Guide to Live Casino – Join the Online Revolution!
- Table of Contents
- Top Live Casino GamesThe classics and more
- How Live Games WorkUnderstanding the process
- Cutting Edge SoftwareCheck out the best providers
- Enticing Promotions! Find a bonus here
The popularity of live casinos among gamblers is unsurprising when you consider what’s on offer. Playing a real-life dealer from the comfort of your own home is at the same time exciting and convenient.
In this article, you’ll find information on the best operators providing live games, including which games are available and the best software providers in the business. You’ll take away a good understanding of how live casinos work, from desktop to mobile devices and tablets, and the factors which are the most important in choosing a live casino. The quality of streaming, for example, and other important considerations such as the promotions available for bonus seekers and the variety of table limits – all vital information for you to use to easily see which are the best live casinos.
Where to Find The Best Online Live Casinos
We’ve come up with a list of the best online live casinos providing the best overall user experience. Our selections were based on numerous factors, as we’re looking for more than just friendly croupiers. Casinos use different software providers with their own merits, namely their spread of games and added unique qualities. Currently, Evolution Gaming are hands down the best provider available, but there are perks to choosing an alternative.
Online Casino | Rating | Casino Highlights | Bonus Offer | Secure Link | Terms and Conditions |
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888casino4.7 ★ out of 5 | 4.7 ★ out of 5 |
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£100Bonus | Play Here! | Full T&Cs below. No Deposit Offer: New players with valid mobile number only • Claim in 48 hrs • 14 day expiry • Valid for selected games • Pre-1st deposit only: FS voucher winnings is uncapped, bonus wins & max redeemable amount for non-funded players capped at £100, excl. JP wins • Wager Bonus x1 - req. contributions vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • Deposit Offer: 1st time depositor at 888casino only • £20 min deposit • Claim in 48 hrs • Valid for selected games • Bonus wins capped at £500, excl. JP wins • Pre-1st deposit only: Bonus wins & max redeemable amount capped at £100, excl. JP wins • 30x wagering – req. vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • Payment method & country restrictions apply • Withdrawal terms, No Deposit Offer terms & Deposit Bonus Offer terms apply. • Full Bonus Policy applies • GambleAware |
Ladbrokes4.5 ★ out of 5 | 4.5 ★ out of 5 |
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Bet £10, Get £30 Welcome Bonus | Try Here! | Full T&Cs below. 18+. New Casino players only. Deposit required. Play £10+ on qualifying games. 40x wager reqs (Bonus only) on selected games. Accept Bonus within 14 days. Bonus valid for 30 days. Certain deposit types excluded. Player restrictions and T&Cs apply. |
William Hill4.9 ★ out of 5 | 4.9 ★ out of 5 |
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400% up to £40 on Big Bass Bonanza | Try Here! | Full T&Cs below. 18+. Play Safe. New customers using Promo code BASS40 only. Opt in required. 1x per customer. Min. £10 deposit and stake on Big Bass Bonanza only. Max. bonus £40 with 35x wagering to use on Big Bass Bonanza only. Bonus expires 24 hours from issue. Eligibility rules, game, location, currency, payment-method restrictions and terms and conditions apply. GambleAware. #Ad |
There’s also the matter of quality. Although we’d dismiss a casino which isn’t using HD streams altogether, is there an option to change settings if your internet isn’t fast enough? This is worth considering if you’re internet connection isn’t consistently fast. It’s also common to be able to choose games with different spoken languages. This could also be of interest to players looking for a more immersive experience.
You will most likely have an idea in mind of what you are looking for at a live casino. Given the table above you’ve a great range of options to suit all preferences. The information provided is a roundup of the main areas covered in this review, and reading on will provide some more information on each of the points highlighted. A general overview with a wider range of recommended casino sites might also be of interest.
