Since the late 90s, an increasing number of casino games have been played online, with plenty of classic table games now having a variety of digital adaptations. One newer format that has further evolved the way games like Blackjack and Roulette are played is the live casino game.
These games feature live human dealers – rather than a piece of game software – who run the game from a studio setup, streamed to online players in real time. This brings together elements of a land-based casino with the convenience of online play through a digital platform, making live casino games a popular choice for many players.
So, let’s take a look at three of the most common live casino games that players can find on their chosen online platforms.
Live Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the oldest card games out there, descended from some of the earliest known card games played in Europe. It’s got a simple core concept – getting a hand value that’s closer to 21 than the dealer – combined with a higher degree of player decision-making.
The live Blackjack format uses the same basic rules as other digital Blackjack games, though different variants are available for players to choose from that switch up some elements.
During a live game online players are playing against the live dealer, who handles physical playing cards and deals them out onto the table. These cards are captured in high-definition by the studio’s cameras, with optical character recognition (OCR) converting these images into readable data for the game software.
This allows players to select options through the online interface during their turn, deciding whether they want to hit (taking another card), stand (leaving their hand at its current value) or take another action.
Live Roulette
Another staple of classic table games is Roulette, which was first introduced to casinos in the 18th century. Gameplay centers around the iconic Roulette wheel, with its many numbered pockets, as players wager on where they think a spun ball will stop.
Roulette is commonly divided into three major types: American, European and French. Each of these has either slightly different wheel designs or major rule variations that alter the relative odds of the game.
In the live Roulette format, you can find all of these three represented, along with newer twists on the classic formula.
Unlike in other online Roulette games, here, the game is played with a physical wheel and ball rather than with a random number generator (RNG) determining the outcome of the spin.
Baccarat
A less well-known table game, Baccarat has also made the move to the live casino format. It’s another card game with a relatively simple concept, all based around the value of two hands.
Players can wager on one of three potential outcomes in a game: the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a tie. Whichever hand gets a value closer to nine on the initial deal earns the payout unless the two hands are equal in value and a tie is declared.
Similar to Blackjack, cards are worth their face value with the exception of tens and face cards, which are worth zero. Aces only count as one in this game.
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These three classic tabletop games are all available to play in the live casino format, trading in algorithms for the presence of a live dealer and physical game components. Check your preferred online casino platform to see which varieties of live casino games are offered.
