For many years, online gaming sites were a convenient alternative to brick-and-mortar casinos that failed to deliver a sense of realism. However, the industry’s rapid technological advancement allowed for the emergence of a revolutionary new genre — Live Casino games.

All of a sudden, players had the best of both worlds. They could place bets while watching croupiers deal cards and host Roulette streams without the need to leave their home. Better yet, they could interact with the dealers and other participants via chat.

The convenience of this social entertainment outlet is greatly appreciated in the pandemic conditions of 2020. However, it’s just one of the advantages that casinos with live games have over their all-virtual counterparts. Are you curious to find out the other benefits? Then stick around until the end of this article!

Authenticity Is More Useful Than One Might Think

The pleasure of entering Blackjack, Roulette, and other streams hosted by attractive and professional croupiers can’t be overstated. Instead of looking at repetitive computer animations, your experience is enhanced by real-life expert dealers who can react and comment on the outcome of each game round.

The best live casino providers use Full HD cameras to record broadcasts from purpose-built studios that imitate the atmosphere of a genuine venue. Industry leaders like Evolution Gaming even offer dual-play tables. These live streams come from top brick and mortar casinos where you can see physical players placing bets on the table.

Additionally, this type of entertainment puts the skeptic’s mind at ease. You won’t have to blindly trust some hidden Random Number Generator to produce the outcome of your games. You will see actual cards being shuffled and dealt in front of you. In Roulette, some studios record their tables from several angles. Evolution Gaming’s “Immersive” version even presents slow-motion replays where you can witness each bounce of the ball.

More Game Variants = More Excitement

Variety is the other big feather in the cap of casinos with live dealer games. The lobby of a good gambling site will pack tried and true variants of your favorite table games plus iterations with exciting side bets and rules. Let’s look at a few examples:

• Roulette — The wheel of “Spread-Bet Roulette” from Playtech has a special inner section that unlocks additional side bets. It provides payouts of up to 400:1 compared to a max reward of 35:1 in the classic variants.
  
  
• Poker — Evolution Gaming’s “Texas Hold’Em Bonus Poker” has a special side bet that can win you a massive progressive jackpot. We’ve seen the pooled prize swelling to over $5 million.
  
  
• Blackjack — American studio Visionary iGaming has a special “Early Payout” version of Blackjack. It allows you to cash out before the dealer has played their hand and guarantees a theoretical return of 99.5%.
  
  

Better Return Rates and Wider Betting Limits

The upkeep costs for maintaining a physical casino are much higher than those for a virtual one. Therefore, land-based venues often increase the house edge on …

Poker is one of the all-time favorite card games that has evolved dramatically over the last 20 years. Hardcore fans of the genre still consider the live version as the real thing. They argue that seeing the reactions of players sitting across the table adds an intrinsic psychological element to the game.

However, online Poker brings a level of convenience that’s too great to resist.The reality is that today, the vast majority of players enjoy this classic from the comfort of their own home or on the go through a portable device.

Online Poker can be divided into two main categories. You can play the game in dedicated cardrooms like PokerStars or try one of the many titles available in online casinos. These two types differ in one fundamental way — “cardroom” Poker pits you against other players, while online casino Poker is played against the house. In this article, we’ll focus on the latter and highlight the most popular variants available in gaming sites.

Texas Hold’Em and Casino Hold’Em Poker

The most popular iteration of Poker is Texas Hold’Em, so it’s no wonder that most online operators offer it in some form. Additionally, you can see “Casino Hold’Em,” a spin-off with slightly adjusted rules. Your task is to have a better five-card combination than the house from a total of seven dealt.

Compulsory “Ante” wagers are required to start playing in all “Hold’Em” games at online casinos. However, the subsequent betting requirements are what sets the different versions apart. For example, in “Casino Hold’Em” from Play’n GO, you need to place a “Call” bet worth double the “Ante” to see all five community cards and the dealer’s hand. Meanwhile, the live dealer “Ultimate Texas Hold’Em” from Evolution Gaming requires an additional “Blind” bet equal to the “Ante” and allows you to raise between the different rounds.

Side bets add another layer of richness. They come with greater payouts but lower RTP rates than the base game. For example, the “Trips” bet pays when you score a three-of-a-kind or better, even if the dealer beats you. Additionally, you might encounter progressive jackpot wagers with prize pools worth several million dollars.

Caribbean Stud Poker

This Poker variant is even more straightforward than its “Hold’Em” counterparts. Put money down on the “Ante” to get a five-card hand that’s face up. On the side of the dealer, there are four face-down cards plus one that’s visible.

From here, you need to decide whether to fold and lose your money or reveal the house’s hand by putting down a bet that’s worth twice the “Ante.” The best combination wins. Keep in mind that the dealer must “qualify” by having an Ace + King or better in their hand. If they don’t, you’ll get a 1:1 payout for the “Ante,” and the other wager will be returned to your bankroll.

Many software developers and live studios have “Caribbean Stud” products. Some examples include:

• Realtime Gaming
• Evolution Gaming
• Vivo Gaming

Side bets are also a thing …