What Is a Live Dealer Casino?
Almost every modern gambling platform features a section dedicated to a live casino. It’s typically packed with games like live blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, etc. These games work differently compared to virtual ones since they happen in real-time.
Once you start them, you’ll find yourself at a casino or studio where the game is filmed. You’ll also see an actual dealer who doesn’t see or hear you (with a few exceptions). They may chat with you, entertain you, deal cards, spin the roulette wheel, etc. Consequently, live dealers create an atmosphere that resembles that of real casinos.
So, a live casino in Canada aims to deliver a unique online experience. It’s the closest you can get to the real thing without leaving the comfort of your home. This is because live casino games feel more natural since they are slow-paced. Also, they provide you with additional options, such as the chance to chat with other players during the gaming session.
How Do Live Casinos Online Work?
If you’re familiar with the concept of streaming, you’ll have no difficulties understanding how a live casino works. A developer needs a camera, a dealer, a studio, and several other things to produce a live casino game. For instance, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and a Game Control Unit (GCU) track and process data.
Consequently, everything that occurs during the game is monitored. At the same time, reputable live game providers ensure everything runs smoothly. The whole team is involved in creating a game that provides a realistic experience in real time without delays and other technical issues. So, high-quality live games are always fair and safe.
Why Play Games at an Online Casino Live?
The biggest reason why players prefer live games over virtual ones is their authentic vibe. Consequently, old-fashioned gamblers and all those who want to bask in the brick-and-mortar casino atmosphere will choose a live casino over its video counterpart.
Simultaneously, the live casino option sometimes feels more fair and secure. When it comes to virtual casino games, everything happens so fast sometimes. Accordingly, players may doubt the final result, their winning amount, etc. However, live games are slower and monitored. Sometimes, the fact that they happen in a casino or a studio makes players feel safer.
Best Live Casino Games to Play
Live casino games range from poker, blackjack, and other card and table games to game shows. The best online live casinos have multiple game genres on offer. However, the selection can include dice games like Craps and Sic Bo, game shows, and even Monopoly. So, if you choose a suitable venue, you’ll be able to enjoy everything that live casinos have to offer.
Nonetheless, you may not like each live game there is. Playing live roulette feels completely different from a live poker game. Aside from being table games, these two have almost nothing in common. Similarly, every live game has variations. Hence, you’ll find diverse live poker games, including Three-Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, Texas Hold’em, etc.
Accordingly, you should understand the game variations, rules, and payouts before starting it. Live casino games are not available for free play, unlike their virtual counterparts. So, you should start your gaming session at a live casino prepared.
Live Dealer Roulette
Roulette is a simple luck-based game played on a table with 37 or 38 numbered slots. This game is extremely popular in live casinos. First, you place your bet. Then, the croupier spins the wheel, and the ball lands on one of the 37 (or 38) slots. The winning number is proclaimed, and the players who have placed the right bets take their prizes.
Despite being easy to play, live roulette offers multiple betting possibilities with various payouts. You can choose between inside and outside bets, both providing additional options. For instance, wagering on a single number is an inside bet. On the other hand, bets on color (red or black) are outside bets.
Live Dealer Poker
If you want to play poker at live casinos, you should take your time to learn about the strategies, game rules, and variations. Namely, poker is among the most complicated casino games to play, and it has little to do with the actual rules. You see, live poker is played against others and involves psychology more than the actual cards.
So, professional poker players are good at bluffing and similar techniques that serve to trick other gamblers. Also, they know when to fold, possibly the most useful thing to understand in a poker game. You can practice virtual game versions before starting real-money live poker, but you’ll have to play the live one to grasp the psychological aspect.
Live Dealer Blackjack
Every decent live online casino in Canada has live blackjack games. Aside from slots, it’s among the most in-demand casino games online. The reason for this is blackjack’s lucrative potential. Namely, this game offers the best winning odds of all card games at live casinos. At the same time, it’s engaging and fun.
However, each blackjack player should take this game seriously. It has an unfixed house edge and rewards decent players generously. On the other hand, a poor blackjack player stands little chance of winning. So, it is wise to study the basic blackjack strategy and learn some additional tricks before playing it at an online casino in live mode.
Live Dealer Baccarat
Baccarat is another popular table game that you can play in live casinos. It’s a simple yet engaging game of chance, offering you several betting options and decent payouts.
Since it’s easy to play, you’ll quickly learn the game rules and be ready to play it for real money. However, make sure to stick with basic, simpler live baccarat versions if you’re a newbie.
Live Game Shows
If you enjoy simple casino games resembling lottery and bingo, live game shows are perfect for you. Games like Mega Ball, Crazy Time, and Dream Catcher are easy to play, eye-catching, and engaging.
The same goes for Live Monopoly, which is ideal for fans of board games and real-money gaming.
Live casinos usually have multiple exciting titles of this type. Explore these casinos and try out different games to find the perfect one for yourself.
How to Pick the Best Live Casino in Canada?
