Online casinos first came about as a convenient alternative to land-based establishments. We can safely say that gambling on the internet has come a long way since then. Whilst slots still come out on top for many, some players prefer to stick to their roots. This is where live games and with that live dealer casinos, have stepped in. They are indeed the closest you are ever going to get to a brick and mortar casino experience. As we are about to find out, in some ways, they are actually better. Especially if you stick to the best live online casinos listed below!
Best Live Casinos in the UK
£88 in Free Play credited upon sign-up
- This is a No Deposit Bonus with unique mechanics.
- New customers are given £88 Free Play funds. Upon wagering, players can get up to £15 in No Deposit Bonus Money.
- The offer must be claimed withi 48 hours from receiving the email, and it expires after 14 days.
- Jackpot wins are not subject to the maximum winnings limit.
- 18+, New Customers Only - www.begambleaware.org
Welcome Bonus of 100% up to £100
- The minimum qualifying deposit is £20.
- Players must wager the bonus amount 30 times within 90 days.
- Wagering requirements vary by game. Deposit balance can be withdrawn at any time.
- 18+, New Customers Only - www.begambleaware.org
Welcome Bonus Up to £40.
- Players must deposit a minimum of £10.
- Players must wager the bonus amount 35 times.
- The wagering requirements must be completed within 30 days.
- 18+, New Customers Only - www.begambleaware.org
Welcome Bonus of £30 + 100 Free Spins, when you deposit £10.
- The minimum qualifying deposit is £10.
- Deposits made with e-wallets to do qualify for the bonus offer.
- The maximum cash out limit is £500.
- The bonus offer is subject to 35 the bonus amount wagering requirements.
- The free spins are released 50 per day after you've redeemed or lost your initial bonus.
- 18+, New Customers Only - www.begambleaware.org
Casino at bet365 - Up to £100 New Player Bonus!
- New Casino customers only.
- Deposit min. £10. Applies to first deposit to Casino only. Max. bonus £100. 20x wagering (game weighting applies) on deposit and bonus to make the bonus balance withdrawable. 18+, Time limits and T&Cs apply.
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Welcome Bonus of 100% up to £300 and 50 Free Spins
- The minimum qualifying deposit is £10.
- The offer is subject to 40 times the bonus amount wagering requirements.
- The maximum cash out limit of the bonus money is £4,000.
- The maximum cash out limit of the free spins winnings is £1,000.
- The bonus expires after 7 days.
- Stake contributions, player, country, currency, game restrictions and terms apply.
- 18+, New Customers Only - www.begambleaware.org
Welcome Bonus of 100% up to £50 and 50 Extra Spins The minimum qualifying deposit is £10. Players must wager the bonus amount 40 times within 30 days. The extra spins are available on Book of Dead slot by Play'n Go. The extra spins are valid for 24 hours. The extra spins are credited over 5 days, 10 per day. Maximum bonus wager limit is £5. Game weighting is different per game type. 18+, New Customers Only - www.begambleaware.org Slots - 40 x Bonus
Why should you play with Live Dealers?
We've given you a list of the best live online casinos to play for real money at but perhaps you still need some convincing. Slots may be eye-catching but there's just something about real-time play that takes online gambling to the next level. We put ourselves on the line saying that live dealer games are often better than the real thing. We weren't lying though and below we're about to explain why. Of course, if you still have doubts by the end of this, take a seat at a live table. The results will speak for themselves, you have our word!
Safety
As good as any virtual casino gets, some players will always be a little cautious. Particularly when it comes to fairness. Of course, casinos online can vouch for the fact that their games make use of the latest RNG software. The better ones will even provide audit certificates from third parties like eCogra. For some, this still isn't enough reassurance. Luckily, live dealer casinos have the perfect solution. Real dealers, as well as quality video streams, help to eliminate any doubts.
Convenience
Perhaps you want to take a seat at a casino table but only have an hour to kill? Of course, you're not going to put on a suit and rush down to your nearest land-based casino! If there even is one close by after. This is where we start to see how a live casino online is actually a better option. For starters, taking a seat at a live table is hassle-free. What's more thanks to mobile casinos, you can now do it pretty much anywhere. The only thing you'll need to worry about is ensuring you have a strong internet connection. Mobile live casino go-ers proceed with caution, data roaming could be costly. Then again, just think of the money you'll have saved on not buying that new suit!
Quality Casino Experience
How can a live stream of a casino studio come anywhere close to the real thing? This is probably the question you are asking yourself. Top software providers are constantly looking to improve the casino live experience, but more on this later. For what it's worth, live game studios go to great efforts to ensure that their dealers receive the correct training. In some ways, the fact that they are being filmed from multiple angles means that attention to detail is vital.
In addition to this, all of the best live dealer tables make use of state-of-the-art HD streaming to truly elevate the experience. The use of live chat and even video communication in some cases has meant that its actually easier to interact with online dealers. To really seal the deal some of the live games are filmed directly from casinos. Things don't get any better than this!
Popular Live Casino Games
When live casinos first came about, there was a lot of hype. The concept went down well with players from the very beginning. Initially, the choice was slightly limited though. Luckily, it didn't take long for software providers to realise this. Nowadays, the range of live casino games online has grown substantially. We aren't just talking about neverending variants of classic table games like live casino roulette. You can of course still play live blackjack and any of the other favourites but there are also some more versatile options. Here's our pick of the more popular options you can expect to come across at a live dealer casino.
