Live dealer casinos bridge the gap between playing on a screen and sitting at a real table, but how exactly do they do that?

Rapidly growing in popularity thanks to the expansion of online gambling, improved technology, and increased trust, live casinos are here to stay.

But if you’ve never played with a live dealer casino before, this explainer means you’ll understand the tech behind live dealer casinos, the games offered, what sessions look like, and how to get started.

There are three main types of licensed casinos: land-based casinos, online casinos, and live dealer casinos.

A live dealer casino is an online casino where real human dealers run games via live video stream, rather than the games being run on software-generated outcomes.

Land-based casinos require physically visiting the location, perhaps even taking money and exchanging for chips before you can bet. Standard online casinos remove the need to leave the house plus utilise a simpler wallet system.

Live dealer casinos sit in the middle. They offer the convenience of playing from anywhere with online deposits and withdrawals, all while maintaining some of the feel of gambling at a brick-and-mortar casino.

The key appeal of live dealer casinos are the real cards, real roulette wheels, and real dealers, but played from home or on mobile.

Evolution Gaming is the biggest provider of live dealer online casino games globally, but other providers include Playtech and Pragmatic Playlive.

You may be curious about how live dealer casino technology works, since no established or new casinos sites offer a look behind the scenes. Our betting experts have you covered.

Live dealer games are broadcast from dedicated studios. For example, Evolution's flagship studios are in Riga, Latvia and Malta.

These studios are built to replicate casino environments, with felt tables, professional lighting, and multiple camera angles.

Some providers offer 'land-based' streams direct from real casino floors. In the UK, Grosvenor broadcast live streams of the tables from their physical casinos with online bettors able to jump in and play.

Multiple HD cameras are set up to cover the table from different angles, including a wide shot, close-ups on either the cards or wheel, and the dealer’s face.

Some games let the player choose which camera feed they want to see.

All of the cameras feed into a real-time encoding system that streams to the player's device.

To ensure the right information is recorded as fast as possible, OCR software reads the physical cards and translates them into digital data in real time.

OCR is the reason why the game interface on your screen updates instantly when a card is dealt.

The same technology is used to read roulette ball landing positions.

Every live table has a GCU, a small device that encodes the video feed and enables the dealer to run the game.

The GCU is the hardware heart of a live dealer game and without it, there is no stream.

Players see the video livestream overlaid with a digital betting interface. Punters then use this interface during a betting window, typically 15 to 30 seconds between hands, to place bets.

Most games feature a live chat function, which allows players to communicate with the dealer.

Live dealer casinos offer the closest experience you can get to a real casino online. You can see the cards being shuffled, the spinning wheel of roulette, and even interact with the dealer. But what does the average live dealer session actually look like?

1. Log in to your online casino account and navigate to the Live Casino section.
2. Browse available tables. You will see real-time thumbnails showing the current dealer, table limits, and number of open seats.
3. Click a table to join. The video stream loads within a few seconds.
4. The betting window opens. Place your bet using the on-screen chip controls before the timer runs out.
5. Watch the dealer deal cards or spin the wheel in real time.
6. Results are settled automatically on screen. Winnings are credited to your account instantly.
7. You can stay at the table for as many rounds as you like, or leave at any time between hands.

There are multiple games available at live dealer casinos, from straightforward classics such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, to poker and game shows.

Live poker offerings are usually split between Casino Hold’Em and Three Card, variants of the game where you play against the house, not other players.

Live game shows such as Monopoly Live and Crazy Time are geared more towards entertainment, attracting more casual casino players. Finally, live Sic Bo is being offered by more and more casinos thanks to its popularity in Asia.

If you are used to playing online slots at casino sites, then playing a live dealer casino game can be a very different experience.

One major difference is the presence of other people, which creates a more lively atmosphere when playing and allows you to interact with the dealer and other players via a live chat function. There is no social element to standard online casinos, but they offer a faster experience since there are no other players slowing things down!

While we can say categorically that online casinos aren’t rigged due to the presence of Random Number Generators and the checks made by the UK Gambling Commission, there is the potential to feel a higher level of trust with live dealer casinos, as you can see all the cards being dealt, and all the spins of the roulette wheel.

