Live Casinos
A live casino brings the quintessential casino experience to wherever you are. You play with real players and interact with a human dealer on the casino floor. Many live casinos are open to players in the United States. WildWins.com provides detailed, factually accurate and unbiased reviews of casino websites offering live games, and explains how you can start playing at one.
What is a live casino?
Some years ago, the notion of a casino was a brick and mortar establishment with slot machines, roulette tables, dealers, and fellow players. For the best casino experience, Americans flocked to Atlantic City, Las Vegas and New Orleans.
Online gambling made it possible to play casino games on the computer and mobile devices. The house still had the edge, players could wager real money, and pocket their winnings online. Gambling online became incredibly popular not just for the ability to access casino games at home or on long commutes, but also because of the sheer choice in games, something for every player.
Live dealer casinos for USA players took the online gambling experience to the next level. As it exists today, a live casino is the next best thing to visiting a physical casino. It is the actual casino floor or a studio with poker and blackjack tables, croupiers, dealers and other players.
How does a live casino work? Do I get to talk to a live dealer?
The action on the physical casino floor or studio is streamed to your computer in full HD video. Once you have signed up with a live casino, click on the game you want to play. You will see the table and dealer, and place your bet via your computer. The social experience is facilitated by the fact that you can chat with a living, breathing human dealer.
Evolution Gaming is the leader in live dealer gaming, with studios in Canada, Latvia and Malta. NetEnt and PlayTech also have live dealer studios, and more are expected to enter this profitable market. Live casino gaming requires you to have an internet-enabled computer or mobile device with the minimum system requirements explained further on.
Online vs live casino games
The ‘dealer’ in an online casino game is a software that you play against, which is the random generator (RNG). An RNG uses mathematical formula that controls returns to the player by generating a sequence that does not have a pattern. It is not possible to predict the reel symbols, dice numbers, cards or roulette numbers that will come up. At a live casino, you’re playing with dealers and other players.
The casino or studio hosting live casinos use equipment that constantly stream table games. This is an expensive affair, a reason why the minimum wagers tend to be higher compared to an online gambling site.
To play live games, you need a high-speed internet connection and better than average bandwidth speed for uninterrupted gaming. An online casino game is less bandwidth hungry but does require a stable internet connection and adequate bandwidth for high-quality games.
Are online casinos rigged?
Any online casino is led by a profit motive. It needs to have an advantage to remain in business, which does not mean that games are rigged. However, fraud has been uncovered at poker sites and casino sites. One modus operandi is to pay out less than what is advertised to players. Others are structuring wins in such a way that players are motivated to play for longer, and dealing hands so as to increase pot size and attract players, generating greater revenue for the casino.
Top online casinos have a reputation to protect. It is unlikely that they will rig games against players. They undergo audits and independent testing to convey fairness and good ethics.
The only cheating method that can be envisioned is if the dealer acts unscrupulously. This possibility is low as the proceedings are recorded 24/7 and overseen by a pit boss.
For peace of mind, stick to gambling sites that have been reviewed for integrity, don’t have complaints against them, and enjoy considerable popularity among players.
How do you play live casino?
Online casinos that offer slots and table games may have a live dealer lobby that you can enter to get in on the action at a physical casino floor. If you’re only interested in table games, you can play at a gambling site that operates exclusively as a live casino.
Here’s how you can start playing:
Choose the right operator
Avoiding rogue operators is the first step! You have to identify a safe and fair gambling website. Your personal information and money are safe. Go through our reviews to choose websites that offer an outstanding experience and avoid unsafe gambling websites that may have been blacklisted previously and emerged under a different name. Our expert reviewers will point you to the best online casino games.
Make your deposit
You can choose from multiple banking options, including Visa, Mastercard, Western Union, bitcoin, echecks, American Express and prepaid cards. You can make deposits using all these methods. At a USA-friendly live casino, you can transact using the dollar. We do a prior check of whether the casinos accept the local currency. When you use our reviews, you don’t have to spend time figuring out these details.
Choosing a live dealer game
A live feed takes you to the studio or casino offering the live table game. You make bets electronically as you would for casino gaming online. A real dealer shuffles and deals cards, unlike the simulations generated by the software for regular web-based table games.
You can play the live table games mentioned below. Click here for more information on online and live casino games.
Live baccarat: Baccarat has the esteem of being played at the VIP sections of casinos at top gambling destinations. Live baccarat is similar to the regular game, with the human dealer dealing two cards of hands to the table.
Live poker: Poker remains one of the most popular casino games worldwide. US players in states that don’t regulate poker can apply their skills at a live poker room in a different country. These sites need to be available legally in the player’s state. We perform this check so you know you’re not breaking the law.
