What is a Live Casino Game?
Live casino games bring the sensation of playing at a land-based casino to customers using digital platforms. Giant strides in digital technology and software have made it possible for online gambling sites and apps to create live dealer games where you can play remotely.
Traditional table games and other options are conducted by live dealers from a studio or casino. You can sign in, take a seat at a virtual table and gamble on those games â and even talk via live chat functions with the dealer and other players.
â Our Recommended Ontario Live Dealer Casinos
There are now more than 60 Canadian online casinos licensed to operate in Ontario. That ensures an enormous choice of live dealer casino sites for players in Canadaâs most populous province to enjoy.
Among the most respected brands in this context are Party Casino, Bwin, Lucky Days and PlayOJO, all of which offer a sumptuous selection of popular live casino games.
You should also find an impressive range of live games on offer at brands with a long history in the world of land-based casinos. BetMGM, BetRivers, and Caesars are among the most popular live dealer casinos in Ontario.
Tips for Choosing the Best Live Dealer Sites
Given the wide choice of live dealer online casinos available in Ontario, it can be difficult tracking down the best online live casino for you. However, the following tips might help:
â Play only at online live casinos that hold a license from iGaming Ontario, which oversees the regulated market
â Try out several Canadian online casinos to see where itâs most enjoyable for you to play live casino games
â Look for online casino sites that carry a wide choice of live dealer games for you to choose from
â Be sure to check out the range of stakes available so that you can play live casino games that suit your budget
â Check out who supplies the live dealer casino software; it makes a difference if your chosen operator is supplied by esteemed names such as Evolution Gaming
What You Can Expect When You First Play a Live Dealer Game
If you have never played online live casino games, you may wonder what the fuss is about â and you may want to know what to expect when you try it for the first time.
The first thing you notice is that, unlike the best video casino games, there is an actual person waiting to welcome you to the action.
Although you cannot speak directly to the dealer, you can converse by text on the live chat function. The best live dealers will welcome you by your username.
The dealer then plays the game as they would in an actual casino. They spin the wheel for a game of live roulette, or deal the cards for a hand of live blackjack or live baccarat, or spin the wheel⊠you get the picture.
You wager as normal through your desktop or mobile device, and are paid out digitally if you win.
Live Dealers vs. Traditional Online Casino Games
The best online casinosâ live dealers create a genuinely immersive experience. They make you feel as if you are in the room with them. Youâll feel like youâve visited a real-life casino â wherever in the province you are.
By contrast, if you play real money ontario slots or table games, it's all about the digital excellence that gives you an enjoyable time. The graphics and sounds will make those games a pleasure to play - but you won't get the taste of human interaction that live dealer casinos deliver.
Playing Live Dealer Games Online vs Playing at a Land-Based Casino
Operators of the top Ontario casinos, and the software providers that supply their live casino online games, try to make the experience as true to life as possible. There are real roulette wheels, real cards, and a real dealer to recreate the feeling of being at an actual table.
The method of gambling on each game is the same, as are the payouts. Itâs possible to feel you are actually in the room.
However, there are certain unavoidable differences. You canât actually speak face to face with your live dealer, or your fellow players. There are no waiting staff to bring drinks to your elbow.
And when it comes to games like poker, you cannot see the other people at the table and assess their body language to see if they are bluffing or not.
There is also the possibility that your game could be disrupted by technical issues â though the ever-rising standard of live casino software means this should be unlikely to happen.
Live Dealers at Online Casinos
Your enjoyment of Canada live casino games will depend to some extent on the quality of the live dealer in question.
Companies like Evolution Gaming, with extensive experience in providing live dealer games, use people who are adept at making you feel right at home.
They have an easy, relaxed expertise in the game they are conducting, and should be able to offer guidance if you are in need of clarification over the conduct of a live casino game.
Most of all, you should feel welcomed and happy to spend your time in the company of a host. You cannot actually speak to them, but you will be able to exchange text messages during your visit to their table.
How to play live casino games
The process of registering as a customer so that you can start playing live casino games is the same as opening an account to place bets at an online sportsbook or to enjoy video slots or table games.
Choose the operator you wish to patronize and, once you have opened your account, look for the Live Dealer section on their casino platform. Now select the live game you want to play â making sure that the table stakes suit your budget.
Once you have decided which of the many Ontario casinos offering live games you want to join, take the following steps:
- Go to the online casino homepage and look for the Register, Sign Up or Join Now button.
- You will need to provide your email address and create a username and a unique, complex password.
- Enter your full name, home address, telephone number and any other personal details required.
- Once your account has been verified, you will be able to make your first deposit into your new account.
- You are now ready to play live dealer games.
