New online casinos come and go—but the industry is growing rapidly. From the US and Canada to Brazil and New Zealand, there’s increased legislation and a growing percentage of people showing an interest in mobile slots and table games.
In this article, we’ll focus on online casino games you can play versus other players. The games are unique, exciting, and profitable. Many of them come from software developers Evolution, Playtech, and NetEnt and we’ll explain below.
Live Casino Games—What are They?
Casino live games are games with a setup that imitate table games in Las Vegas casinos. The games are located in a beautifully decorated room. It features a branded poker, blackjack or baccarat table.
What’s more, there’s a human dealer that communicates to players linked to games through video links. For a live casino game to work, these tools are needed:
- Cameras
- A Game Control Unit
- Branded Table/Wheel
- A Monitor and speakers
- A Dealer
Against that backdrop, you need a computer, fast Internet, and an HD web camera to access a live casino game. That being done, you can play certain games—blackjack—against a human dealer. Or you can play poker and baccarat against your fellow players.
Live Poker
Poker is arguably the most competitive casino game. You might have luck. But if you’re less skilled than your opponent, you can still lose. At online casinos, you can play poker against RNG software or fellow players.
Live poker lets you play the game against human opponents in real-time. Depending on the setup, you can enable your web camera to see and interact with fellow players. Or you can compete while the cameras are turned off.
The beauty of live poker is that it comes in many forms. There’s Texas Hold’em—the most popular variation. Then there’s Omaha Hi and Hi-Lo. Alternatively, you can play Seven Card Stud or Five Card Draw.
Live Blackjack
Live blackjack is one of the most intriguing casino games you can play online. In poker, the dealer’s job is to deal cards. In blackjack, the dealer is your opponent. And since she represents her employer, it’s the equivalent of playing against the casino.
So, how can you play online blackjack versus another player? It’s a bit complicated. That’s because you actually don’t play against other opponents around the table. Instead, you take a virtual seat at a table of 2-12 players.
Next, you place a bet and receive two cards facing up—just like every other player. Then you make a move—split cards hit, stand or take insurance after viewing the dealer’s up card. Your opponents do the same.
Whoever produces a hand of 21 first wins. Alternatively, the hand closest to 21 wins. Of course, keep in mind the dealer can win too.
Live Roulette
When you think about it, roulette is similar to blackjack. You play against the casino. If you win, you’re paid. If you lose, the casino keeps your money. In live casino games, you can also play roulette against multiple people.
Take Lightning roulette as an example. This game works like a TV show. It has a charming host who runs the show inside a TV studio. Behind the host is a virtual wall with roulette numbers that can be highlighted.
In front of the host is a roulette wheel. Of course, there are cameras, lighting, and microphones to help the host conduct the show. Hundreds of people can compete to play the game.
You can bet on regular roulette numbers 0 to 36. Or you can bet on black/red, inside or outside bet. If you bet on a specific number and it’s highlighted on the virtual wall, you stand to win up to 500x your bet amount.
Live Baccarat
James Bond’s favorite card game is both intriguing and confusing. It’s interesting in that you can wager two hands—the banker or the dealer. But it’s also confusing in regards to what the two hands mean.
Put simply, baccarat is a game of two hands. At the start of a game, the dealer deals the player two cards and the banker two cards. All the cards face up. The goal is to predict which hand has cards whose value totals nine.
In baccarat, 10-value cards, including face cards like Q and J hold the value of zero. The Ace card counts as one while the remaining cards hold their face value (2-9). If one hand exceeds 9, say 13, its new value is the digit on the left (3).
Unlike blackjack, where you can win 3:2 for every hand won, baccarat pays out 1 to 1. You can earn 8 to 1 if you bet on a tie, but this hand has the worst odds. The banker has the best payout at 98%. But keep in mind the house keeps a 5% fee if you bet and win on the banker’s hand.
Dream Catcher
Dream Catcher is like lighting roulette. Picture this. The game has a large wheel with 52 numbers occupying colored slots. Then there are two slots with x2 and x7 numbers. Basically, you predict whether the wheel’s marker will stop.
Let’s say you bet on number 40 and the wheel stops at x7 multiplier. You don’t lose. A dealer spins the wheel again. Assuming the wheel stops at 20, your payout will be as follows: 7x 20 x 40, which equals $560.
Bingo
Generally, bingo isn’t a live casino game. Sure, players converge in a virtual bingo room. But often, there are no cameras. Instead, players can interact through text chats. However, they compete to win a prize.
The specific amount you win in bingo depends on the bingo game you play—30, 75, or 80 ball bingo. It also depends on your bet amount and whether or not you choose a game with a jackpot.
The beauty of bingo is that it’s simple. You cross numbers one after another. If you mark winning numbers, you call BINGO to receive the prize.