What’s Available? Top Online Live Casino Games
The steady increase in the number of games available means an operator can stand-out by offering above and beyond the standard selection of classic table games. Interesting variants and a wide games selection on offer are the marks of a great live casino. There’s some impressive variations of the classic casino games, such as Unlimited blackjack where players can bet behind infinitely. The will to stand out from the crowd has driven operators to develop their live casino lobby further, William Hill have pioneered this, offering traditional Asian favourites in their ‘Macau’ lounge. The games below are a snapshot of the most interesting choices available.
- A Preview of Some Interesting Live Variants
- +Immersive Roulette at 888
- +Have a blast at Blackjack party
- +Unlimited Blackjack at Ladbrokes
Live Roulette
This is one of the most popular live casino table games, due to a combination of interesting variants, sky’s-the-limit betting stakes and some nifty playback features. At the live casino, roulette is brought to life. Players enjoy the game with a more captivating view, with multiple angles to focus on the ball, and slow motion playback to focus on the crucial moment when it lands on the winning number. You’ll find the choice of formats from across the globe, from the classic European, French and American table format, as well as standout games such as Evolution Gaming’s Immersive Roulette, playable at the legendary 888 live casino. Developed by the best in the industry, this is one of our favourites, as well as Ra Roulette. There’s never a dull moment with this thrilling game, which includes the fantastic slot game, Book of Ra from Novomatic, allowing several side bets alongside betting on where the ball will drop in to place to keep things interesting.
Live Blackjack
Enjoy the classic game of blackjack and blackjack with a twist thanks to the huge number of variants offering different niches between them. Although their characteristics don’t drift too far from the basic game as to not confuse players. There are some unique qualities between the games, for instance, unlimited tables allow an unlimited amount players to bet behind which means you’re never left waiting to play, simply bet on the hand of another player if all 7 seats at a table are taken. To keep the excitement levels up, live blackjack offers even more opportunities for side betting, such as Perfect Pairs and 23+1. For fast and furious rounds, check out games with Pre-Decision. This is a nifty feature where each player may call at the same time as the first player, which means less time spent waiting for your turn, and more time actively playing.
Live Baccarat
For those in the know, baccarat is James bond’s favourite casino game!! Aside from this fictional character, it’s not most popular live pick among players. You’re pretty much guaranteed to find a Baccarat table at all the operators mentioned on this site, there are however noticeably fewer tables compared to the classic casino games. Although variants are also limited, the most common version, Punto Banco can often be found. For the greatest choice around, head to William Hill’s live casino, which hosts an 6 impressive Baccarat tables with limits soaring up to a whopping £25,000.
Fans of the original game will enjoy the perks of live baccarat, which are the betting options. You may bet on player, banker or a tie, because in the live version, you don’t have to play against the dealer. More still, there are potentially lucrative side bets to take advantage of, these include Either Pair and Perfect Pairs and to up the ante even more, there’s Player bonus and Banker Bonus to play for.
Standout Games!
One of the best things about live casinos are the variety of games on offer, with casinos adding new pics to their catalogue frequently to keep players entertained, reviving games from across the globe. The ancient Chinese dice game Sic Bo for instance has been given a 21st century makeover, and fans of this eccentric game will love this modern update. Head to Ladbrokes for an authentic version of a historic game.
Poker fans will be keen to check out Casino Hold ’em, the casino version of Texas Hold’em. This popular choice pits you against the dealer – the aim is to get the best hand possible from your 2 cards plus the 5 community cards. This is popular for having a low house edge and of course its resemblance to the most popular poker variations. 3 Card Poker is another top choice; this combines the classic elements of poker in a much faster-paced game. Can’t get enough poker? Expand your gambling horizons with some fantastic sites from our comprehensive poker guide!
How Live Dealer Casino Games Work
The technology behind live games is the most advanced online casinos have offered to date. This being said, the end result is easily accessible games whether on mobile or desktop, and good looking product. To process begins in the Studios, these are linked up via HD cameras to capture every last detail. Providers connect player to live tables, which are streamed in real time directly to the players. Player simply opens the game and bet in real time. The advantage of the live studio cameras are the variety of angles and the possibility to interact with the outstanding dealers via the stream all in a hyper realistic environment, accessible from the comfort of home.