Tips for Playing Live Dealer Casino Games
There are several simple tips you can follow to be sure of getting the best experience when playing online at live casinos in Canada.
â Know the rules of the live casino game you plan to play. It is impolite to hold up a game by constantly checking on the rules.
â If you want to feel more confident before joining a live game, try out the free-play option offered by some live casinos online before playing for real money.
â Make sure your budget is appropriate to the minimum stakes at the table you join.
â During the game, be polite to your live dealer and to your fellow players. A little banter is acceptable, but keep it relaxed and sociable.
â If you are about to walk away from the table after a good win, make sure you tip your dealer!
Types of Live Dealer casino games
When you visit the leading Ontario online casinos with live dealer games, you should find a generous selection at your disposal.
Many Canadian online casinos will organize their games into sections so you can find your way around more easily; there may even be a lobby for each to make navigation more straightforward. You should expect to track down the following at any good live dealer online casino.
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Live Dealer BlackjackLive blackjack games are always among the most popular table options at real-life casinos. As a result, you should be offered a host of live dealer blackjack options at live casino sites. This is a game that appeals to many because of its simplicity â you have to beat the dealer while your cards total as close to 21 as possible. However, any live blackjack lobby will show you just how many variations on this simple theme there can be. Leading operators may feature more than two dozen live blackjack titles â you should have fun trying them out before settling on the one that suits you best.
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Live Dealer PokerNo game is more closely associated historically with gambling than poker. There are numerous variations on the game, which means you should find several versions of this popular casino game in the live dealer section of any popular live casino. Online poker in Ontario is played against the house rather than other players at the table. Nevertheless, you should pick your table carefully; the level of stakes will indicate the standard of expertise likely to be on offer there. There may be a host of live online casino options including three-card poker, four-card poker and old favorites such as Texas HoldâEm and Caribbean Stud.
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Live Dealer RouletteOf all the games available at live dealer online casinos, perhaps none brings the experience of being in the room more vividly to an online platform than live roulette. The fact that you can actually watch a live dealer send the ball circling the wheel makes it far more real than watching the same action on a video screen. As a result, many online live casinos deliver an incredibly broad number of ways to play live roulette. You should find European roulette, American roulette, speed roulette, among more than 20 variations at the best Ontario casinos.
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Live Dealer BaccaratÂDevotees of this traditional casino game will find numerous live baccarat titles at live dealer casinos in Ontario. Players bet on one of two hands â the Banker Hand or the Player Hand. As with other live dealer games, the best online casinos offer several live baccarat variations. Live baccarat squeeze, for instance, offers close-up camera shots that increase the tension. You should also find lightning baccarat and speed baccarat among the live baccarat options â try a few hands at different tables until you settle on the game you enjoy most.
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Live Dealer CrapsLike the other live dealer games in Ontario, Evolution Gaming offers them from its studios in Europe. The speakeasy-themed studio lends a nice touch. The live dealer version of craps offers support you can't find in a retail casino. On screen stats, a tutorial and even an Easy Mode for beginners.
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Other Live Dealer Casino GamesAs well as the traditional online games listed above, Ontario online casinos with live dealer games carry several other entertaining options. Youâll find games based on TV game shows, titles that involve large spinning wheels, and several versions of Sic Bo, which is played with three dice. The best Canadian live casinos offer a dazzling array of games like this to add considerable volume and appeal to the options available to visitors who enjoy playing live casinos.
Playing Live Dealer Games on Mobile Apps
One of the factors that have contributed most strongly to the growth in online casinosâ popularity is the ability to play live dealer games on your mobile device.
All leading online casino brands now offer a state-of-the-art Ontario casino app that will carry the same games that are available through their website.
That means you can enjoy live online casino games from live blackjack to European roulette wherever you are in the province. The quality of live casino software created by leading operators like Evolution Gaming means you can expect a high-class experience even when you are at home, in a bar, or on the move.
How to Download an Online Casino Mobile App
Canadian online casinos offering live games make it as easy as possible for you to download an app so that you can access your favorite titles through your mobile. They make their apps available both for iOS and Android devices. All you need to do is:
- Visit the app store appropriate to your device.
- Search for the online casino where you want to play.
- When you find the app in question, click on it.
- It will now download to the home screen of your device.
- Sign in, or sign up, to access your account.
- Start playing live dealer casino games.
Online Casino Deposits & Withdrawals
Before you open an account to play live online casino games, itâs always wise to check the banking methods available with your chosen operator.
Most Ontario online casinos with live dealer games should offer a variety of ways in which you can deposit money in your account. These should include debit and credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets.
