Tonybet offers a range of support if you want to self-exclude or restrict the time you spend at live dealer tables.
Live casino game types
For the most part, the types of games you will find at a live casino are the same as you’d find in a virtual or land casino. There’s a good chance you’ll find your favourite table or card game, for instance, has a live twist!
Here are the main live casino game categories to look for when browsing online.
Roulette
Live roulette games typically come in two main flavours – American and European – with the main difference being the presence of the double zero space. However, some live roulette games, such as Lightning Roulette, offer extra bets and jackpot twists.
Blackjack
As one of the world’s most straightforward casino games, it’s reasonable to expect a range of different live blackjack games at an online lounge. Live blackjack games vary depending on the types of bets offered, the table aesthetics, and even the speed of play.
Baccarat
Baccarat, like blackjack, is one of the most outwardly simple casino games available both online and at land casinos. You’ll find a range of different twists on this game in live lounges, such as traditional Dragon Tiger and Top Card.
Game Shows
If you’ve ever wanted to take part in a game show but don’t like answering trivia questions, live shows such as those hosted by Evolution Gaming – where you might get a spin on a lucky wheel or two – bring a new kind of gaming experience to online casinos.
Poker
In some live casinos, you’ll even get the chance to play live poker games alongside other players. It’s already a game that relies on a good poker face – and the benefit here is that you can see the dealer’s face, but no one can see yours!
Other Games
Live casino games don’t start and end at traditional tables! There are also a few other live games you might want to try, such as Sic Bo and Keno, which don’t fall easily into other categories.
Get started with live casino games
Live casino games aim to blend the best of both worlds when it comes to casino table and card games. If you can’t get to a land casino or prefer playing from the comfort of your desktop or mobile, playing games against a live dealer is the closest way to get acquainted with some genuine casino action.
It’s possible to play a mix of casino games however you wish – as virtual games and slots certainly aren’t going anywhere fast!
There’s a broad mix of live casino games and dealer tables available for you to explore at Tonybet – be sure to check out our complete selection. Remember, please gamble responsibly and take advantage of our tools if you need help taking back control.
Start playing live casino games with TonyBet today!
