Online casino games have developed a long way in the space of just a couple of decades. The sites of today already look way different to the first attempts made in the 90s! But one of the biggest developments has been the creation of live casino games.
These take elements of online play and pair them up with parts of a land-based casino, including the presence of a live dealer and the use of physical game components. Live casino games are a fascinating fusion of the old and new casino design, so let’s take a look at all the things you need to know before trying a game yourself.
How do live casino games work?
The first – and main – question to answer is how these hybrid games work in the first place. While the concept was first floated in the early 2000s it wasn’t until years later that the technology caught up with the idea.
In order for live casino games to work they need to function without lag and the video quality needs to be good enough for online players to see all the details of the game components. It was only when internet connections and broadband speeds improved significantly that this was possible.
High-quality video cameras are a central component to any live casino game, as these are what allow players to see every detail of the dealer’s actions and progress of the game. Many games use setups with multiple cameras that let players choose which angles they want to focus on, offering different perspectives on the table.
An essential piece of technology in the setup is optical character recognition (OCR). This is what converts images of playing cards, Roulette wheel pockets or dice faces into data that the software can properly process. Without this, the digital interfaces of players would not be able to update in real-time.
The game control unit (GCU) is also important, helping with the broadcast of the game and making sure that everything continues to run smoothly.
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What types of live casino games are there?
Many of the classic casino table games have been adapted to live casino, allowing players to choose between fully digital varieties or ones led by a live dealer. The most popular games include:
- Live Blackjack – where players aim to see if they can get a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer.
- Live Roulette – where the dealer spins a physical Roulette wheel and ball to see which pocket it will land in.
- Live Baccarat – where players wager on whether the ‘player’ hand or the ‘banker hand will have a value closer to nine, or whether the two will tie.
- Live Poker – with a variety of popular formats such as Texas Hold’em, three-card stud or Omaha available.
- Live game shows – the one type not commonly found on land-based casino floors, with some based on iconic TV game shows like Deal or No Deal.
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Thanks to livestreaming technology, online casinos can now offer games featuring live dealers and physical game elements. From classic table games to new game show-style games, there are plenty of options to choose from.
