Live Casinos

Online casinos are constantly evolving. As one of the most innovative sectors of online gaming, casinos and games developers are never standing still. One of the biggest innovations to hit in recent years has been live gaming, which has grown to rival the popularity of traditional video-based casino games. As online streaming and home broadband connections have improved in the past five years or so, the rise of live casino gaming has been meteoric, with players looking for a more realistic experience.

But what is a live casino and what games can you play there? Furthermore, can you trust live casino games to offer you a fair deal? In this beginner’s guide, we’ll look at exactly what you can expect from the world of live casino gaming.

Quite simply, live casinos are like real-world casinos gone digital. Rather than playing software powered games like video games, live casinos provide a live stream to a real human dealer. This allows you to watch the action unfold in real time, presented by a professional dealer like you would find in any land-based casino. The result is a hybrid experience somewhere between regular online casino gaming and visiting your local casino resort, with compelling results many players actually prefer.

There’s something more appealing about seeing game action unfold, and betting in real time based on all available information. It’s also a much more social experience, which many players prefer. But there’s also the added benefit of being able to see how the dealer operates. This helps put many players’ minds at rest, especially amongst those suspicious of the random number generators built into software-powered casino games.

What games can I play at a live casino?

Live casinos tend to offer a range of table games. If you find it at a land based casino, chances are high the same game will be available in a live version. Expect things like online roulette, online blackjack, baccarat and other table based games. More rarely you can come across things like live craps, live keno and other less popular games. Anything that requires a dealer at a land-based casino can be delivered as a live casino game, so you’ll not find yourself stuck for choice.

Modern live casinos also come with the added advantage of having new and innovative games on offer – games you wouldn’t ordinarily see at a real world casino. Gamess like Crazy Time combine elements of other popular gambling games to keep things fresh, while still providing players with the chance to win big money when they hit a lucky streak. It’s games like these that appeal to casual players, and often give them their first taste of what live casino gaming has to offer.

Best live casino providers

Like their software counterparts, live casino games are developed and provided by specialised live casino studios. There are two main developers we recommend, which you’ll find at the best online casinos.

The first is Evolution Gaming, by far and away the market leader for live gaming. They provide the broadest collection of live games, covering all the table game classics in numerous different versions and formats such as Lightning Roulette. They even include special twists on established games, such as baccarat, designed to make the experience even more engaging. When it comes to innovation, they’re even further ahead, producing some incredible games you won’t find anywhere else. Their live streams are all robust and buffering-free, and the user interface amongst the easiest you’ll find anywhere online.In a respectable second place is NetEnt, one of the largest developers of casino gaming software in the world. NetEnt tends to specialise in slots and software based games, but their live gaming is an acceptable rival for Evolution gaming.

Both these providers serve the world’s leading online casinos, providing top tier live streaming casino games for all comers.

Are live casinos rigged?

Live casinos are most definitely not rigged. In the same way that physical casinos are licensed and inspected, live casinos are subject to the oversight of gambling regulators. The same is true of non-live online casinos, but the crucial difference here is that you can watch what’s happening with a live casino game before your very eyes – there’s none of the element of trust involved that usually requires a bit of faith when you’re playing a regular online casino game.

As long as you stick to a reputable, licensed casino, which is regulated by an independent gambling authority such as the UK Gambling Commission, you can expect an experience that’s as fair as any offline casino.

Try them out for yourself today – you might just discover a new love of live casino gaming, courtesy of these leading Canadian live casinos and their games.