Live casino games are not a new thing. Their first iteration hit the digital sphere in 2003 when pioneer Playtech launched the internet’s original set of live tables. Three years following this event, Microgaming followed suit, and the soon-to-be gaming juggernaut Evolution also came into the picture. Today, there are several live providers, and many slot mainstays are looking to transition into this growing industry segment.
In the mid-2000s and early-2010s, technology had not advanced to a point where live tables could compete with slots. However, with widespread smartphone adoption and internet penetration, all that changed. Nowadays, operators can stream HD video to mobile phones with negligible lag, and dealers use OCR software to ensure game fairness. Thus, with ever-improving technology, the live casino landscape continuously expands and only exciting times lay ahead.
Live Blackjack
Blackjack is the most popular table game ever and has the lowest house edge out of any gaming option on the casino floor. If you are a fan of this relative of the French Vingt-et-Un and the British Pontoon, know that you are in luck. All providers offer it, and they all have multiple tables with varying bet limits. Meaning, you can sit at a virtual table where the minimum bet is $5 or one where it is $100.
You can also enjoy most of its popular variations such as Infinite, Unlimited 21, Free Bet, Six-Deck, and Power Blackjack. Though online casinos prohibit card counting, you can give it a shot. However, due to card scanning, their proprietary software can tell if you are engaging in this practice, as it keeps track of all your gameplay and bets.
Live Roulette and Baccarat
Roulette is the second-most-known casino game and is a European high-roller favourite. The same applies to baccarat, but in Asia. You can find both of these in the live-dealer format on offer at any online casino worth its salt.
If the spin of the wheel of luck is your thing, online, you can play the top two roulette variations, European and American. Or, you can mix things up and try out French, Blaze, Spread-Bet, or Auto roulette. There are even football and game show variations. The latter is Lightning roulette, and it ranks among the top ten most popular interactive gambling games and boasts a massive following.
When it comes to baccarat, the live offer is not as robust but is still pretty decent. You can easily find Super-Six, and Seven-Up baccarat tables, or opt to enjoy its two-card version – Dragon Tiger or play some no commission baccarat (punto banco).
Casino-Poker Variants
Casino-poker variants are not poker. They are player vs. dealer games that feature a house edge similar to classic table games and get played at similar speeds. They have the word poker because they involve elements from it, such as its hand ranking system.
Three-Card Poker is the best-known casino-poker variant and the most successful proprietary table game of all time. Sadly, aside from Evolution’s casino-poker tables, you will struggle to find other providers that offer games from this genre. Aside from Three-Card Poker, your other live casino-poker options include Ultimate Texas Hold ’em, Casino Hold ’em, and Side-Bet City.
Game Show Games
In 2017, Evolution Gaming launched its game show games venture, starting with Dream Catcher, a Money Wheel game that aims to appeal to slot players. It does this by providing far more immersive gameplay than other titles that fall into the wheel category. Monopoly Live is a variation of Dream Catcher that utilizes the theme of the established board game.
For those into TV game shows, the gambling version of Deal or No Deal is a must-pick. It combines the Deal or No Deal’s gameplay with RNG qualifying rounds. In it, you can win a briefcase prize that is worth x500 your stake. Mega Ball is a popular lottery-style game that is fast and simple to play, and Football Studio is a card game that caters to sportsbook enthusiasts. The latter gets played on an interactive football pitch-style table and is oodles of fun.
That said, all the mentioned titles pale in comparison to Crazy Time, the most ambitious game show project ever. It is a wheel action that features four bonus rounds. These are Cash Hunt, Coin-Flip, Pachinko, and Crazy Time. If things go your way on Crazy Time, you may stand a chance to win the whopping max prize of x25,000 your wager.
Live Dice Games
If you are a fan of shooting dice, it should be obvious that you cannot do that over the internet. Nevertheless, if you are comfortable with a dealer doing that for you, you can enjoy craps online. It will incorporate the same rules-set and bet options that most land-based venues provide and boast similar entertainment value.
Super Sic Bo is a slice of ancient Asian dice action that incorporates an RNG element that adds a random multiplier that goes up to x1,000. Super Sic Bo is a super-underrated gaming option that everyone should try.
