What are live dealer games: the short version

An honest view of "What are live dealer games?" looks past the camera. Live dealer games stream a real table, a real dealer and real cards or a real wheel to a screen, with bets placed through buttons. Almost every classic game now has a live version, from blackjack and baccarat to roulette, craps and poker. How these tables work, how they compare with software versions and what happens behind the camera explains most of what players ask before joining one.

Other classics have live versions too. Live dealer European roulette spins a real single zero wheel, often with a slow motion replay of the ball landing. Live dealer craps online uses a real layout and dice thrown by a dealer or a mechanical shooter, with bets placed on a screen version of the table. Live dealer Texas holdem poker is a casino game against the house rather than other players, dealt by a croupier on camera.

Online live blackjack works like a table in a casino, filmed from above, with the player's decisions sent through the screen and the dealer acting on them. Anyone can play live blackjack online wherever the operator is licensed and the player's age allows. Whether live blackjack is better than online software blackjack depends on taste: live tables are slower and more social, while software games deal faster and often allow smaller stakes.

Asked about this

What is the big road in baccarat?

One of the scoreboards that record past results. It shows streaks, which help to follow the game but do not predict the next hand.

How are live casino tables run?

Real dealers run the games in a studio, filmed from several cameras, and every round is logged with its result.

Is live blackjack different from software blackjack?

Live blackjack deals real cards from a shoe at the pace of a table, while software deals instantly from a random number generator.

Why does licensing matter for live games?

A licensed studio keeps the recordings, so a disputed round can be checked against the footage.