Canada is a large market where you can easily find a suitable live casino. But how to find the best one? Playing at a casino live online can be fun as well as risky. Some venues are predatory and rogue, whereas others offer a safe and user-friendly environment, exciting products, and a quality experience.
What’s more, the process of seeking a suitable online casino includes some boring steps. For instance, you need to explore the venues, read casino reviews (from professional reviewers and players alike), and consult various sources of information.
The first goal is to understand the differences between decent and shady live casinos. Once you learn to tell them apart, you’ll find what you need without any issues. Below are the most important factors to consider in that regard.
☝️ Game Selection
Top-notch live casinos are powered by Evolution Gaming. Other providers, such as Pragmatic Play Live, are also known for their excellent games. However, Evolution is undoubtedly a leading developer in the niche. It powers some of the most popular live games on the market, such as Live Monopoly, Speed Baccarat, etc.
So, before joining a casino, explore the software providers that cater to it. Also, game selection is a crucial factor to check when researching online live casinos. After all, you want to join them to enjoy great casino games. So, make sure that the casino has enough games of high quality to offer.
✌️ Security & Fairness
No matter how exciting a casino appears, your safety is priority number one. Every player should care more about the security of their data and money than the fun and exciting part of live casinos. Keep in mind that online gambling comes with risks, so avoid these pitfalls whenever possible.
A worthwhile live online casino offers a secure environment by using advanced technology for data preservation (like SSL technology, for example). Simultaneously, it should only hold games that have passed fairness tests. Live games are supposed to be monitored for safety and fairness reasons. If you stick with live casinos powered by trusted developers like Evolution, you’ll have nothing to worry about.
🤟 Legitimacy & Reputation
The legitimacy of live online casinos is related to safety standards. Namely, a legal gaming platform needs a license. To get it, it must meet particular terms and conditions. For instance, a legal venue always has a section dedicated to the terms and conditions of its homepage. On the other hand, an illegal casino lacks a license and, accordingly, may operate unsafely.
To get the complete picture of a live casino’s legitimacy status, check its licensing. Also, read casino reviews and players’ comments to learn about its reputation. Licenses from Malta, the UK, Kahnawake, and Curacao are among the most common, and they usually mean a casino is safe for real-money play.
How to Deposit & Withdraw at a Live Casino in Canada
Live casinos also need to provide trusted deposit and withdrawal options. They include credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc.), e-wallets (Skrill, PayPal, etc.), online bank transfers (Interac, etc.), crypto methods (Bitcoin, Litecoin, etc.), and so on. Choose the method that suits you the best. However, make sure that it’s available in your country of residence.
Once you decide what banking option to use, you can go to the cashier section (unless told otherwise). Select the method of your choice and insert the amount you want to deposit or withdraw. The rest of the procedure depends on your payment method. For instance, if you have picked an e-wallet, you must go to your account to confirm the transaction.
Normally, live casinos will ask you to verify your identity when withdrawing for the first time. Also, you may need to prove your identity and the ownership of the payment method whenever cashing out large amounts.
Keep the maximum withdrawal limits in mind! Some venues don’t have it, such as crypto casino platforms. However, most of them do, and you should be aware of all the casino payment limitations.
Best Live Casino Bonus in Canada
Players enjoy getting and using casino bonuses. Luckily, live casinos also have them as well. You can find plenty of exciting venues with live casino cashback deals, welcome bonuses, live casino tournaments, etc. In addition, some promotions are available for various game types, including live ones.
Before claiming any live casino deals, check the rules, terms, conditions, and requirements accompanying them. A decent promo deal is supposed to come with reasonable rules. For instance, a wagering requirement of 70x is high for a deposit bonus. The standard is 30x or 40x for the deposit bonus and 40x or 50x for a no-deposit bonus.
Some live casinos impose unreasonable rules to disable you from withdrawing your bonus winnings. Stay away from those bonuses and stick with ones that have more realistic expectations.
Live Casino Games on Mobile Devices
Modern live casinos are typically mobile-optimized. You can use them across devices and enjoy top-notch games on the go. Some venues even have a downloadable app to ensure easy access and convenient use. Others may have a mobile-optimized website you can access via your browser.
Mobile gaming offers plenty of benefits. For instance, you’ll unlikely get carried away if you play a real-money game during your lunch break. Simply said, you don’t have enough time to go bankrupt. Consequently, you can collect multiple small winnings instead of going all in. So, pick a mobile-optimized live casino you can benefit from.
Tips & Tricks for Playing at Live Casinos
Live casino games are usually available for real money only. You’ll have difficulties finding a venue that offers their demo versions. Hence, you should have a reasonable budget when playing live casino games. There's always a minimum bet size requirement, which may be high for VIP live games and standard for other titles.
Speaking of which, explore the game rules before starting your gaming session. For instance, there are multiple variations of live roulette and poker games. French and American roulette games have different rules, meaning you should not play them the same way.
Finally, always stick within your budget when playing games for real money. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing slots, table games, live games, or some other casino game. Make sure to play at live casinos responsibly and keep track of your balance and bet size. If you do so, you can get the satisfying and quality gaming experience you seek.