Live dealer games are still new but are fast becoming a favorite for online casino players. Traditional online casino games also offer their own unique experience. However, both have pros and cons and this short guide will discuss them.
Live dealer games
Live dealer games give players an immersive experience like they would have in a physical casino. Some of the popular live dealer games include online baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and poker.
In live dealer games, players can interact with dealers in real time. This means they can communicate with a real person playing the role of the dealer. The idea is to make the experience more realistic. Besides being able to communicate with the dealer, players can also communicate with each other. A chat option allows players to send messages to other players at the table.
So, how does this work? Casinos often use a live video feed to conduct games in real time. As a player, you can join in from your home on your mobile device. However, every other thing is real, including the equipment, dice, cards, and even the table.
Live dealer games are hosted in studios in different parts of the world. Various software providers make it possible to play these games by streaming them live from locations, including Latvia, the Philippines, Spain, Malta, Costa Rica, and Ireland.
The dealer often has a monitor to let them see what the player sees. This means they can follow any bets made and view the players’ messages. The technology also includes an optical camera and recognition technology that allows the dealers’ every move to be sent to the player screen, including the cards, the numbers, and symbols.
Pros
- Immersive experience: it feels like the real thing
- Real interactions: It is possible to communicate with the dealer and players.
- Wide variety of options: there are a lot of options, not limited to poker and baccarat. You can also play live games and more.
- Transparency: The game is transparent as every move of the dealer is shared live.
Cons
- Slow pace: Live dealer games are slower since each player has to make a decision before the game moves forward.
- Slow network connection: Network connections need to be perfect, or it can affect the game.
Traditional online casino games
Traditional online casino games have been around for quite some time. They became popular in the last few decades, as many were styled after slot machines and physical casino games. These games include poker, slots, roulette, and blackjack, among others.
Today, online casino games do not require special software to work on any device. Most of them use HTML5 technology, allowing players to access the game from their mobile browsers. The games are designed to fit the orientation of the mobile device.
Most of these games, especially slots, use a random number generator. The RNG helps make sure that the results are not manipulated in any way. They also come in a wide variety of themes. You can find movie, sports, mythical, fruit, and futuristic-themed slots, among others.
Besides the long list of themes available for these games, the manufacturers provide a return to player (RTP). That means how much a player can take home after wagering. The average RTP for slots specifically is 96%. For table games, it uses a house edge.
Also, online casino games have a variance that determines the frequency and size of wins. Unlike live dealer games, the betting range for these games varies. This is why they are often better for people with a smaller bankroll.
Pros
- Fast pace: Traditional games are much faster compared to live dealer games because they use random number generators.
- Larger game selection: Traditional online casino games offer more game options. They come in a wide range of themes as well.
- Ease of use: They can be played on your phone browser without any special apps or software.
Cons
- No interaction: Unlike live dealer games, traditional online casino games do not allow users to chat with other users.
- Not immersive: While the games are fun, they are not immersive like live dealer games, which give you something close to the real-life experience.
Both games have their strengths and weaknesses. So choose one that meets your specific preference.
