Live dealer blackjack real money games got invented in 2003 when UK gambling software developer Playtech decided it was time to break through the player versus computer gameplay barrier and introduce some authentic casino action. The company did this by soft-launching real money live dealer blackjack studio only available for the Asian market. While not a dramatic success, it set the stage for things to come.
Three years after the debut of Playtech’s streaming game studio, another online gambling pioneer, Microgaming, decided to throw its hat into this arena. That same year, 2006, announced the birth of the world’s current most impressive live gaming entity, Evolution, a company that would begin running its streaming tables in 2009 from Riga, Latvia.
The appeal of live blackjack online for real money lies in these games offering virtually an identical twenty-one experience to the one found at brick-and-mortar venues. Moreover, they feature varying bet limits and rules, making it possible for every gambler to locate a table that tickles their fancy. Below, we explain how the providers that supply these products operate, which are the best ones, and how to get in on some interactive blackjack action against a real dealer.
The Technology Behind Live Dealer Blackjack
It is important to note that online gambling operators who wish to provide live dealer gaming options can only set up shop in countries that have passed laws that regulate various forms of betting fun. Furthermore, they can only offer their services in jurisdictions that do not outright ban wagering entertainment. That is why most operators base their live studios in countries like Latvia, Malta, Georgia, and Romania.
Cameras are the main prerequisite to running live blackjack tables. These are high-resolution ones, which can be a part of a single camera setup or a multi one. Most games these days get broadcast using only one camera angle. However, Multi-Camera Baccarat from Evolution aims to deliver an immersive baccarat gambling experience. So it implements seventeen cameras to capture every aspect of the baccarat goings-on on Evolution’s felt. Some tables run by this provider get captured using only one camera, but most utilize three to five. These get controlled from a room with a Game Control Unit (GCU) and dozens of screens that show all the gambling action happening in the studio. The GCU is the device responsible for encoding the captured video for broadcast. Live playback is not possible without it.
To ensure that no one that chooses to play live blackjack online feels cheated, all providers implement optical character recognition (OCR) technology at every table. Consequently, a dealer must scan every card dealt through an OCR reader. It then gets displayed on the screen as the drawn one, guaranteeing maximum transparency and that no nefarious actions are in play at each hand. Also, the deck penetration in best live blackjack online USA tables is around 50%, the same as at land-based venues. That gets owed to dealers frequently using the identical automatic card shufflers as Las Vegas establishments from brands like Shuffle Master, IGT, and HJCMikee.
Of course, a super-speed fiber internet connection is mandatory for every studio to supply its feed to operators. Nowadays, WebRTC communication gets incorporated for no-lag betting.
What Are the Top Live Blackjack Game Providers
Every online gambler will respond that the undisputed king of streaming table gaming is, without question, Evolution. We mentioned this company above. It got up and running in 2006 but began operating its first studio in Latvia in 2009. Five years later, it opened a second one in Malta. Now, it has ones in multiple countries, including in two US states. In 2020, Evolution acquired competitor NetEnt for $2.1 billion. After this takeover, it instantly extinguished NetEnt’s live dealer department while allowing slot one to function normally.
Other noteworthy providers that feature live games of similar quality to those supplied by Evolution are Malta’s Pragmatic Play Live and UK’s Playtech, which also is operational in the US. Premium offshore companies that target the US market with their streaming gaming products are Visionary iGaming and Fresh Deck Studios. Other viable players in this sector are Lucky Streak, TV Bet, VIVO Gaming, Atmosfera, Absolute Live Gaming, and Asia Gaming. Ezugi is another famous industry name, but it operates under Evolution’s umbrella.
Deposits & Withdrawals at Live Blackjack Casinos
Account creation at an online casino is a super simple process. It lasts two minutes tops and entails only supplying basic personal info.
The deposit process is usually instant everywhere. All one needs to fund their gaming balance is to open the deposit tab, select a preferred payment method and then enter the desired deposit amount.
Withdrawal is as easy, but it often involves an identity verification process called KYC.This article was written in collaboration with online gambling experts.