If you have played at online casinos before, it is likely you have spent most of your time playing video slots. That is not a surprise as online slot machines still rank as the most popular game at casinos. However, you might be missing out on some of the best fun you can have on these platforms. Live casino games offer huge amounts of entertainment and the potential to win some handsome payouts.
Online live casino games are quickly becoming one of the most popular types of casino games and for good reason. They give you the chance to play exciting games as if you were at a traditional land-based casino in person. The action is streamed to your desktop or mobile device and features a fully trained live dealer or croupier. They also offer a social aspect too as you can chat away with fellow players via a community chatroom. Better yet, you can do all the above using your cryptocurrencies at a crypto live casino.
In this blog, you will find out why live casino games are proving so popular, what they are, how they work, and even some strategies to use when playing them.
Introduction
Are you bored with playing video slots and want to try out some other games at your favourite online casinos? Then you should definitely try some online live casino games. There are literally hundreds of titles to enjoy from many suppliers including Evolution, Playtech Live, Pragmatic Play Live, Vivo Gaming, Ezugi, and more. You can play using fiat currencies including USD, EUR, CAD, NZD, and GBP, or like here at mBitcasino, using cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Litecoin (LTC).
You have the option of playing the best Bitcoin Blackjack games in a live format, Bitcoin Roulette, or many other different games. Some titles even offer a gameshow-like experience that could contain bonus rounds, giant wheels, lottery balls, or other devices. While these games offer the chance to win some impressive payouts, often people play for the entertainment value rather than monetary gain. Of course, winning is nice but some people just like to have some fun while also hoping to end a session with profit.
What does Live Casino Games mean?
Live casino games are what it says on the tin. They are casino games that are delivered live to your desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. The games are hosted in studios (or sometimes land-based casinos) and have a live dealer, croupier, or host that operates the game in real time. You can play Bitcoin Roulette, Blackjack, Craps or countless other titles as long as you have an internet connection and a computer or mobile device. Simply click on the ‘Live Casino’ section and you will find a range of games ranging from table games such as live blackjack, roulette, and poker to entertaining gameshow-style games.
What are Online Live Casino Games?
They are online versions of blackjack, roulette or other popular casino games that are played via a stream. They enable you to play those games without having to visit a land-based casino. Plus, as they are live, they do not use a random number generator (in most cases) to determine the results. You see the results happen with your own eyes. While RNGs on slots and other casino games are certified as random and fair, it is always nice knowing the result of most live casino games are not determined by a piece of software. You see the roulette ball land in its ultimate position on the wheel and you see the dealer shuffling and dealing the cards.
The developers of these games use innovative streaming technology, state-of-the-art webcams, and beautifully designed studios to deliver an entertaining experience to players. At the player end, there is a betting interface you can use to place your wagers and control your input in the games. You place your virtual chips in the specific betting options and that software automatically credits or debits your casino account depending on the result.
These betting interfaces usually support many currencies including cryptocurrencies and will also support multiple languages. That means players from different regions around the world can all enjoy the same games. Most tables feature an English-speaking dealer, croupier, or presenter but sometimes, you can find tables or games with staff that speak other languages.
History of the Online Live Casino Games
Online live casino games are not new on the scene and the idea even dates back to 1998. That is when the first attempts at creating live casino games were made. However, in the early days it never got off the ground because of limitations in technology. The first internet casinos came online in 1995 and if you were alive back then, you would know that internet was delivered via dial-up modems.
Computers were nowhere near as powerful either. This meant slow internet and not enough processing power to play the games. Despite those issues, iGaming quickly caught on with players thanks to the convenience it offered. You could now gamble from the comfort of your own home.
- Evolution Domination Begins
Over the years, technology gradually improved, but it was not until 2007 that saw the launch of the first live casino games. Even then, it was rare to find live blackjack or roulette at an online casino. You needed good internet and a powerful PC to run them and not everybody had either.
Online live casino games started to take off once smartphones were launched. They increased the need to boost internet speeds around the world as more and more people were buying them. Then, in 2012, major casino game developer’s realised that mobile gaming was becoming a thing. They switched to HTML5 for the development of their games. That enabled players to play at online casinos via their smartphones rather than needing an expensive computer.
Evolution Gaming (now just called Evolution) were the early pioneers and to this day remain the number one live casino game developer. The firm was picking up industry awards as far back as 2010 for their live casino solutions. The live supplier created live blackjack, roulette, and baccarat titles initially. Over the years since, Evolution has created over 70 live casino games. That includes the 2017 launch of Dream Catcher, the very first live casino gameshow.
