Looking for the real casino thrill? Then live casino games are exactly what you should be playing! And here is where this article comes in, to give you an overview of the most popular live casino games, the software providers that power them and the best sites to play them at.
I will also cover all important details such as table settings that can help you personalize your gaming experience, wagering limits, special variations with fun and rewarding sidebets and, of course, bonuses to cash in on. In the next paragraph, you can find the recipe to the top live online casinos that cater to players in the UK.
How to Spot the Perfect Live Dealer Site
Needless to say safety should be one of the first factors to consider when playing on the Internet, but you will be happy to know that all British casinos are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and they also own safety certificates from big organizations such as eCogra and IBAS. Almost all online casinos offer live games, but some of them simply do it better and there are few aspects that you need to consider when choosing where to play, such as variety of the games and betting limits, stable and reliable software, HD live streaming, multi-game options and enticing promotions and bonuses.
Whether you want to play blackjack, roulette, dice or card games with live dealer, you need to have the freedom to choose between several tables, with low or high limits, sidebets, and even themes, as is the case with Party Blackjack that can be found at BetVictor Casino. A good live online casino site will also sprinkle your experience with mouth-watering bonuses and promotions, about which you can read more in the dedicated paragraph.
Popular Live Online Casino Games – Variations and Betting Limits
If back in the day you could only play roulette, blackjack, and baccarat with real dealers, now the most impressive collections include also certain card games, such as Casino Hold’em and Three Card Poker and Sic Bo – the only available dice game. The best thing about playing at live tables is the human element, as you are greeted by the dealer as soon as you join a game.
Moreover, you can chat with the dealers as well as with other users while you play and the outcome of every game is determined by a real person, in real time, instead of the RNG (random number generator).
Party Blackjack is another game you should definitely try because there is where the party is. You will be greeted by a dealer and a beautiful lady who’s first concern is to entertain you. As I mentioned earlier, the wagering limits are another reason to choose live online casinos, instead of land-based ones, since you can place bigger bets.
The Award-Winning Software Providers that Make It Happen
The most renowned software providers that offer live games are Evolution Gaming, Playtech, NetEnt, Microgaming and Extreme Live Gaming – which is part of the Novomatic Group. Here is a short overview of their products, the games that they offer and the special features that make them so popular:
- Evolution Gaming – This operator has definitely won its place as the world’s leading live dealer provider, as the motto on their website proudly states. Evolution Gaming offer impeccable graphics and excellent live streaming for over 10 years now and every new game that they launch is a success from the get-go. Their collection includes roulette, blackjack, baccarat, Casino Hold’em, Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker. Some of the most interesting variations of the classics are Party Blackjack, Sports Roulette and the award-winning Immersive Roulette.
- Playtech – A company that needs no introduction, Playtech also has an impressive collection of games which you can try at Ladbrokes Casino. An interesting and pretty rare addition to the classic games is Sic Bo, the only dice game that can be played with real dealers. Top-notch cameras broadcast in HD quality from studios in Riga, Latvia and Manila, which means that you can find both European and Asian dealers at the tables. Playtech also offer Unlimited Blackjack tables, with the options of betting behind a player, if all 7 seats are taken.
- NetEnt – Although they only offer roulette and blackjack, it’s more than obvious that they do it better than the rest, quality over quantity, which is always a good strategy. On the other hand, they feature a wide range of limits, with pretty low ones for blackjack games, but high on roulette tables, with a maximum of £75,000 and a minimum of 50p. With a clean and user-friendly interface, NetEnt live games are a sight for sore eyes, although we would love to see some more games added to the collection.
- Microgaming – If you love online gambling and Playboy bunnies, then look no further than Microgaming. Although this is not by far all they have going for them, the beautiful dealers dressed as Playboy bunnies are the main attraction of their show. Some of the most important features are the Auto-betting and the detailed statistical analysis. Their software has received eCOGRA’s Seals Compliance Committee certificate and their games can be played both on desktop and mobile devices.
There are other live games providers that are not as famous as the 4 mentioned above, such as Vuetec, Ho Gaming, Smart Live Gaming, Xpro Gaming and GGL (Global Gaming Labs). But the truth is that the number and the quality of the games offered are not as impressive, which is why they are not featured at renowned UK casino sites.
Mobile Live Casino Apps
One of the key characteristics of a good live UK casino is its mobile compatibility, because what can be more fun than playing on the go? Although most casino sites have web-based apps that can give you access to most of their games on almost every mobile device, 888 Casino go above and beyond and offer not one, but two downloadable apps and a web-based one. Usually, Android apps are hard to find, as they cannot be included in the official store, as is the case with iOS apps. But 888 have found a way to please all types of users and they included over 40 live tables, with some of the most varied betting limits.
Bonuses and Special Promotions
Sometimes operators extend special offers for their live games users. Such is the case at 888 Casino, where you can play blackjack with up to £1,200 in bonus cards hidden in the shoe on the 888Xtra and 888VIP tables. And if roulette is your thing, then you will win £8 every time the winning number is 8, given you have placed a bet during the respective spin. Ladbrokes, on the other hand, will reward you with £50 instant cash as soon as you make a deposit of £50 using the bonus code LOVELIVE and play through it 15 times. And given the wide range of games that this operator features, I believe you will comply with these conditions in no time.
It’s worth mentioning that most of the times even the regular bonuses can be used to play live games, although the wagering contribution may be different than that of the regular RNG games. BetVictor Casino, for example, extends a £200 first deposit bonus, which can also be used to play at their 4 different live casinos.
Online vs Land-Based Casinos
There are so many advantages to playing live games online, instead of at your local casino. First and foremost, you have enticing bonuses to play with, which is more than we can say about land-based locations, not to mention that you will cut the travel and accommodation expenses. Second, you can play anytime of the day or night, as most tables are available 24h per day and you can also play anywhere you are, with the help of the live mobile apps.
In terms of gameplay, you have varied wagering limits, which can reach as much as £500,000 and there will always be a seat for you at the blackjack tables as you can use the Bet Behind feature and wager on another player’s hand. Another advantage of playing online is the access to the extensive playing stats that Internet sites offer, which can help you keep track of your winnings and losses. Top that with the special variations like Party Blackjack and Ra Roulette, which you can only play online, and you have the recipe for a fantastic gaming experience.