Even though online casinos are amazing to play at, there is one thing you don't get: the electrifying atmosphere at a land-based casino. Actually sitting at a blackjack table, being part of the roulette action or even hanging out near the craps table is an experience you don't get at an Australian online casino. Live dealer casinos address this issue head on and delivers a realistic live experience to your desktop or mobile device.
We will show you which are the best online casinos for live dealer action in Australia. We offer an overview of how the technology works and provide tips to follow when choosing your next live casino experience.
A live dealer casino is the perfect bridge between the land-based casino and the online casino. It offers games that are run by real dealers. You do not play against software and the games are not decided by a RNG. The dealer accept your wagers, deal the cards, hand out winnings and clear the table for the next round. And you can interact with them using the live chat feature.
Live dealer casino games are streamed live over high speed Internet from the studios run by the casino software provider offering them. The games are played at an actual table. The action is recorded in full HD using multiple cameras, the images converted using compatible software and then streamed live over the Internet to your machine. Some providers actually have live dealer games that can be played from mobile devices as well, not just a computer or laptop.
Types of Live Dealer Casino Games and Providers Offering Them
There are a large number of casino software providers today offering live dealer casino games. However, only a handful of these make their games available to Australian Live Dealer Casinos.
There are some that specialise in live dealer games only. Top providers include:
For the most part, these companies offer variations of the following games:
Roulette:
You get a number of variants including top titles like Immersive Roulette, Multi-Wheel Roulette, Mini Roulette and European Roulette Live.
Blackjack:
You get a range of cool live blackjack games including Common Draw Blackjack and Live Blackjack VIP.
Baccarat:
These include games like Live Baccarat and Live Multi Player Baccarat.
Live Poker:
There are a number of live poker variants available, including games like Live Casino Hold'em, Live Three Card Poker and Live Ultimate Texas Hold'em.
Some casinos also offer live versions of games like Keno and Sic Bo.
Most Australian casino sites offer at least roulette, blackjack and baccarat with live dealers, like Joe Fortune casino here.
Why do Online Casinos Offer Live Dealer Games?
Live dealer casino games are offered as one of the game types by an online casino. They may be embedded within the Games as a separate section, or they may exist as an independent tab on the online casino's website. Online casinos offer live dealer casino games to complete a 360-degree gaming experience. Most importantly, the availability of a live dealer casino section increases the credibility of the operator.
Live casino games are offered by casinos to cater to those players who want that little something extra. Players who are not content with just clicking and winning. The human touch sometimes becomes very important when playing a casino game like, say, blackjack or roulette. The fact that you can actually chat with the dealer and also other players at the table as you play can be a nice high.
How Do Live Dealer Casinos Work?
Live dealer casino games are special because they require a complete studio set. The software providers have their own custom live dealer studio, complete with lights, camera and software. There would also be staff required to man the different equipment and take care of the day-to-day running of the studio.
Some casino software providers collaborate with actual land-based casinos to offer players the chance to experience the thrill of actually playing at that casino, but even then the onus of setting up the equipment and filming and then streaming the visuals is on the provider.
The equipment needed include:
Tables for the various games
Multiple HD cameras
Lights to properly illuminate the setting
Software to compress images and stream over the Internet
A typical live dealer studio setup
At the live dealer studio there are actual tables, each manned by a friendly and trained dealer. There are HD cameras placed at strategic locations to film the games from multiple angles. This helps because players then get views from multiple angles as they play. For instance, a full shot of a roulette table with the ball spinning away is great, what adds immense value to the player is the next shot - a close-up of the ball as it comes to rest at a particular numbered slot.
As the game is being filmed, at the back-end is software that compresses the images to ensure harmony between the quality of HD image and the bandwidth available for streaming. The next step is to combine it with a graphical user interface (GUI) so that you can respond at your end as you see the cards dealt, i.e. choose your next step. Your actions are fed back to the studio and that is how you see perfect correlation between the dealer's action and yours.
To get a quick idea of what to expect at a live casino, check out the following video:
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Getting the right live dealer casino to play at is vital for every player. All the casinos that we have listed out for you have been carefully tested on multiple parameters. We ensure that only those casinos that pass our testing with flying colours make it to our list. All of them are fair, safe, reliable and offer a fantastic live dealer gaming experience.
If you are looking for a live dealer casino to play at, the following are some tips you can follow to make the right choice:
Check the reputation of the casino Live dealer casino gambling, like playing at any online casino, involves your money. Therefore, check out the reputation of the casino. A good way of doing this is looking for licensing information and certifications for fair gaming.
Look for the software provider This is important because a reputed and well-known software provider is an automatic guarantee of reliability and fair play.
Check the games available A wider range of games is always better as it gives you more to play with. Also, ensure that the game you want to play is available at the casino.
Review the bonus terms A wider range of games is always better as it gives you more to play with. Also, ensure that the game you want to play is available at the casino.
Payment support Ensure the casino has a good set of payment methods for you to choose from. If you are playing from a mobile device ensure suitable payment support is available. Even more important, check out the terms and conditions for withdrawing and also the withdrawal time frames. It would be a tragedy to play at a casino that took forever to give you your winnings.
Check out customer support Ensure that the casino you are looking to sign up with has a good customer support team that is able to respond instantly. Also ensure that support is available through multiple modes.
Consider mobile features This is not the most important criterion for choosing a live dealer casino but it is always good to be able to play at a casino that has a mobile option. That way, you are not limited to playing only when you are at home.
Live Dealer Casino FAQs
Are live dealer games available for free practice play?
That depends on the casino and the software provider powering it. For a long time now free practice play was not offered for live casino games because it would be equivalent to blocking up a seat at a table and not paying anything for it. However, there are a few casinos nowadays that offer free play.
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What would be the biggest challenge to a good live casino experience?
There can be a few things that throw a spanner in the works when it comes to live dealer casino gaming. However, there can be nothing worse than a slow Internet connection. The games are streamed over the Internet and slow speeds can result in lag, buffering, game disruption and an overall nasty experience.
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Is it possible to play live dealer casino games from my smartphone?
That depends on the casino you are playing at. There are a number of software providers whose live dealer games can be played from a mobile device. One thing to keep in mind: even if the game is available from a mobile device, the overall experience will definitely be different from playing at a desktop casino. The smaller screen size can be problematic at times, unless of course you are used to viewing content on your mobile device.
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Are live casino games available only in download mode?
The mode in which a live casino game is available depends on the casino you are playing at and the software powering it. Some casinos offer them in download mode as well as instant play mode. Casinos powered by Evolution Gaming may, for instance, offer them in instant play mode only.
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How do I play a live casino game?
Playing a live casino game is simple. You will of course need to have an account with the casino first and money in it. Once you have an account, do the following:
Click the tab titled Live Casino. This may be within the Games tab of the casino or as an independent tab on the main menu.
Click the game you want to play.
The game opens up with the dealer asking you to place your bets.
