Online casinos have done their best to mimic land-based casinos and offer the same service to all players. That’s why online casinos offer both software-based games and live dealer games. Standard online casino games run on software, while live dealer games have a real person running the table. That’s where the differences start. In a live dealer stream, the game looks different, the rounds move at a different pace than software-based ones, and player-casino interaction is vastly different. Yet, the differences go beyond that. Let’s explain how.
Standard Casino Games
Here, we are talking about software-run games. You won’t find a physical table or a live dealer with these games. The games are presented through a digital interface, where software processes player actions and delivers results according to the game rules. In these games, an RNG (Random Number Generator) generates all outcomes. RNGs are used to make outcomes fully random, unpredictable, and, above all else, fair. So, when you play software-based games, let’s say roulette, a computer spins the wheel, releases the ball, and generates the final results.
Playing these games at an online casino is quite simple. The process is similar, if not identical in most casinos, and it goes something like this:
1. Step one is to log into your online casino account and start the game you want to play.
2. On the game interface, you will see the available in-game options depending on whether you’re playing slots, blackjack, roulette, or video poker among many software-based games in a casino library.
3. You pick the bet size, place the wager, and submit your decisions via available betting options on the game interface.
4. Software then processes the player’s desired action and generates the result of the round.
5. The end result is presented as the last step, and the player learns whether the outcome was a winning or losing one.
The process varies from game to game, and depending on the game you play, outcomes will differ whether you play blackjack, slots, or roulette. All of these games can be powered by software, but RNG determines outcomes based on each game’s premise and rules. So, when you play roulette, you see a visual representation of the wheel and the ball, but its only purpose is to show the result, not to simulate a real table.
In all of this, the Random Number Generator plays a vital role. Software-based online casino games use RNG to ensure random results and fairness. Online crypto casinos also build their games on blockchain, which can help guarantee results by letting players verify each outcome after the round. Also, many countries require that all games and the software that they run on is built upon the government’s technical standards and go through independent testing.
For players, it is important to know that RNG doesn’t predict the next result, nor can it automatically decide it. Its role is to generate the next outcome and ensure it is random.
How About Live Dealer Casino Games?
Live dealer games differ from standard software-based casino games. The main difference is that no software is involved; instead, a real human dealer serves you. These days, online casinos use professional studios equipped with casino furniture, HD cameras, and the high-end technology needed for live streaming, plus live dealers. Players get a casino-like atmosphere, place bets through the casino’s digital interface, and let the dealer handle the rest of the gameplay.
Roulette uses a real wheel and ball, blackjack is dealt at a real table, and the rest of the table games use real-life equipment. The dealer’s physical activity is combined with digital technology to create the best possible product at online casinos, offering everything players miss most from land-based casinos.
For live dealer casinos to work, several components must work together. First, high-end cameras are necessary to cover all angles of the table and the dealer. Next, video needs to be transmitted to the players in real time over the web. The casino also records the action on the table so the software can react in real time, signal winning and losing rounds, and calculate winnings and losses in milliseconds. Live dealer casinos became a reality because technology advanced enough to enable them.
Live dealer casinos produce the best experience when everything works in sync. Players may see any hiccup as an attempt to influence the game’s outcome, so these casinos use the best available equipment and software to deliver the highest-quality live casino experience possible.
The Main Differences Between Live Dealer and Standard Games
It’s all about the source of the action. Where does it come from? As we said, standard games run on software. Live dealer games have a real dealer present and physical casino equipment. Next to that, other differences include:
- How Results Are Produced: Standard digital games use an RNG to generate outcomes. Live dealer games use physical equipment; in blackjack, the dealer draws the cards and places them on the table, and in roulette, the dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball to generate the random outcome.
- Pace & Timing: Software games have their own pace and run on a set schedule. Live dealer games have more factors at play, including the dealer, other players at the table, pauses between rounds, dealer shifts, etc.
- Human Interaction: Live dealer games involve human interaction between the player and the dealer, and among players. Software ones have only you vs. The computer with no human touch.
Whichever version of the casino game you choose, remember that in most cases the results are random and outcomes are based on luck. House edge and RTP exist for a reason, so it’s vital that you always gamble responsibly and fully understand what these games offer, beyond pure entertainment and a chance to win.