Live Casino Live Casino
The latest trend in online gaming, live dealer casinos are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the regular software formats. For anyone who is in need of a real-life edge to their gameplay, it is the perfect solution. Traditional casino players, who may be sceptical of the fairness and authenticity of RNG (Random Number Generator) games, often turn to the live dealer casino, believing it to be a more credible gaming experience. And of course, one big advantage to live casinos is that you are able to play with true odds, unlike some software games.
The live casino tables operate much the same as the software versions. Players take a seat at the table as per usual and play operates just as it does in a real-life casino, with the same table layout and the dealer in view. Currently, it is usually only the classic casino games – Blackjack, Baccarat and Roulette – that are catered for, but some sites have more options, such as Sic Bo and Paigow.
Choosing the right site will always be vital for getting the most out of your live casino experience, but what will be more important is that you choose the right software provider. It is more common for online casinos to outsource their live dealer games to different companies, as there is a substantial cost involved in running and broadcasting real-life games.
Currently, there are only a handful of live casino developers, so you will find many of the sites will offer the same games. Here is a rundown of the most popular names:
Evolution Gaming
Although Evolution Gaming was only launched in 2006 it has already become the biggest name in live dealer games in Europe. The Evolution live casino is based in Riga, Latvia and licensed in both Latvia and Alderney in the Channel Islands.
An unrivalled professional service and large table range have made Evolution highly sought after among the biggest names in online casino gaming; casinos currently using Evolution Gamings software include 888.com, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Expekt, Victor Chandler and more.
The quality of Evolutions' video stream is another feature that sets it apart from the rest of the competition and if you have a fast internet connection, Evolution sites will be extremely reliable. Table views can also be customised and all games are offered 24/7, although one drawback is that there is no free play option for newcomers.
Top Pick of Evolution Gaming Casinos
Playtech
Considered a close second to Evolution in European live dealer casinos, Playtech have dealers in both Asia and Europe (which one will be used is normally the choice of the casino) and are one of the most respected names in online gaming.
They have an attractive range of live casino games – all of which are provided 24-7 – and are often praised for their reliable video streaming and high standards in security. But sadly there is also no free play option and dealer times usually fall below the average. The Asian version is the older of the two, so you may find casinos running Playtech's European format not as appealing.
Playtech's live dealer casino can be found at some of the biggest sites on the web. Bet 365 is one such example and is where you can a match bonus up to the value of £/€100 in their live casino as well as other cash prizes. William Hill also boast Playtech's high quality live games, and offer a slightly better signup bonus of £/€150.
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Smart Live
Smart Live, which is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, is different to the other live casino software providers, in the fact that they run their own site. One plus for Smart Live games is that they are also available on Sky and Freeview for players in the UK.
Smart Live provides a free play option, but sadly the range of games on offer is not as varied as other developers (limited to Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat) and dealer time is slow – taking over 30 seconds in some instances. Their live dealer casino is available 24-7 and there is a 150% deposit bonus, up to the value of €/£500, although this has a rollover requirement of 40 times the deposit and bonus amount.
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CWC
The first developer to bring the live dealer casino to the masses, CWC were once the biggest name in live casino games, but since more competition has entered the fray, they have lost a considerable amount of business, as well as their high-standing reputation. Also, as the company is licensed in Costa Rica (not the most trustworthy jurisdiction) many online casinos have looked for developers in more dependable locations.
Over the past number of years, CWC's live casino quickly became outdated, but they have recently revamped their software and now boast an excellent selection of games as well as an appealing playing environment. CWC have added Sic Bo and Poker to their regular list of Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat and the playing interface performs exceptionally well for fast and exciting gameplay. There is a free play option (excluding Blackjack) and all games can be previewed before you open an account.
Ladbrokes – one of the top online casinos – is easily the biggest name on CWC's books. You will have to look hard to find CWCs live casino however as Ladbrokes also uses Evolution Gamings live dealer casino, and appear to have sidelined CWCs casino in favour.
Play CWC Live Dealer
VueTec
At the lower end of the scale we have VueTec. This live casino provider does boast an impressive game variety and fast dealer times, but loses out for quality of graphics and poor video streaming. The most interesting aspect to VeuTec games is that they are transmitted from a real casino (Dublin's Fitzwilliam Card Club) unlike most of their competitors, who broadcast games from within a simulated environment.
VueTec also gives players a chance to try out the games before the make any deposit or even registering an account, but this is not enough to attract people to their sites. If, however, you are looking to try out the live casino experience for free, VueTec's impressive variety of games will be ideal for testing the water.
Lucky Live and Dublinbet are two sites running VueTec's live casino games and both offer healthy first deposit bonuses of 100% up to €100. But as the poor video feed can affect play, VueTec are struggling to earn a good reputation in the live dealer casino domain and you would be wise to take your real-money play elsewhere.
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Live Casinos for US Players
For players in the US, there are limited options when it comes to live dealer casinos and most of the big-names sites are only available to players in other countries. After the UIGEA was passed in 2006, software-based casinos were forced to take the hit of losing the lucrative US market, and even though there is now a good range of sites accepting US players, live casinos have not been as easy to find.
However, BetPhoenix, which is licensed in Costa Rica, is one exception. This site runs on proprietary software and offers live Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat. In comparison to the live casinos mentioned above, there isn't much to attract new players, but a free play option is available before you sign up for an account and all the games are presented in flash format.
Another live dealer casino under the wing of BetPhoenix is Bogart Live, which also boasts the convenience of flash-based software as well as a free play option for newcomers. For payments of $100 or more, both BetPhoenix and Bogart Live offer a 100% first deposit bonus up to the value of $200.
US Live Dealer Casino
Best Live Dealer Software
Evolution Gaming Evolution Gaming clearly hold the European market for Live Dealer casinos. While there is growing competition, you'll be hard pressed to find a Live Dealer casino with better video quality and betting options.
Currently Gala Casino is offering a monthly re-load bonus of £/€50 for use on their Live Dealer Casino.
