If you like the atmosphere of a real casino, you can now experience it from your home with live dealer online casinos. These sites offer a wide range of table games with live dealers and video streams from specialist studios. They work well on most modern data connections and you can play them via smartphone or tablet as well as desktop computer. The best sites also provide helpful game guides and chat features. They are a great option for new players who want to test out the games before investing money.
When you visit a live casino online, you will see all the available games displayed in a lobby just as you would on a normal casino floor. You can scroll through the options and click to take a seat at a game with betting limits that match your bankroll. You will then be shown a window or tab with a video feed of the game and the live dealer you have chosen. Once you have settled in, you can talk to the dealers and other players using the software chat feature. Depending on the game, you may be able to make side bets as well.
Generally, the best live casino online sites will provide you with a wide choice of games, with blackjack and roulette being especially popular. Many offer multiple variants of each, with varying rules and payouts. Some will even host games for high rollers, if you have the bankroll to spend. Baccarat and craps are less popular, but some still offer them.
The technology behind live casino games is incredibly sophisticated, with cameras fitted with optical recognition that translates the cards, numbers and symbols into digital data. This is then sent to the player, with their winnings or losses deducted or awarded instantly. This technology is expensive to install and maintain, but it means that live dealer online casino games are safe and fair.
All live dealer online casinos are subject to regular tests by independent organisations, which is a good sign that they are operating under a licence. This makes them a reliable alternative to real casinos, which can be subject to fraud and other security issues.
Despite the fact that the games are hosted by humans, the process is actually automated, with bet prompts being controlled by software. This allows the dealer to concentrate on delivering a top-quality service to the players, and to chat with them at the same time.
As an aside, a growing number of live casino online sites will also let you try out automated versions of their games for free. These can be a useful way to get familiar with the interface before making your first deposit, and they can be played on smartphones as well as computers.
Some live casinos have their own studios, while others work with third-party suppliers to provide the services. These providers will usually operate in multiple states, so you may find the selection of games offered differs from one site to another. However, the most elite live casinos will all feature a diverse mix of games, along with strong connections and user-friendly software.