Online casinos have been growing in popularity for years, and they are widely used by players worldwide, especially among young players. However, there are limitations that online casinos cannot overcome. Visiting an actual casino and enjoying the atmosphere on the floor and at the tables can't be replicated by playing online.
That's why many online casinos have started introducing a live dealer option that combines the casino experience with online gambling. In this article, we'll explore the rise of live dealer games and their importance for the industry.
What are Live Dealer Games?
Live dealer games are online casino games hosted by dealers in real time. The games use live stream videos to connect the players with a dealer, dealing cards, spinning wheels, or dealing chips as they play. This mimics the look and feel of playing in a real-life casino.
The odds, chances, and rules are the same as when playing with an algorithm instead. Games do run a bit slower with a real dealer, and that can sometimes affect their outcome and dynamic, especially when it comes to poker or blackjack.
What Technology is used to Run Live Dealer Games?
The tech used to run live dealer games isn't very new, but it has improved in quality in the past couple of years. It utilizes high-definition video streaming to deliver videos in the best possible resolution, capturing multiple cameras set at various angles.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology is another key part of the process. It transfers physical actions into digital data. That way, the number where a roulette ball lands or the card a dealer draws immediately pops up in the player's interface.
Why Do Players Love Live Dealer Games?
Research by experts from Webopedia and others shows that players prefer casinos with real live dealers to those using the interface only. Given that the chances are the same, the preference suggests that players are seeking to experience the thrill of visiting an on-the-ground casino from the comfort of their own home. The best crypto casino is the one that provides both the convenience of playing from home and the ambiance provided by a live dealer.
Authentic Atmosphere
Playing in a casino with a real live dealer is much more similar to playing in an on-the-ground casino. Players can interact with the dealer, and a sense of anticipation builds as the cards are dealt or the wheel turns. All the players at the table also share the same experience, which isn't always the case when playing at home.
Human Interaction
Many players state that the solitary nature of gambling at home is one of its biggest downsides. It can also lead some players to make increasingly riskier decisions. When playing with a live dealer, the game becomes a social event, often with banter and humor, as is the case in real-life casinos.
Trust Factor
Research shows that players trust the games with live dealers more than those without one. The outcome of the game or of a particular hand is usually based on a random number generator. This means that no one can predict the outcome, and it doesn't depend on the outcome of previous hands, meaning a player shouldn't try to chase their losses, hoping they are due for a win. However, a casino needs to base its offer on the preferences of its players.
Customization
Live dealer games provide a lot of options for customization. For instance, players can choose the design of the table and its aesthetic, but also the language in which the dealer speaks. This is becoming an increasingly important feature as casino players come from all over the world.
Challenges and Limitations
Despite their popularity and growth, live dealer casinos still face challenges and limitations. Technical requirements can be high for some players, as they require a high-speed internet connection to work as intended. The connection should also be stable at all times.
The operational costs covered by the casinos are higher than with other types of bets, and those costs are usually passed on to the players in the end. There's also a matter of regulation, as this area isn't well-regulated since it's new, and that can change soon.
Conclusion
Online casinos are introducing live dealer games as a response to player demand. These games work the same as those played in on-the-ground casinos, with the dealer's actions streamed via video in real time. This gives a look and feel of a real casino, and the players trust it more.
As the technology needed to run such a game – a good internet connection and high-resolution videos – becomes more widely available, more casinos will introduce them. The operational cost for such casinos is higher, but they are worth it.
