Online casinos have been around for a few decades now, having got their start during the internet boom of the 90s. Digital casino games have come a long way in that time, going from basic pixelated forms to the more modern digital products of today with advanced graphics and soundtracks.
Another newer format added to online casinos is the live casino game, which uses video streaming tech to bring together elements of a land-based game with online play. Letβs take a closer look at just what a live casino game is and how it works.
What makes a live casino game different?
The main thing that sets live casino games apart from other online casino games is the presence of the live dealer. Unlike purely digital games, live casino uses physical game components that are handled by a dealer rather than having the game software run the game in its entirety.
Other online casino games use random number generators (RNGs) to determine their outcomes, but live casino games use the random chance of the physical game components and forces. The playing cards, dice or Roulette wheel are captured from various angles by high-definition cameras so that players can see as much detail as they want.
The gameplay is streamed from a studio setup to players watching in the online game interface. This allows them to interact with the game through their device, even as the dealer handles physical playing cards and game elements.
How do live casino games work?
As the crux of live casino games is the real-time video stream this is the single most important aspect of the technology behind the game. While the idea for live casino games was floated back in the 90s it was never able to get off the ground thanks to the limited technology of the time.
Part of what helps in the management and transmission of the live stream is a piece of tech known as the game control unit (GCU). This is attached to the table in any live casino game and does a lot of the behind the scenes work to keep the stream running in real time, without any delays or lags.
Another important element of the setup is optical character recognition (OCR) technology. This is what lets the game software βreadβ the images captured by the cameras, translating them instantly into data.
All of this functions together to allow for the live dealer and game elements to properly line up with the online interface, so players can play in real-time.
Types of live casino games
Classic table games are the obvious choice for live casino games, with Blackjack and Roulette both proving popular options. Games like Craps and Baccarat are also available in the live casino format, although with fewer variations on offer.
There are also gameshow-style games that have sprung up since the creation of the live casino game, putting their own spin on the format.
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Advancing technology allowed live casino games to come to the forefront, increasing the variety of online games available to players.