- Others Live Brand’s Enter the Scene
Other companies were slower to the vertical but other brands in the early days included Playtech Live and NetEnt. The latter has since stopped developing and hosting live casino games after it was acquired by Evolution. Ezugi (also now owned by Evolution) and Extreme Live Gaming were also among the first live casino developers. The latter was acquired by Pragmatic Play which allowed that company to get in on the live casino action.
Today, there are many live casino suppliers. The number has grown as the popularity of online live casino games has increased. Courtesy of the live game developers around today, we now have access to well over 150 live games.
How do Live Casino Games work?
Essentially, the live casino supplier will build a custom studio full of the casino games it wants to host. Each table is placed in front of a high-tech webcam and microphone. Then, professional live dealers or croupiers will operate the game in front of the camera. A screen next to the camera will tell the dealer when to perform certain actions such as dealing the cards, spinning the roulette wheel or ending the round. Players at home use a betting interface to perform their own actions. They see the live stream and will have a certain amount of time to place their bets.
Types of Online Live Casino Games
There are many games you can play at a crypto live casino but generally, you can break them down into two categories. There are traditional casino table games found at land-based casinos around the world and unique live gameshow titles.
- Traditional Casino Table Games
When you walk into a land-based casino, the typical games you will find include Roulette, Blackjack, Craps, Baccarat, and different variations of poker. You can play these games in a live format at most online live casinos. They all feature a fully trained live dealer or croupier and deliver results determined by the laws of physics. There is no RNG used for the standard variations of these games. Of course, unique variations that offer additional bonus rounds or random multipliers will use an RNG of some kind.
Aside from those most common live casino games, you can also enjoy lesser-known titles you might not have heard of. For instance, Andar Bahar and Teen Patti are two card games popular in India. That popularity is now spreading thanks to online casinos. Both those games now feature at many fiat and Bitcoin casinos. There are others too such as Sic Bo and Fan Tan, games that some of you might not know existed.
- Gameshow Style Live Games
These are called live gameshows because they look and play like television-style gameshows. They feature a live host (rather than a dealer/croupier) who is there to operate the game, commentate on the action, and interact with the players currently playing or watching.These will often feature a giant wheel or fortune-style wheel, air-sucking lottery machines, or some other contraption. Some will even offer CGI effects, RNG-bonus rounds, or video screens.
Each game is different but these appeal to a wider audience than the standard casino table games. That is because they are usually easy to play, do not require skill, are hosted in fantastic studios, and offer lucrative payouts. They also provide an entertainment factor which is amplified by exuberant live hosts. They also have a social element to them as the players can interact with each other via a community chatroom. You will often see players typing their delight, sorrow, or just chatting away with others. Even the live host will get involved by chatting with players that ask questions.
What are the Best Live Casino Games?
This is subjective as all players will have their own preferences. Some will love playing live blackjack, others might prefer Bitcoin roulette, and some might enjoy live gameshows. Then, as there are so many live casino developers around today, players might prefer games offered by different brands.
However, some games have proved more popular than others. Live gameshows, in particular, are now among the most popular online casino games. Crazy Time (Evolution), Adventures Beyond Wonderland (Playtech Live), and Monopoly Live (Evolution) are among the best of those.
Evolution’s ‘Lightning’ series of games is also incredibly popular. They are variations of traditional casino games that have random multipliers. For instance, Lightning Roulette (an award-winning game) offers random multipliers of between 50x and 500x the stake on up to 5 of the numbers. If you placed a straight up bet on one of those numbers and it comes in, you win that multiplier of your stake. Other popular gameshows include Mega Ball (Evolution), Boom City (Pragmatic Play Live), Free Bets Blackjack (Evolution), and Sweet Bonanza CandyLand (Pragmatic Play Live)
Another popular style of live casino games is live slots. Titles such as Buffalo Blitz Live (Playtech Live) and Crazy Coin Flip (Evolution) involves players betting on spins of communal slot machines. The aim is to trigger the bonus round where the real fun starts on both titles.
There’s always something new to enjoy too, as the developers consistently launch new titles. New titles recently released include:
- Dead or Alive: Saloon (Evolution)
- Everybody’s Jackpot (Playtech Live)
- PowerUP Roulette (Pragmatic Play Live)
- Gold Bar Roulette (Evolution)
Strategies for Online Live Casino Games
It depends on the game you are playing at the crypto casino whether there are strategies you can use. There are many roulette strategies, for example, that players use when playing the game. Among those is the likes of the Martingale betting strategy, the D’Alembert strategy and the Fibonacci. Of course, no strategy guarantees that you will always turn a profit when playing. However, they can help to maximize wins and minimize losses when playing. For example, using a basic blackjack strategy is the best way to ensure your bankroll lasts as long as possible.
