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Online casinos allow players to play many different games at times and in locations that best suit them. Gone are the days when they could only play if they were able to get to a casino during the times it was open.
Instead, players now have a choice about whether they want to go to a land-based casino or play in one online. Additionally, players can also choose whether they want to play a game that’s live or not.
What’s a Live Casino Game?
A live casino game is no different from an online game. For instance, if you play a game of poker, the rules are the same. However, what makes playing a live casino game different is the presence of a human dealer. They’ll basically do what a dealer would do at a land-based casino for you.
Instead of clicking on icons on your screen to make bets, the dealer will take your chips, deal cards or spin the wheel. They can interact with players during live Casino games at Paddy Power, for example, but cannot see them. In contrast, players are able to see the dealer via web cameras.
Web Cameras and Monitors
Aside from a dealer, to make the live casino experience as close to being at a land-based casino as possible, web cameras need to be able to stream what’s going on at the casino table.
According to PC Mag, full HD is 1080p in image resolution, which is thought to provide a clear and concise visual display. It’s standard in a lot of online live casinos, but this is not enough. A quality live stream that won’t require buffering, and has crystal clear audio and visual capabilities is integral to the overall experience.
Although the dealer can’t see the players, they have monitors to help them keep track of the game. For instance, they can see if everything’s working as it should in the game, and also what the players are deciding to do.
Live games often have a live chat feature to enable dealers and players to interact, which is often one of the reasons to play live casino games. Humans naturally gravitate towards communication as commented by PMAC, so having such a facility is a handy addition to a live online casino.
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Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Game Control Unit (GCU)
So, you can see the dealer deal your hand on the table, just as you can see them on your screen. This is possible because of OCR technology. In the case of cards, this technology would scan them, letting the software know what cards they are. Once this is known, they then appear on your screen.
This software also communicates with the GCU, as do the cameras and monitors. It’s the GCU that keeps records of everything. If you’re playing a game of roulette, it will keep track of where the ball lands. If you’re playing blackjack, it will keep a record of what cards you were dealt.
The GCU basically records everything, allowing footage or data to be looked at in case there’s a query during a game. They’re also responsible for processing results and payouts.
It’s clear that virtually creating a live casino experience requires several components to work together. Technology has enabled this to happen, and the more technology advances, the more closely live casinos will resemble being at a land-based one. Casino operators are working closely with developers to make sure this happens, meaning players will continue to benefit from this for years to come.