A live casino takes the traditional online gambling experience to the next level. Rather than being a simple video game where players press buttons, in a live casino, the player connects to a croupier using a video link, who uses real cards, roulette wheels and so on. They can also interact with the players, creating a more social atmosphere.
The croupiers use software to take wagers and place bets, but it is the player’s connection with the dealer which makes the whole thing work. The croupiers are shot in various locations around the world and the games they play can be watched from almost anywhere with an internet connection, including mobile devices.
When online casinos first started to appear over two decades ago they were pretty primitive, but as the industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar global business operators have spared no expense in making the experience as close to what it’s like to gamble in a bricks and mortar casino as possible. And that is what has led to the advent of live casinos.
There are a few things you should consider before you decide which online casino to choose for your live gambling experience. Firstly, you will want to make sure the casino you’re playing at is licensed and regulated. There are a lot of scams out there, so it’s important that you only play at sites with a good reputation.
Secondly, you’ll want to make sure the casino offers a range of different games. This is important because you might find that one particular type of live casino game doesn’t really suit your style of gambling, or maybe you just prefer to play other types of table games, or even slots. And finally, you’ll want to look at the range of payment options that the casino offers, and whether it accepts your preferred method of online banking.
The best live casinos will offer a wide range of betting limits. This will allow you to enjoy the thrill of the action without worrying about your bankroll going down too quickly. You’ll also want to make sure that the site you’re playing at is secure, and has a good track record when it comes to customer support.
Behind the scenes, the technology that enables live casino to function is quite sophisticated. The dealers use cameras to see what the players are doing, and a computer called a Game Control Unit (GCU) which is no bigger than a shoebox encrypts the video stream and converts it into a digital signal for broadcast. There are also sensors on the roulette wheels to detect where the ball lands, and these interface with the GCU.
As you can imagine, it takes a bit of expertise to run a live casino, but the result is that you can bet in real time on your favorite table games with a professional dealer. You’ll also get the opportunity to interact with other players in a way that isn’t possible at an online casino, which adds another dimension to the gaming experience.