Shortly after the gaming industry went online, gamblers’ attention was provoked once again. Around 1996 the live casino became available and immediately exploded in popularity. Many casino fans that were skeptical about playing online started to pay more attention. Soon the new trend was adopted by everyone in the business. Live casinos in different forms appeared everywhere and changed the industry forever.
How it all began?
With the creation of the Internet, many businesses saw an endless opportunity to expand including the gambling companies. Until then, casino games were a territory for one small part of society. But now everyone with a computer connected to the Internet can join and have fun.
Moreover, the costs to create and maintain an online site are significantly lower. So it is not a surprise why all companies moved or created new branches.
Just a couple of years after the first online 888 casino was launched another innovation took place – a live dealer play. This was also necessary because some players quickly got bored with the classic interface and AI games. Many of them started to look for something different with a more genuine casino feeling.
It all began with one game on only one table – live blackjack. It became so popular that gamblers’ appetite raised and they demanded more. The iGaming companies had to react and reshape the business once again.
Popular live casino games
Nowadays, live versions of all famous games are available. All bookmakers have specialized live casino sections on their websites to attract more players. As a result, the live casino became 24/7.
Besides blackjack, live roulette is also a preferred choice by gamblers. It is a simple game with multiply betting options. Your goal is to guess where the ball will land on the roulette wheel. You can choose an exact number or different combination like line, corner, odd or even, red or black, etc. Playing with a real person on the other side of the camera grants you a genuine and more pleasant experience.
Live casinos provide many options in front of poker fans. All famous variants are available – Texas Hold’em, Omaha HiLo, Five-card Draw, Seven-card Stud, and many others. But that’s not the only benefit. Many tournaments are available either locally or worldwide. For participating in the finals you have to travel indeed but the qualifying rounds are usually held in chosen online platforms.
Live casinos are also granting access to dozens of other games like baccarat, craps, bingo, keno, Sic-Bo, etc.
Playing either live dealer roulette or any other real-time game has some downsides, too. For example, you need a really good and stable internet connection because the streams usually broadcast high definition videos. Also, the gaming speed is lower as you are dealing with a system and a dealer.
Tips to find the best live casino
These days there are hundreds of gaming websites. There are also affiliate sites but there are also places you should avoid.
First and foremost, every legit live dealer casino must be licensed and regulated. There should be an easy to find section informing users under whose regulation they are operating. The most common regulators in Europe are the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority.
Before funding your account might be a good idea to check if the chosen website is properly encrypted. That will protect your data. In regards to the transparency of the payments, usage of block chain technology is what you should look for.
The best live online casinos offer juicy promotions to constantly attract new players. It is a good idea to spend some time researching the net. Often there are user reviews that can help you with information about the quality of service, variety of games, live casino bonus available, etc. Do not forget to check the wagering requirements, too. If they aren’t player-friendly than there is no point to give it a try.
Future of live casinos
In the beginning, live casinos increased the quality of the gamblers’ experience by adding a camera and a dealer. But today it is all different. Innovative features made it possible to enjoy different variations of our favorite titles. No matter where we are and what time it is. So what’s next?
The development of virtual reality might be the answer. Still it is not very widespread as it is costly and requires additional hardware but who knows. A few years from now we could be able to walk through virtual casino halls. One thing is for sure, the future looks bright.
Final words
Live casinos have come a long way since their first appearance. As a result, they are generating more than 50% of the income of gambling sites. Furthermore, the iGaming industry is still expanding. Players are more demanding than ever. However, software companies and game developers are constantly coming with amazing new ideas and features. Let’s wait and see what the new decade is preparing for us.