Live gambling is one of the relatively new entries in the world of casinos, and it has taken off in rocket speed over the past decade to command high demand among players. This mode of play is loved for its ability to straddle the online platform with brick and mortar casinos. With the option, gamblers can enjoy an authentic gaming experience from the comfort of their chosen location without having to head to a land-based casino. Games are streamed live to players’ PC and mobile gadgets with real dealers and actual game elements involved.

The ability of live dealer casinos to replicate a location-based experience means that a lot of technology is invested in bridging the two platforms seamlessly. The expensive nature of pulling this off is among the main reasons why most online gaming software companies do not offer the option since they demand a lot more than running regular casino games. Below we assess some of the tech dedicated to delivering the gaming option to punters.

 

  • Cameras

 

Cameras are a vital component in delivering a live gambling experience since they are used to capture the visual content of gameplay, which is the main reason why most players engage in the option. When the niche was first launched, massive cameras were used to capture the streamed feed, which made the views delivered to punters rigid. As technology advanced, the use of smaller cameras was adopted, which made viewing more flexible in delivering a bona fide brick and mortar experience.

Today, most live dealer games are conducted with three or more cameras. These devices show the front view, overview, and picture to picture display of the sets. You can observe it in Vulkan Vegas casino as an example. In the case of Immersive Roulette, a small camera is placed on the wheel so that players can get a closeup view of the ball hitting the wheel and landing in a winning pocket. The landing of a win can be played back as well.

The most popular live gaming software developers in the business use cameras that capture images in High Definition, especially considering we live in a world where convenience is key. Therefore, the clarity of the video streams stands as a weighed factor by most gamers when choosing a live casino. Some developers include the option to change the image quality from low to high depending on the bandwidth of their internet connection.

 

  • OCR

 

OCR, which is Optical Character Recognition in full, is the main component used to make live gambling an interactive experience rather than just being a streamed session. Live games are conducted with a lack of physical interaction between the dealer and players, and this feature comes in to bridge the gap. Optical Character Recognition operates to keep track of what is happening on the game table by reading its image so that the data can be transmitted to players for viewing on the screen. This device operates similarly to a video game and conveys everything from the cards that are dealt in the case of games like poker and blackjack to the winning pockets in roulette.

OCR also works in reverse to transmit from the device being used by gamers to play so that the casino can know which stakes have been placed and for how much. This info is then used to determine who wins and losses. Without this data convertor, the game would be one-sided since the placement of stakes and viewing the results of games would be cumbersome.

 

  • GCU

 

The Gaming Control Unit, which is better known by its short-form GCU, is the glue that holds the possibility of live gambling together. Even with such a vital role, this device is nothing bigger than a small box that can hardly be seen by gamblers. The gadget works in conjunction with the OCR, but it focuses solely on helping the dealer and software provider run the game. The Gaming Control Unit is put in place to encode the stream being captured by the web cameras to allow it to be sent to the player in real-time. That way, the players can interact with the casino without interruptions.

 

  • Monitor

 

In brick and mortar casinos, players are usually in the view of croupiers, which gives them cues on what to do to keep the game going. However, the virtual nature of live casinos strips such one on one interaction, which is why monitors are used. Gaming monitors are placed in the view of dealers to help them receive a feed of what is on the dealer’s screen, or rather what they are doing in relation to the game being played. The punters’ actions can then guide the dealer on the next move to take just like in location-based sites. For instance, when conducting a game of blackjack, the monitor indicates whether or not the player chooses to hit or stand, which prompts the drawing of another card or the dealer revealing his cards to bring the round to an end.

Some online gaming software companies allow the streaming of gamblers’ video feed to the dealer, which means physical cues can be used to tell the dealer what to do. However, gamers who do not wish to be seen on the casino screen can move to choose seats that are considered blind spots, which keep them out of view.

  • Live chat

Live chat operates as software rather than hardware like the monitor and cameras. This option is included in nearly all live dealer games to facilitate conversation between the dealer and gambler. The option can also be used to converse with other punters at the table, which is expected since table games are social. Even so, small talk is mostly the only entertained, which abides by the table etiquette of brick and mortar gaming.

 

  • Game components

 

Even with the use of the technical devices mentioned above, a live casino experience would not be complete if the elements of each game were not included. Live game providers usually use actual tables, cards, dice, chips, and wheels to conduct games, which brings the element of location-based gameplay to life. Some even go as far as using these elements from an actual brick and mortar casino with activities in full view in the background, which ups the authenticity.

Some of the tools used to conduct live games, however, differ slightly from those of land-based gambling dens. For instance, roulette wheels come fitted with sensors that make it possible for gamblers to get a digital feed of when the ball is thrown on the wheel and the winning pocket it lands in.

Live gaming software companies present different experiences of gameplay with their sets than regular games such as those found in https://vulkanvegas.com/en/category/slots. All live dealer firms include these technology pieces in their games to make them possible to run. Gamblers should be keen to assess the quality of streaming by each company so that they end up with the best option.