Speaking of bankroll, having a strategy for how you use yours is a good way to improve your chances. Called bankroll management, this is a set plan of how you will use your bankroll during a session. Of course, it is not illogical to think that betting 50% of your bankroll on each round will not ensure a long session at the tables. Instead, you might develop a bankroll management plan of just betting 5% each turn. That means you will play at least 20 rounds and more if you win a few along the way.
Whether or not you use a strategy or develop your own, its is important that you follow certain tips to ensure you are giving yourself the best chance of success.
- Always understand the rules of a live casino game
- Claim a casino bonus you can use with live casino games (gives free money to play)
- Always play when you have few distractions
- Never chase losses (know when to quit)
- Always use and stick to a bankroll management strategy
- Never bet with money you cannot afford to lose
Can I Play Live Games Using Cryptocurrencies?
Absolutely. Here at mBitcasino we offer live casino games from Evolution, Ezugi, and Pragmatic Play Live, three of the best online live casino suppliers. You can play the full range of live casino games and gameshows offered by each of those providers at our crypto casino. That includes Bitcoin roulette titles, the best Bitcoin Blackjack live games, various poker variations and of course, live gameshows including Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, and Boom City.
Below are the cryptocurrencies you can use for each of the games offered by those developers:
- Evolution (BTC, BCH, ETH, LTC)
- Ezugi (BTC, BCH, ETH, LTC, Doge)
- Pragmatic Play Live (BTC, BCH, ETH, LTC, Doge, XRP)
Why Play Bitcoin Live Casino Games?
There are many reasons to play live casino games online and not just because they give you a chance to win some money.
- The games are played in real time
When playing live casino games the action is ‘live’. That means an actual dealer or croupier is operating the game as you play. You see the action from a far via a live stream sent to your computer or device. The whole point of live casino games is to give an experience that is as close to the real thing as possible. Essentially, it is visiting and playing at a casino without having to get dressed up and travel to one.
- Professional Dealers
Those dealers are not just any man or woman off the street. They are qualified dealers and croupiers that could find employment in any land-based casino around the world. THe only exception are the live hosts used to operate live gameshows. There is no need to have qualifications if you’re just going to talk and spin an enormous wheel from time-to-time. They may have other qualifications in areas such as acting or presenting, however.
- Higher RTPs
While this is not the case across the board, many live casino games have a better RTP (return-to-player percentage) than video slots. This is especially the case with traditional casino table games such as Bitcoin roulette and blackjack games. Slot games usually range between 90 and 97% while some table games have an RTP of 98% or more. That means you have more chance of winning or at least minimising your losses.
- Social Elements
Playing video slots is great fun, but you play alone. One of the great things about live casino games is that you can chat away with other players as the games play out. You can even speak to the live dealer/croupier/presenter sometimes. Community chatrooms on these games can really add to the atmosphere and make playing more entertaining. Players will type words of joy when their long shot comes in while other may complain about their current losing streak.
- No Dress Code
As mentioned previously, live casinos enable us to play popular casino games without having to physically go to a land-based casino. That means you do not have to adhere to a dress code. You can wear anything you like. You can play in your underwear, monkey costume, work clothes, or with nothing on at all.
- Games Available 24/7
As the live developers try to cater to players in as many iGaming markets as possible, it means they operate most of their games around the clock. The live dealers will work in shifts to ensure that you can play your favourite crypto live casino game first thing in the morning, last thing at night, or anywhere in between. Thanks to mobile technology, you can also play anywhere you want. On the train to work, while waiting in line at the supermarket, or even on the toilet!
- Unique Games
While roulette and blackjack remain hugely popular casino games, the fact that you have so many other types of games to play is fantastic as well. There are poker games, dice games, lottery/bingo games, gameshows, and even live video slots. Plus, new games come out all the time, which means you have even more live content to enjoy.
Wrapping Up
Live casino games are now among the most popular casino games in the iGaming industry. They utilise state-of-the-art technology, fully trained live dealers, fantastic studios, and easy-to-use betting interfaces to deliver an online casino experience other games cannot match.
If you are new to online live casino games, why not check them out here at mBitcasino? You can play titles by Evolution, Ezugi, and Pragmatic Play Live. The best part is that those live brands have optimised their games to support cryptocurrency bets. This means you can load your casino account with your favourite digital currencies and then play Bitcoin Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Craps, poker, or live gameshows!