Itâs even more important to research the ways in which you can withdraw money from your chosen online casino. The number of options is likely to be smaller than the choice for depositing â make sure thereâs a method on that list that you are happy to use.
Live Dealer Casino Games Software
The best Ontario casinos ensure their online platforms and live dealer games offer a first-class experience by partnering with leading software providers.
Many top operators use the live dealer games created by Evolution Gaming. This company, founded in Sweden but with a North American presence since it opened a studio in New Jersey in 2018, sets the gold standard in live games.
Other software providers such as Pragmatic Play also offer an excellent product, but Evolution Gaming â whose stable also includes well-known names like Ezugi, NetEnt and Red Tiger â remains pre-eminent.
Safety and Security of Playing Live dealer casino games in Ontario
Security is a top priority for all licensed casinos regulated by iGaming Ontario. They put stringent security measures in place to ensure playersâ personal and financial details are protected at all times while playing live casino games.
Steps that operators take include end-to-end encryption, dual-factor authentication, and the use of segregated accounts â which means playersâ money is kept separate from the companyâs funds.
When you play at one of the dozens of online casino websites and apps now offering live casinos in Canada, you should do so with confidence. Licensed online casinos are heavily regulated, and need to deliver a reassuringly high level of security to keep their players safe.
Are Live Dealer Games Riggedâ
It is virtually impossible for companies operating live casino games to rig those games. It would be incredibly unwise for any Canada live dealer casinos to act in this way; people will walk away instantly from a platform where they feel they are being exploited, and there are dozens of other brands out there just waiting to snap up disaffected customers.
Live dealer online casinos licensed by iGaming Ontario have a legal duty, as well as a commercial imperative, to treat their customers fairly. All games should be checked and tested regularly to ensure they are not too heavily tilted in favor of the house.
One advantage live dealer games have in this context is that you can see the game being played, rather than relying simply on a random number generator. You can watch your cards being dealt; you can see a ball rolling around an actual roulette wheel.
Given the stringent regulations and requirement for testing under which all brands operated, you should play live dealer ON games secure in the knowledge that they are not rigged.
How we rate the best live dealer casinos
We apply several criteria when assessing the many online platforms where it is now possible to play live casino games in Ontario.
- Range of games: You should expect to find all the major traditional online casino games represented in a live dealer online casinoâs library. That means roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker â as well as a smattering of other titles such as Sic Bo.
- Number of tables: As well as offering all the popular games, there should be a good spread of variations. Some of the leading Ontario online casinos with live casino games have more than 80 titles in total â that means you should be confident of finding your favorite there.
- Range of stakes: Live casino games are not only for the high rollers among us. There should be a broad choice of stakes so that novice or casual online gambling players should feel welcome and at ease when they join a table.
- Quality of software: We give extra credit to online casino brands that use the best options available on the market, such as Evolution Gaming, to deliver an excellent standard of live dealer game to their players.
- Standard of live dealers: The individuals conducting the games need to be professional, friendly presenters who are also completely in charge of the games they are running. If players have a query, it should be answered quickly and expertly.
- User interface: You should be able to find easily the live casino games you want to play, and to navigate your way around the online or mobile platform with the minimum of hassle. And, naturally, there should be only the tiniest chance that your connection will drop at a critical moment in a game!
Live Dealer Casino Play at Ontario Online Casinos FAQ
If you are interested in trying out all the options available with your online gambling operator, live casino games represent a popular and enjoyable activity. Itâs not the same as sports betting or playing slots or video versions of table games. This is a way of getting a taste of a real-life casino, wherever you are.
Online casino players will all have their favorites when it comes to choosing their top live game. However, it is safe to say that traditional casino games such as roulette, poker, blackjack, and baccarat will always have huge numbers of fans who want to get the sense of being in a land-based casino thanks to a live video feed.
Yes, you can. Many Canada live dealer casinos offer you the option of playing games without having to invest any of your own cash first. This can be very useful if you are new to a particular game and want to get to know if before starting to play live games for money.
You should expect to find a similar range online to that available at land-based casinos. The enduring popularity of games such as roulette, blackjack and poker means that operators understand there will be the same appetite to play live games online as there is in land-based casinos. However, you should find a range of other live games on offer too.
Yes, some operators set up a studio within the confines of their casino and stream live video from there to their online players. Others use the products from top software providers who have their own secure studios from which they can provide a steady stream of live games.
The quality of their software providers, and the robustness of their platforms, means live dealer casinos in Ontario should suffer only rarely from connection issues. However, if you are affected and cannot rejoin your game, report the issue to the customer support team at your online casino.
Author
Martin has reviewed sports betting sites and casinos from all around the world including all the best sportsbooks and online casinos in Ontario.
