The first live dealer casino games started to appear online towards the end of the 2010s. Facilitated by providers like Playtech, Evolution and NetEnt Live, these games have upended the industry online while also laying down the gauntlet to the vast casino resorts of Las Vegas, etc. Everything about these games replicates what you would find in a real casino, right down to how the croupiers dress in the studio.
As you might expect, the advent of live dealer games would excite fans of blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker. After all, they would no longer have to make the trip to the casino to play these games with real cards, dealers, and so on. But it’s a little facile to say that live games have replaced virtual games, or that live games are the better option for players.
Indeed, signing up via this blackjack page will demonstrate to you that virtual games and live games are given equal weighting at popular casino sites. Below we will discuss why that remains the case, and if you should be choosing one option over another.
Virtual Games Mimic the House Edge of Live Games
This is one of the most crucial areas to understand. The software used to determine the outcome of virtual games reflects the probabilities of ‘real’ games. For instance, if you look at Playtech’s European Roulette, it has an RTP of 97.30%. That means that, over time, the game will pay back 97.30% of the money it takes in, giving it a house edge of 2.70%. This is identical to the house edge in standard European roulette games at a casino resort.
But Psychology Comes Into Play
Deep down in the psychology of casino players there is always a belief that they can beat the math can be defeated. That can be argued as logical in the case of blackjack when implementing a card-counting system, but it’s obviously illogical in games of pure chance like roulette. However, this does tend to push players towards live dealer games.
Yet, Virtual Games Have Bigger Rewards
Technology can mean bigger rewards. Sure, if you are playing blackjack with a real dealer, you might feel like you have the strategy to beat the system, but virtual games can push the boat out with huge jackpots and other prizes. For instance, games like Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven Blackjack and Dragon Roulette Jackpot both offer progressive awards that can be worth 1000s of times your stake. These are awarded randomly, but the mechanics at work mean they favour high stakes players.
Although, That’s Also Changing
As we mentioned, technology can mean bigger prizes for players. But live dealer casino games have also started using software to create more exciting experiences. Consider games like Playtech’s Quantum Blackjack Live, which fuses RNG technology with real gameplay to offer supercharged prizes of 100s of times your stake. The same goes for live jackpot games like Age of the Gods Roulette Live. The upshot is that you can play live games online for larger prizes than you would see in a casino resort.
Conclusion – Which Should You Choose?
It is a difficult question to answer because the decision will rest on each player’s tastes. However, we would counsel that virtual games are still the best option for those pursuing big payouts, as there is a wider variety of options. In saying that, live casino technology is relatively new, and new gaming concepts are quickly coming to the market. Some of those incorporate massive prizes like the games mentioned above. So, it’s up to you. However, the good news is that at a top casino, you can experience both the best virtual and live games.
