A live casino is a section on an online casino that allows players to interact with real dealers and croupiers via video link. They can then use special software to place their bets and let the dealer know their decisions. This can add a lot to the gaming experience which can sometimes feel a bit isolating when you’re just dealing with numbers and pictures on screen.
The best online casinos will offer a huge range of live games, with multiple tables and betting limits. There are often special tables for VIPs and high rollers too. There are also a variety of different styles of game to suit everyone from beginners to seasoned pros. These games can also be played on the go thanks to mobile apps and web browsers.
Live casino brings the Las Vegas vibe to your desktop or smartphone. Professional human dealers stream from an actual casino studio in HD, so you can enjoy the glitz and glamour of land-based gambling without leaving your home. There are even chat features that allow you to communicate with the dealers and fellow players.
Most live casinos will provide a wide selection of popular casino games such as blackjack and roulette, with a variety of rule variations available. They’ll usually have a number of other niche options too, such as baccarat and craps. You can play most of these games using your mobile device if it supports Wi-Fi and a high-resolution display. Some sites also support a desktop version of their site, so you can choose which platform to play on depending on your preferences.
To ensure that everything runs smoothly during a live casino session, the site will employ a team of staff, including pit bosses, croupiers and IT employees. Each table will have a small device called a GCU (Game Control Unit) fitted to it, which encodes the video data that’s broadcasted during the game. These devices work alongside sensors on the table and magnetic strips on the cards to keep track of each player’s bets.
Aside from these, the best online casinos will employ cameras, lighting and sound equipment to give players the most realistic gaming experience possible. Some of these cameras will be fixed, while others can be moved to follow the action. They’ll also make use of optical zoom and pixel-mapping technology to improve the quality of the image.
The dealers and croupiers used for live casino games are generally experienced professionals who are familiar with the rules of each game. They are also trained to deal with a wide variety of customer issues and questions. In addition to these skills, the dealers and croupiers will be trained in the latest security protocols.
While it’s uncommon for live casinos to run out of available seats, this can happen at peak times. Fortunately, these casinos are very good at anticipating demand and opening up new tables quickly. In the rare event that a table is unavailable, the website will automatically whisk you to another one that has open seats.