A live casino offers the same games as a land-based casino, but the two casinos have differences. The main difference between a land-based casino and a live casino is that with this type of gambling, players can conveniently place bets from the comfort of their own homes. Many newcomers first come across resources like trusted casinos not on gamstop sites when researching different online gambling options and how they operate.
In this article, we explain the basics of live casino gaming and show how it differs from land-based and traditional online casinos.
Live Casino Games Explained
A live casino is an online casino where games are played in real time against real live dealers. This allows players to play on their laptops and have the same gaming experience as in a real casino.
Some live casinos even allow players to play live games on their mobile devices, as long as they follow the casino's rules. Although everything seems to be computerized, casino owners still need to invest heavily in technology and personnel.
A typical live casino requires a casino studio, a cameraman, a croupier, an information manager, and a pit boss. Due to the high costs of setting up a live casino, they offer only a small selection of games.
Most live casinos without GamStop offer live blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker and sic box with industry-leading gaming software from registered companies such as NetEnt and Playtech.
The studio, the software room, and the analyst room are the three rooms that comprise a live casino. However, this setup can vary depending on the casino.
The Technology That Live Casinos Use Today
At the beginning of the era of live casino games, all gaming activities in a real casino were recorded and streamed, with the games being played by real guests on site. Therefore, the players present often obstructed the camera's view, diminishing the experience for players at home. Furthermore, the cameras used were mostly webcams, notorious for their poor quality!
Live casinos can be set up in various ways today, depending on how much money the casino is willing to invest in technology. Regardless of cost, however, certain technologies are essential for all live casinos to function properly.
Multiple High-Resolution Cameras
A live casino wouldn't be a live casino without a camera, as this equipment is essential for live streaming. Multiple cameras are needed by both the live casino and the player to ensure smooth live chat between the player and the dealer and to capture every moment in high resolution.
Both dealers and players use them to see each other during a game. For example, if you play live roulette, you'll see a wheel spinning as if you were playing in person. If you play blackjack, you'll see a real gaming table with a professional dealer dealing the cards.
Game Control Unit
The Game Control Unit (GCU) is an essential component of a live casino; without it, a live casino would be inconceivable. The GCU, which resembles a shoebox and is attached to each table, is responsible for encoding the video transmission. The GCU allows the live dealer to track the players' moves.
Streaming Studio
The days when live casino games were streamed from land-based casinos are long gone. Today, streaming takes place in dedicated studios equipped with all the necessary components for a seamless live casino gaming experience.
Live Dealers in Live Casinos
Live casino games, as you can imagine, require a dealer. The dealer in these games is usually very well-trained and experienced with the classic games of a land-based casino. Players who choose a live game can be sure of receiving first-class service, even while playing from the comfort of their own homes.
Once you start playing, you won't even notice the difference between a land-based casino and a live casino.
Since the dealer is a real person, every physical action they perform is converted into digital data by a separate software. This process typically uses optical character recognition (OCR) which interprets card values, wheel results, and other game actions in real time.
This program allows players to participate in a casino game and experience all the activities without noticing the difference between live casinos and land-based casinos. And the best thing about live casinos is that the outcome is determined by the dealer (a real person, not a machine).
Another advantage of live gaming is that you can interact with the dealer just like at a real gaming table. While you can't speak to the dealer verbally, there's a useful chat function where you can enter your questions and requests, which the dealer will then answer live on camera.
This makes playing at home far more interesting than regular internet gambling – something players have been longing for ever since online casinos became ubiquitous.