A live casino is a real-time version of an online gambling site that allows players to interact with a croupier or dealer via webcam. The games are streamed directly to the player’s screen, making it feel like they are in a physical casino. Some sites also offer chat features similar to those found in a retail casino. While some of these are not available at all sites, players can find one that suits their needs and budget.
The first step to playing at a live casino is signing up for an account. Once you have done this, it is as simple as entering your personal details and heading to the cashier section to make your first instant deposit. Most of these live casinos accept a variety of different payment methods, including MasterCard and Visa cards, cryptocurrencies, money orders, bank wire transfers, and P2P services. You can then jump straight into the action at any of the many tables available, all of which feature professional human dealers that you can chat with during your game.
When you’re ready to play, simply click on the title of a game to be redirected to the live lobby. Here, you can view the available seats at each table, and you can select the seat that best meets your requirements. Once you’ve selected a game, the croupier will join you on your chosen table and will be ready to deal the cards or spin the roulette wheel. The entire process is a lot faster than at an online casino, and the results are much more authentic.
If you’re a blackjack fan, you’ll be happy to know that most of these sites follow the same rules as traditional brick-and-mortar casinos, with players allowed to double down on any hand. Players can even place side bets on their hands to earn special payouts for pairs, runs, and suited cards. Likewise, roulette fans can place bets on the number that they think will land, with additional payouts for odd and even numbers, and red and black.
There is a huge amount of technology that is used to ensure the success of live casino, with each dealer equipped with an ingenious piece of hardware called a Game Control Unit (GCU). This is the interface between the digital gaming platform and the live action taking place on the table. In order for the GCU to recognise specific playing cards or determine whether a roulette ball has landed in an area, it uses the same type of optical character recognition software that car parks use to capture license plate information.
As with any casino, there can sometimes be a lack of seats at your favorite tables during busy periods, but most sites are very good at anticipating demand and opening new tables as soon as they become available. If you’re lucky, you may be able to find a seat at your favorite game within seconds of it going live. However, you should always check that the casino you’re playing at is licensed and regulated before you begin.