Introduction to Live Casino Games
Live casino games have been on stage for quite a long time already, yet some players still haven’t tried them. There are several reasons for it, I suppose. Some of the players think that live casino games are too complicated and it will take a lot of time to master them, some have no idea how to find and pick the right game, and some consider live-dealer games to be potentially dangerous because of frauds. But the fact is, live casino games are actually fun, easy, and lucrative, as long as you know where to play them.
Live casino games — advantages and disadvantages
The first thing to say about live casino games is that they are pretty much the same as the regular online gambling games you know and play. The rules are mostly simple, and they are no less safe than any other casino product, providing you play them in safe and licensed online casinos. Their main advantage when compared with the regular games though is the immersion they can provide to the player. No matter which game you play exactly, you’ll be able to see the dealer do the dealing job, hear them talking to you, whatever you can imagine happening in a real casino — just online.
The only disadvantage of live casino games, at least the only one I can think of now, is that you won’t be able to play a free demo first. Just because they don’t exist, for obvious reasons. If you really need to try a game for free to understand how things work, you can launch it without betting any money, and watch other people play.
Live casino games — best providers
If you open a game collection of any decent online casino, you’ll notice that there are quite a lot of live dealer games, but most of them are made by Evolution Gaming. Evolution is one of the most productive casino games developers in the industry, and hands down the best creator of live-dealer products. What they offer to the players is the highest quality of streaming, professional dealers, and a wide variety of games. Some of them are even streamed from real brick-and-mortar casinos, so you can get that Vegas vibe to the full extent. Another important advantage of Evolution Gaming is that the company really cares about its reputation and the safety of players, so there are little to none chances of finding one of its games in a blacklisted casino.
Of course, Evolution is not the only provider that makes live casino games, just the best one. Some other good live-dealer products are made by Ezugi and NetEnt — they might not be as popular, but I still recommend checking them.
Most Popular Kinds of Live Casino Games
To make it easier for you to navigate around all the live casino games, let me tell you a little bit about the ones you’ll most likely find on any gambling website. If you are an experienced gambler who knows everything about Roulettes and Blackjacks — just skip this part and scroll down to the list of the best live casino games.
Roulette: a short overview
It’s no wonder that one of the most popular casino games in the whole world got its live-dealer counterpart, and yeah, I’m talking about Roulette here. Players love Roulette games for many things, but first of all, for its simplicity combined with a unique atmosphere and decent wins. The wins can get even bigger, if you take some time to learn at least the basic betting strategies — even though Roulette is a game of chance, it still requires a bit of knowledge.
But don’t get scared, the game is actually as simple as it seems. A dealer drops a small ball on the roulette wheel, and all you need to do is to guess where exactly that ball is going to stop. You might place your bet on a specific number (in this case, you’ll get much more money if your bet wins) or, if you are into safer wagers, you can bet on even/odd or red/black.
Blackjack: a short overview
Blackjack is another leader of all gambling charts, basically for the same reasons as Roulette. You don’t need to have any special skills, learning the basic rules will take a couple of minutes, and Blackjack is really, really fun to play. It’s a card game where your one and only goal is to get as close to 21 points as possible while playing with a dealer. It can get pretty immersive if you play Blackjack in a live version, especially if your partner is a professional dealer, so I recommend picking one of the checked and approved games from my list.
Baccarat: a short overview
Baccarat is slightly less popular than the previous games, but it’s still quite interesting to play, and there are many players who love it. What you get is the two sets of cards, the Player and the Banker, and place your bet on one of them. Once the cards are turned over, the set with more points wins.
Pay attention to Live Baccarat if you are a fan of card games, but believe the basic options like Blackjack to be too boring.
Hold'em Poker: a short overview
I’m ending this list with a legendary game — the Hold’em Poker. Unlike simpler games like Blackjack or Roulette, playing Poker does require some skills and knowledge, although the reward is totally worth it.