Live roulette: Make the most of fast-paced live action and a wide range of bets at the roulette table of a top casino. How do you win live roulette? Pick the best bets, acknowledge the role of luck, and double your bet or cut your losses at the right time!
Games shows: Fans of television games will enjoy playing game shows in which a live presenter takes them into the studio and pits them against other contestants. Game shows you can participate in include Monopoly, Deal or No Deal, Mega Ball Evolution, Dream Catcher, and Spin a Win.
Live blackjack: The set-up is intuitive – if you’ve played blackjack before, you should have no trouble figuring out what to click on and enjoy a relaxed, seamless experience. If you aren’t familiar with this classic card game, read the rules before you start.
Super Sic Bo: The addition of bonus multipliers to traditional Sic Bo makes the game of luck even more thrilling. Bets in Sic Bo range from 95% to 97.22%.
What is the best live casino game to play? Depends on your personal interests, really. If you’re a poker fan, you may wish to try its live version from the comfort of your home. If you like to hit the roulette table at casinos, live roulette may be more enticing than other games. Your overall experience will depend on the gambling provider you’ve chosen.
Cash out
Check if you can cash out your winnings using the same method you use to deposit money into your account. For example, withdrawals are generally not possible using prepaid cards.
Cashing out takes a few seconds. Login in to your account, go to the casher section and click on ‘Payout’. Enter the amount you want to withdraw. This amount cannot exceed the minimum allowable withdrawal amount pre-determined by the casino. Make sure you read terms and conditions related to withdrawal limits prior to signing up. There are limits on the amount you can withdraw or the number of withdrawals you can make within a specified time period.
Fund processing times vary across different withdrawal methods. Bitcoin withdrawals can happen within a day of placing your request, while cashing out to your Western Union account can take 5-6 days.
Advantages of playing live casino games
You’re assured an authentic experience that feels personal owing to two reasons. One, you play against a human not a computer. Second, you can chat directly with the live dealer.
You can see the cards being dealt and observe the game through a webcam. You know what’s happening on the casino floor, which can eliminate any suspicion or apprehension that you may have when relying on random number generators for unpredictable outcomes. That said, the best online casinos for players in the US use quality software and audit their systems to ensure that they’re always offering patrons fair chances to win.
To compete in a large and competitive market, live and online casinos try their best to attract players with rewards, prizes, tournaments, progressive jackpots, and different types of bonuses. Thanks to all the bonuses and promotions, you have more chances to increase your bankroll.
Things to consider before playing live casino games
Internet connection: Online casinos recommend at least a 450 kbps download speed for low-quality games, and 750 kbps for superior quality videos. For live games, you need more – 1 kbps at the minimum – to avoid lag and freeze frames. If you’re playing on your mobile browser, check if you have enough data and whether an unlimited data plan may be more suitable than one that has daily limits.
System requirements: Besides your PC and laptop, you can enjoy your favorite games on your Android or iOS mobile phone and tablets. Check the operating system requirements from the operator. Generally, you should be able to play live casino games if your computer is compatible with these requirements:
Windows 7 onwards: Internet Explorer (11 or newer), Google Chrome (69 or newer), Firefox (62 or newer)
XP SP3 onwards: Firefox (49 or newer), Google Chrome (49 or newer)
Macintosh OSX+: Safari (10+ or newer)
Mobile platforms: The latest browsers on Android 4.4.2, iOS 9+, Windows phone 8.1
You may need to have Adobe Flash Player, Windows Media Player 10 or higher, and JavaScript and cookies enabled. Read up on this information on the casino website before you start playing.
If you briefly lose internet connection, your game will continue in real-time once the internet is back on. If you won money in the brief interim, it will be settled and if you won, the amount will be credited to your account.
Bankroll: Have a bankroll management system in place so you’re not tempted to unwisely wager large amounts towards winning lucrative jackpots. Set a budget, keep track of expenses, and have a firm bet range, which can be helpful to avoid losing a big chunk of your funds on a single bet.
Customer service: The top casino websites for US players have live chat, along with email and telephone support. Read our reviews to identify casinos that offer quick and responsive customer service.
A reminder on responsible gambling
Thrilling and financially-rewarding activities can start occupying a central place in your life to the detriment of professional and personal commitments. Online gambling is one such activity, which can be habit-forming, affecting your finances, health and life. Signs that you may be addicted to betting on the internet include:
- Spending money you cannot afford to lose
- Borrowing money to fund your bankroll
- Spending several hours daily on online gambling activities
- Gambling compulsively and prioritizing it over more important things
Relying solely on live casinos to generate income is dangerous. We recommend that you play for the entertainment rather than solely chasing rewards.