The stripped-back experience of standard online casinos, compared to live dealer casinos, has both benefits and drawbacks. Speeds are faster at virtual casinos, and usually, there are fewer issues with slow connections as there is less to load.

Most live dealer casinos operate 24 hours a day, but during quiet periods, they can reduce the number of games available. This doesn’t happen at online casinos, which run the same games all day, every day.

Another important distinction is to do with any casino bonuses you might receive. Most casino bonuses can’t be used on live dealer casinos, with a lot of welcome offers featuring free spins for slot games, while any wagering requirements can’t be completed on live casino games.

There are seven major factors to consider when choosing which live dealer casino to use: licensing, software providers, game selection, table limits, mobile compatibility, bonuses, and streaming quality.

Make sure to only play at casinos licensed by a recognised regulator such as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the New Jersey Department of Gambling Enforcement (NJ DGE), and so on.

Some operators will provide games from numerous providers. Evolution-powered tables are the industry benchmark for quality and fairness, but Pragmatic Play and Playtech are respected names.

You should be able to check that the live casino game library has the specific games you want to play before depositing.

Before sitting down at a table, check the limits to make sure they fit with the minimum and maximum bets in your bankroll. Live tables typically have higher table limits than RNG games.

Most live casinos will work in a mobile browser, but for the best mobile experience, check if a dedicated app is available.

Always read the terms carefully when weighing up bonuses, as many welcome bonuses exclude live casino wagering.

Check whether you can comfortably live stream a casino game. A stable broadband or 4G/5G connection is needed, while most providers recommend at least 4 Mbps to stream without issues.

We recommend beginners start with live blackjack or live roulette, as these have the simplest rules and the lowest minimum bets.

Make sure to use the chat function sparingly, as it can be quite distracting. Avoid using it to ask for strategy advice mid-hand, and always be polite to the dealer, as any offensive comments may lead to a ban.

Dropping out mid-hand can cause issues, so make sure to check your internet connection before joining a table. If the stream lags or freezes, refresh the page. Your bet is protected and the hand result will be settled correctly.

By gambling responsibly and managing your bankroll, you can get more enjoyment out of live casino games. Set a session budget before you start and, most importantly, stick to it.

Avoid live game shows such as Crazy Time and Monopoly Live until you are comfortable with specific games and the live casino experience. The house edge on these game shows is significantly higher than blackjack or baccarat.

Live dealer casinos use studio technology, OCR, and real-time streaming to deliver a genuine live experience online.

For players who value transparency and atmosphere, live dealer games are the best online format available.

If you’re interested in finding a live casino to play with, our betting experts have you covered with our round-up of the best live casinos.

You can also learn more about the individual live games casinos offered, including how to play baccarat, the best blackjack strategies, and information on roulette and its different variants.

Yes. Live dealer casino game results are determined by physical outcomes, not software. All reputable providers are independently audited.

No. Live games always require real money bets as a real dealer is working the table. Some casinos offer very low minimums.

Most providers recommend a minimum of 4 Mbps. Unstable Wi-Fi can cause stream interruptions.

Live blackjack, because of the simple rules, one of the lowest house edges, and plenty of beginner-friendly tables with low minimums.

Yes. Most live casino platforms are now fully optimised for mobile browsers. Some games even offer a dedicated mobile layout for either app play or browser.

There are multiple providers of casino software to UK bookmakers. Evolution Gaming is the leading name, while other big players in the casino software space include Pragmatic Play Live and Playtech. Some major operators will feature games from numerous providers.

Yes. Most welcome bonuses and free bet offers exclude live casino games from wagering. Always check the T&Cs when signing up for welcome offers.

Live dealer games' house edges match the standard casino edge for each game. The house edge for blackjack is typically 0.5% with basic strategy, with roulette it’s 2.7% on a single-zero wheel, whilst baccarat’s house edge is 1.06% on the Banker bet.

We aim to offer every online gambler and reader of The Standard a safe and fair platform through unbiased reviews and offers from the UK's best online gambling companies.

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