The rules of Live Hold’em don’t differ from the ones of the regular online Poker. You get two cards and need to create the best combination using them and five cards on the table. We are not going to stop on specific combinations at this point as it would take too long, but you can easily find the rules online.
How to Choose the Best Live Casino Game (GUIDE)
It doesn’t matter which game you decide to play as long as you play a high-quality one in a safe and reliable online casino. And there are two ways to find the right-for-you live casino game and avoid shady websites. The first one is to follow my 5-step guide that I came up with to find the best casino products for myself.
And, of course, the second way is much less time-consuming: you can simply pick a live game out of my list. I divided them into 5 nominations so that every player can find something to fit their needs, but all the games in this selection are 100% safe and well-paying (providing the luck is on your side).
Step 1. Opt for the game with the higher theoretical RTP
While having fun is an important part of your gambling experience, winning money is usually the first priority. So, for your live casino session to be lucrative, it’s better if you opt for a game with a higher RTP rate. Even though it won’t ensure your winning automatically, you’ll have more chances to benefit from the game in the long run.
My go-to choice when I’m in need for money is the Classic Roulette by NetEnt with the theoretical RTP of 99.65% — quite an impressive number for a Roulette game. If you want to try something else, you can always use the filter and sort all the games from the highest RTP to the lowest one.
Step 2. Check where the game is streamed from
This step might not be the most important one, but I advise not to skip it, as it can increase the overall quality of your betting session. Live casino games can either be streamed from the real casino, or from a studio, and you need to try both options to understand what you like more — a real casino atmosphere or state-of-the-art technologies.
As for me, I’m not a big fan of casino-streamed live-dealer games, as streaming from a studio can provide me with a better sound and image quality, while the atmosphere doesn’t really differ, especially if you play games made by industry leaders like Evolution. Their Lightning Roulette is hands down one of the best live-dealer products I’ve tried in my life, and playing it is a must-do for any gambler out there.
Step 3. Test the mobile version
Let’s be honest, it might be quite difficult to play live casino games on the go, as they require a stable connection and a larger screen to feel all the atmosphere. Nevertheless, it’s still possible, and sometimes, I like to make a couple of bets in a live-dealer casino while stuck in traffic. If you might want to do it as well, make sure to check the mobile compatibility of the game and the casino — there should be no unexpected freezes, and all the features should be available in a mobile version of the website.
Yako casino is a great option for the fans of mobile gambling, as it works just as you expect it to do — fast and smooth. Start with the Free Bet Blackjack by Evolution, and then see what else the casino has to offer.
Step 4. Find a live casino bonus
Bonuses are not something you need to expect from a live casino, as in most cases, you won’t be able to use your welcome packs and other promotions in the live-dealer games. But exceptions might happen, and even though the absence of a bonus is not the reason for me to not play in the casino, I prefer the ones that can offer me a good deal.
Just like the Zet casino, where players can get a 10% cashback on their live-dealer bets. It’s a perfect opportunity to try Immersive Roulette by Evolution Gaming — another great product made by the famous company.
Step 5. Pick the game to meet your financial priorities
The last step is to define your financial goals and abilities for your next gambling session. Are you here just to have some fun and see how things work in a live casino? Then, your best choice is a game with a minimum betting limit, like Side Bet City by Evolution, where you can make NZ$1 bets for as long as you want. Are you on the road towards a jackpot or just look for the bigger wins? Then, opt for the games with higher betting limits. For instance, Phoenix Roulette by Playtech might let you bet up to NZ$35000 — not something I’d recommend for a newbie, but still.
Live games with the smallest bets:
Live games with the largest bets:
Conclusion
I strongly believe that live casino games are one of the best gambling products we now have available, and it would be just silly to never try them. In a live-dealer game, one can find everything a player might need — the atmosphere, the wins, and the fun.
To get it all, make sure to only make your bets in reliable casinos, and don’t even give it a try if you feel like something is odd in the game or on the website of your choice. Better take a look at my list and play safely.