Our Favourite Software Providers
Live dealer games have resolved the main issue with online gaming, namely the lack of atmosphere. To create this unique atmosphere, certain conditions have to be met. Small differences in software providers impact on the overall user experience. For example, camera quality will of course affect the finish of the overall stream, and the number of cameras is also worth considering – the more angles the better in capturing every moment. Take roulette, for example – the software allows the user to slow down the frames to capture the moment the ball hits the wheel or lands on a number. There’s also the range of betting options and bet limits which are detailed in the table below which details the top 3 in the industry.
- Live Games at Playtech
- .
- Tips allowed
- Mini games included
- Play Sic Bo live
- Evolution Gaming live games
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- Award-winning provider
- Games in many languages
- High table limits
- The Microgaming live casino
- .
- Playboy bunny dealers
- 20+ operational tables
- 4 studios
Evolution Gaming
Evolution Gaming are hands down the best live games provider and you don’t have to take our word for it – they’ve been named Live Casino Provider of the Year at the EGR B2B awards 6 years on the bounce. It’s not hard to see why when, their games push the boundaries in terms of immersion, player can select different table views, view all sorts of their game stats for their own analysis all in rich HD video streaming. Evolution have plenty of standout games, we particularly enjoy the somewhat bizarre Party Blackjack, a unique game with 2 lively dealers.
- High table limits
- Great mobile casino
Playtech
Playtech are one of the best-known names in online gaming and supply their live games to many casinos. They’re especially good for low stakes players since their table limits are as low as 10p, but of course they have higher limits for big spenders alike. Our standout Playtech game is Speed Roulette, a thrilling fast-paced game and a must-try for roulette players keen to try something new. As well as having some of the friendliest croupiers around, allowing text chat to the dealer and the ability to tip made playing their games an all-round more engaging experience.
Microgaming
Microgaming have been one of the industry giants for quite some time now, with award-winning jackpot slots and live casino games under their belts. What distinguishes them from the rest is their exclusive deal with Playboy, which means fans of the playboy bunny can enjoy dealers dressed in this classic attire. Other than the aesthetics, there’s more much on offer, such as gaming alerts.
Live Casino on the Move
Although the availability of live games on mobile devices varies from casino to casino, a decent operator will offer a basic selection of the classic games, live roulette, live blackjack and live baccarat. Since variety is the spice of life, the very best apps offer players more choice than the standard casino package, including player favourites such as popular Chinese dice game Sic Bo, and pick of the moment, Caribbean Stud Poker.
Mobile apps come in the form of a native app, which is downloaded directly to your device, or a web app, which is a casino site optimised to work seamlessly in your mobile browser. The quality of the app itself depends on the effort of the casino to create an intuitive and attractive interface. This can be subjective matter, in terms of taste, we would however recommend making a few observations before deciding to play live games on the move. From experience, live games look far better on a tablet than a small mobile screen. Imagine incorrectly reading the cards wrong or choosing the wrong stake because the graphics weren’t large enough? There’s also data charges to consider, if you’re not in a WIFI zone you may struggle to load the game effectively,. There’s also the matter of data charges, streaming live casino games will be taxing on your data and potentially leave you with an unwanted phone bill.
Promotions for Live Casino Players
Casino landing pages are splashed with promotions to lure new players, and although this is great for the majority of standard casino games, we advise checking the terms and conditions since live games are commonly left out of the wagering conditions. Although there aren’t an abundance of bonuses specifically for live dealer games there are enough to satisfy most players. Players are given the choice between a dedicated live casino bonus or general bonuses which include live games in the wagering requirements. We’re pretty impressed by William Hill, this casino are hands down the most generous to their live games players offering a choice of bonuses.