Eve Luneborg
Live casinos feature real dealers running games in real time, which allows you to watch every move, interact with the dealer, and follow the action closely. This makes the whole experience a bit different from playing standard RNG casino games. However, exactly how to play live casino games is not all too different.
Nevertheless, if you’re new to live casino games, understanding how they work and how to get started is important. In this article, we’ll explain the basics of live casino play, from setting up your account to placing bets and using key features. That way, you can join the games with confidence.
Live casino games use real dealers and actual casino equipment, streamed to your device in real time. Instead of relying on software-generated outcomes, the game results come from the dealer’s actions, such as dealing cards or spinning the roulette wheel.
To make this possible, live casinos use multiple cameras to capture different angles of the table. This setup lets you see everything happening as if you were sitting at a physical casino table. You place your bets through the online interface, and the dealer handles the game on the other end. You can read more about the technical aspects in our guide called How Live Casino Works.
For now, let’s tackle how the experience is for you as a player. The most important aspect is that these games are played live, and multiple players join a table at the same time. This means there are certain timeframes where you can place bets, and you might have to wait for other players to play their hands before it’s your turn. Overall, this closely resembles how you play at a land-based casino, as the game is much slower than the RNG equivalents.
Before you can start playing live games, you need to join a live casino. The process requires a few steps, but it’s all very straightforward and simple. Nevertheless, we’ve created a step-by-step guide to take you through it.
The first thing you need to do is select a live casino to play at. As a player residing in Ireland, you’ll have many choices. One of our favourites is Lucky7even, as they are a trusted casino with a gambling licence from the Curacao Gaming Control Board.
At your casino, you’ll see a button called ‘Register’, ‘Sign Up’, ‘Join’, or something similar. Click this button to get to the registration form. Here, you’ll need to enter some basic personal details and contact information. Make sure you enter the correct information, as this needs to be verified at a later stage.
As soon as your account is registered, you can log in. However, it’s not possible to start playing before you’ve funded your account. To do this, go to the deposit section of the casino and select a payment method. Enter the amount you wish to deposit, and follow the on-screen instructions for your chosen deposit method. This will tell you how to complete the payment.
Your deposit will be completed immediately or within minutes. As soon as the funds are credited, you can head to the live casino section of the casino. There, pick a game, click it, and then it will automatically load into your browser. Now, all you have to do is wait for the betting window, and then you can start playing.
When playing live casino games, you place bets using the on-screen betting interface. The layout clearly shows you the available betting options. To bet, you select the chip value you want to wager and click or tap on the betting area corresponding to your choice.
For example, in live roulette, you click on the numbers or sections of the table where you want to place chips. In blackjack, you choose your bet amount before the dealer deals the cards.
Each game round starts with a betting window, and bets can only be placed within this timeframe. The dealer usually announces when betting opens and closes, but there will most often also be a countdown visible on the screen. Typically, a betting window lasts for about 10 seconds.
If you want to adjust your bet, you can add or remove chips until the betting window closes. Once the betting window closes, no changes can be made.
When you play live casino games, you’ll find various features that you won’t find in RNG games. Here, we’ll explain what you can expect and how these features can be used.
The live casino chat lets you communicate directly with the dealer and sometimes with other players. This feature appears as a chat box on your screen, and you can type messages in real time.
Dealers often respond to create a more social and engaging environment. However, most dealers focus on running the game, so their responses may be brief or limited. Then again, in live game shows, entertainment is a much bigger part of the game, so the hosts almost always interact with the chat.
Just be aware that most live casino software providers have moderators monitoring the chat to ensure conversations remain respectful. Read our Live Chat Etiquette guide to learn more.
Withdrawing your winnings from a live casino follows a standard process. You start by going to the cashier, where you select ‘withdraw’ or ‘cash out’. Then, you’ll see a list of available payment methods, and you should always choose the same one as the one you used to deposit, as long as this is an option.
Once the withdrawal method is selected, enter the amount you wish to withdraw along with the banking details needed. Then, confirm that you wish to continue with the cashout.
When the withdrawal request is registered, the casino will process it, typically within 0-48 hours. However, they won’t be able to approve it until you’ve verified your account. Therefore, go to the account section of your profile and complete the KYC verification.
The documents you’ll need to submit to get verified are a government-issued ID, proof of address, and proof of ownership of the payment methods you’ve used. Upload this to your account, and the casino will process the documents along with your withdrawal.
As soon as your account has been verified and the withdrawal approved, your funds will be on their way to you. The transaction time can be anything from immediate to a couple of days, depending on the payment method you chose.
You can play live casino games on mobile just as easily as on a desktop. All live casino providers optimise their games for smaller screens, so the video stream, betting interface, and chat function fit neatly on your mobile or tablet.
When playing, you can use your standard web browser, and there is no need for any extra software or app. Although you can choose to use the casino’s native app, if they have one. The games will load directly in the browser, no matter which operating system you use.
A stable internet connection is essential to avoid lag or interruptions during the stream. Using Wi-Fi is usually more reliable than mobile data, especially for longer sessions. You may also want to play in landscape mode for a wider view of the table.
Learning how to play live casino is easy, as there is no need to have preexisting knowledge or skills. All you need to do is join a live casino, select a game, and follow along as the dealer manages the flow of the game. It’s not possible to make any mistakes, as the game won’t allow you to place bets that are not allowed.
However, reading up on rules beforehand can make for a more enjoyable and less confusing gaming session. This is why we’ve explained how and when to place bets, the process of withdrawing winnings, and how to interact with the chat. All so that you can join live dealer games with confidence.
Eve Luneborg – Live Casino Specialist at LiveCasino.ie
Eve Luneborg has been part of the online casino industry since 2014, when she moved to the sunny shores of Malta to pursue her passion for gaming.
