In the early days of online casinos, slow internet speeds limited live dealer style games to roulette only. The dealer would appear via broadcast television late at night in countries with liberal gaming laws, and players could place bets using their telephone. Similar systems are still in operation today, but of course now it is all done via smartphone apps and you can watch the dealer directly on your phone (or computer) too, if you prefer.
As the internet increased in popularity and new technologies were developed, gaming providers were quick to begin looking for solutions that would allow true two-way interaction online. Early platforms such as Adobe Flash and RealNetworks RealPlayer used a combination of open source and proprietary streaming algorithms to compress audio and video data down to a size that could be streamed over the 56k modems that were the prevalent form of connecting to the so-called “Information superhighway” at the time.
It wasn’t until broadband became available in the form of Cable Modems and Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL) that the games really started to become popular, however. Whilst RealPlayer could theoretically stream live video of blackjack or three card poker, the picture quality was widely mocked by players. Vastly inferior to even the standard definition television broadcasts of the day or even a well-used VHS tape, live dealer casino games were not ready for prime time until computers were able to decode MPEG2 video streams in real-time without needing expensive add-on hardware.
Live Dealer Casino Gaming in 2021
Today, our digital world has advanced to the point where live dealer casino games could be described as something of a technological marvel. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are some of the latest advances being explored by software companies, eager to make the experience of playing a game of blackjack from your living room every bit as exciting as sitting down at a real table in a casino.
Whilst that is a goal that has been cited by multiple developers and online casinos alike, it is doubtful if it will ever come to fruition – but the difference is much smaller than you might currently think. Here are just a few reasons why.
- Professional Dealers
Visit any large online casino today offering live casino games and you are sure to find highly experienced professional dealers shuffling the cards or spinning the roulette wheel. The equipment used is casino grade too, and you’ll often be able to see multiple other tables with live games going on in real-time all around the one you are playing at.
- Wide Range of Games and Variations
As the online gaming market opens up to more and larger markets worldwide, the player pool inevitably becomes larger which allows casinos and software companies to experiment with offering more varied games than was financially viable previously.
Across the United States, online gambling is coming back in a big way. Unibet are at the forefront of this push, ready to roll out a cutting edge licensed and regulated experience the moment that legislation allows it.
Their selection currently involves a host of different blackjack variations with different rules, table stakes and bet-behind options. Also available are Baccarat, Texas Hold’em Poker, Three Card Poker, and Roulette.
Their Slingshot Roulette and Infinite Blackjack are of particular note for adding new slants on established formulas, and we are likely to see more of this in the future.
- Table-Sharing with Real Patrons
This one can be a shock to even experienced gamblers who haven’t given live casino games a try in a while. Did you know you can now play at the very same roulette wheel as other players who are actually handling physical chips on the floor of a land-based casino?
Table sharing is even being rolled out for other games now such as blackjack, allowing casinos to fill empty spots as their tables with online players searching for a game. The only difference as far as the other casino patrons are concerned is that they see cards being dealt to what appears to be an empty seat. In actual fact, the dealer is viewing player choices on monitors located above each of the seven seats at the table. Response times are strictly limited though, so be sure you have a fast internet connection before choosing to participate.
Apart from this one caveat, table-sharing is a truly fantastic innovation. Pop on your VR helmet for maximum immersion!
Live Dealer Casino Gaming in 2021
These games have come so far since their earliest inceptions that we could probably fill a book telling you about the different technologies used, the ways they are secured for the benefit of both casino and player, and the high level of interaction that is now possible between you, the dealer, and the other players at the table.
Why not get out there and give some live casino games a try today? You might be surprised by what you find!
