Online casinos have gone through a rapid evolution in recent years, and sites today are almost unrecognizable from the first few examples that were launched in the late 1990s. Those original sites were basic, with very few pictures and limited, if any, animations. There were two reasons for this; the technology hadn’t developed enough to allow anything more exciting, and internet speeds were too slow to load large amounts of data. Find whether live casino games the future of online casinos.
But now with fiber optic broadband speeds capable of reaching more than 300 Mbps, the rapid rollout of 5G mobile data, and technologic advancements, which allows everything from embedded video clips to lifelike animations, boring online casinos are a thing of the past. Advances in digital technology have not only changed the way that online casinos look, but also how they are played, with operators able to offer a huge variety of games to their customers. The original sites often stuck with card games, but now online slots are the most popular offering, due to the exciting animations and multitude of different games on offer, as well as the huge jackpots.
With online casinos now able to support lifelike graphics, as well as utilizing features like Random Number Generators (RNG) to make sure that games are fair, the experience was as close to a land-based casino as developers could make it.
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However, it was missing the social element that could only be provided by interacting with real people around a table. Players also couldn’t employ strategies such as card counting in blackjack to improve their chances of winning in software RNG games. Luckily for online casinos, there was a fix for both.
Live Casino Games
Live games feature a video link to a live dealer.
With live streaming games becoming incredibly popular due to services like YouTube and Twitch, it was only a matter of time before the gambling industry waded in on the trend. But online casinos weren’t content with just broadcasting tournaments and letting customers view games they couldn’t participate in; they went one step further and developed live streamed casino games which were fully interactive.
How It Works
You can stream a wide range of live games straight to your computer.
When a player logs into an online casino and selects a live game, they are instantly connected to a real dealer at a real table in a real casino somewhere in the world. Not only can you see them and the game that they are dealing, but you can also talk to them and anyone else playing at the same table. This is the best way to feel like you are really at a casino, and the most true-to-life experience available.
Digital online games rely on RNGs to choose the value of the cards dealt. While this ensures a fair and random result and protects against players cheating, it means that games like blackjack and poker don’t play through a deck in the same way as when a real set of cards are used. But live-streamed games use a real deck, which some people believe makes the game better. While there is no real statistical advantage to either method, anecdotal evidence suggests that using a real deck may fall in the player’s favor more often. It is also more secure because a pack of cards cannot be hacked.
What Games are Available?
Because live casino games require a physical set up with rooms, staff and equipment, there aren’t as many different varieties on offer as there are for the all-digital games. But there’s still an exciting selection on offer.
Leading UK provider 888 Casino have partnered up with Evolution Gaming and Playtech to offer the largest selection of live casino games. This includes live blackjack and roulette tables, along with other live games like baccarat and spin the wheel. They’ve also recently introduced live slots to their website, which uses revolutionary technology to create a game show experience with community spins, live commentary and exciting bonuses.
Bets on the tables range from less than 50p to limits of thousands, so you can find a table that fits your comfort level. Plus, their dazzling dealers are on hand to answer your questions and tailor the experience to you. Not only that, but they also even have their own pit boss to assist. Nothing is better than seeing it with your own eyes, experience the excitement yourself and head to their impressive live casino – but beware, it might be addictive.
Are All-Live Games the Future of Online Casinos?
Will virtual reality casinos soon allow players to walk among the tables?
Along with other innovations like VR and AR casino games and cryptocurrency payments, live casino games have been touted as the Future of Online Casinos. They have certainly grown in popularity and the last few years has seen them go from a niche novelty into the main draw for online casino sites.
Will they entirely eclipse digital casino games? Probably not. As already mentioned, live casino games need a physical set up which digital games don’t. This is more expensive and limits the number of games that can be offered. Also, while some games, like roulette and blackjack, lend themselves well to the live format and benefit from the extra interactivity, other games have flourished online because of the way digital technologies have enhanced the gameplay and made them more accessible, especially to new players.
Conclusion
Live casino games are definitely here to stay. Many customers appreciate the extra social interaction that they provide, and they are the next best thing to being in an actual casino.
While they are unlikely to eclipse all other types of online casino games, they are certainly set to keep growing in popularity. More and more online casinos are jumping on the bandwagon and adding live games to their roster, giving more customers the opportunity to try this revolutionary style of gaming.
