A live casino is a way to play online table games that uses video footage of a real person to run the game. This person is usually a professional dealer and they are broadcast from a special studio or a casino environment. The video is streamed to the player’s computer or mobile device giving them a feel for being right there in the casino. This experience is becoming increasingly popular as more states legalize online gambling.
When you play a live dealer game you will be shown a video feed of the table and the real casino equipment that is used to run it. You will also have buttons on your screen to place your bets. These will be linked to a system called a GCU (Game Control Unit). This little box is not much bigger than a shoebox and it is responsible for encoding the video that is being transmitted from the gaming tables.
The dealer will then take your bets and start dealing cards or spinning the roulette wheel. You will have a chat window that allows you to interact with the dealer and other players. While this can be a fun and entertaining feature, you should make sure that you don’t become too distracted from the table’s action. It’s easy to get lost in chatting and end up missing key information about the game that could help you improve your winning chances.
Whether you are playing blackjack or baccarat, the standard rules of each game will apply. The dealer will deal two cards to each player and if you can beat the dealer’s hand or they go bust then you will win. There are also multiple side bets on offer that can pay out big rewards if you hit certain combinations. For example, a pair of jacks or a suited card will pay out at 3:2 while an ace will give you the best payout of all – 5:1.
Live casinos use dedicated studios to be able to transmit high quality video that is able to work on most home internet connections. You should always check the video quality to ensure that it is high enough to enjoy the gameplay you are paying for. If you are using a mobile device you should also check the game’s compatibility with your mobile operating system.
There are a wide variety of live dealer table games available including blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more. Depending on the site you choose, they may have more or less of these games available for you to play. They will also have different betting limits and some will be better for mobile devices than others. It is important to pick a game that you are familiar with so that you can develop a winning strategy. This will increase your odds of winning by up to 60%.
Before you begin playing live casino, make sure to read the rules of each game and understand their house edge. This will prevent you from making poor decisions that can lead to large losses. Also, be sure to play at a legitimate casino that has been licensed by the government and that follows strict regulations regarding fairness.