Live Blackjack
Live blackjack online has been around since the very beginning. We could go as far as saying that it is probably one of the most popular casino games both online and at brick and mortar establishments. The game is in fact centuries old. It was only going to be a matter of time before live casinos caught on. Choose from European or American rules, you can expect to find a mix of both at live dealer blackjack tables. This game is particularly popular amongst high rollers. In fact, most live dealer casinos have several VIP blackjack tables. With sky-high limits and exclusive treatment, Vegas couldn't get any closer!
Live Baccarat
Although not as popular as blackjack, live casino baccarat is another option for card games fans. In many ways, blackjack and baccarat are similar but for some reason, the latter did not catch on as well. It is still considered a favourite in certain regions, such as Asia. Let's not forget about those 007 fans either. When James Bond himself plays it, of course, you're going to want to give live dealer baccarat a go. Whilst finding a live blackjack casino is relatively easy, some tend to leave baccarat out. Once you do find the game, the good news is that software providers have looked to create games with exciting twists. Improvements in technology has seen the launch of games such as Squeeze Baccarat. Multi-angled cameras, slow-motion effects and zoom-in features truly give that feel of a real-life casino.
Live Roulette
Unlike live baccarat and blackjack, this next game does not involve any cards. Live roulette online has however been just as successful. There's just something rather intriguing about casino roulette wheels that keeps players coming back for more. Watching a live dealer do it, just makes it all the more engaging. With live casino software providers looking to expand their portfolio, players are now able to choose from American, European and French roulette. Being another favourite amongst players looking for higher stakes, you can also expect to find several VIP live dealer roulette tables. Country specific tables with local dealers are another favourite at live casinos.
Live Poker
Perhaps not as widespread as the other two casino card games, some live casinos also some options for poker fans. Some of the live games even come with big jackpots. Evolution's Live Caribbean Stud Poker is one example. Live three card poker tends to be another winner amongst live dealer games fans. As mentioned previously though, these games can't be found at every live casino online. Of course, checking back to our list of the top-rated ones is always a good starting point.
Other Live Casino Games
When it comes to live casino games Blackjack and roulette definitely come out on top. Other card games like live baccarat and poker are not far behind. The thing we like most about live casinos has been their move towards versatility over the years. Classics will always be classics but this is the virtual world after all, so why not utilise this to its full potential. Each year, we are seeing new live dealer games being released, one more wacky than the other. It started off with Football Studio and others like Monopoly Live soon followed suit. With the recent launch of Deal or No Deal Live, we're left wondering what could be next!
Best Live Casino Game Providers in the UK
A casino is only as good as the software they have collaborated with. As you can probably imagine, the same can be said for live casinos. Some of the big names like NetEnt have chosen to extend their product line to live dealer games. The same cannot be said for all. Microgaming, for instance, has stuck to their strengths, virtual casino games. Others such as Vivo Gaming and Evolution are live dealer exclusive providers. For what it's worth, below are some of the favourites within the industry.
Evolution Gaming
You can't mention live casinos without talking about Evolution Gaming. The two were almost meant to be and for good reason! The funny thing is that Evolution isn't actually the industry pioneer. Playtech, for instance, has been around for longer. When they did eventually launch their product, it didn't take Evolution Gaming long to establish themselves as a top contender. Finding a live casino powered by this particular company, won't take much. With such a wide range of live casino games to choose from, of course, operators are going to want to collaborate.
Having gained such a high reputation for themselves, the company could have easily stopped there. Instead, they are constantly looking to extend their product. New live casino games are always on their agenda. Additionally, they have also looked to better their product. Casinos are now able to customise their live dealer section courtesy of Evolution exclusive tables. Moreover, they have recently bought out previous competitor Ezugi. Who knows what the future has in store for these guys!
NetEnt Live
If you're a slots fan, then you're almost certain to be familiar with the name NetEnt. Unlike Evolution, they haven't focused solely on live casinos but instead have fermented themselves as a reputable brand across all casino games. This is probably the reason that they do not offer as wide a choice of live games as their main competitor. They do still have a decent sized product offering and we definitely can't fault the quality. This is an award-winning software giant after all! NetEnt also ensure that their croupiers are professionally trained. There are some country restrictions to be aware of. This and their smaller library, does mean that NetEnt live casinos are perhaps not as widespread. If you do happen to come across one though, then you could be in for the live casino experience of a lifetime!
Live Casino Bonus Offers
It may not be the real thing but online gambling does have some perks over land-based casinos. We have seen this a few times throughout this review. Casino bonuses are one example of this. Whether you're a new player or an existing one, most sites have them. If you have any experience with promotions then you'll also know that they come in all shapes and sizes. Moreover, most casino sites have certain game weighting rules in place. Which brings us to the important part, live casino bonuses.
If you're looking to play live roulette, blackjack or any other casino game and snap up a bonus along the way, you may have some difficulties. Bonuses for live games are available, but they're much harder to come by. Welcome bonuses for new players could be a good place to start. You will, however, need to ensure that the casino site allows players to meet wagering requirements playing at live casino tables. This can be particularly tricky! Even when you do happen to stumble upon one, it's a known fact that live dealer games contribute less than other casino games.
Whilst we wouldn't suggest opting for live casino bonuses, the good news is that they are an option. You may even encounter live casino specific offers such as roulette and blackjack promotions. New player or not, just be sure to always read the full terms! Leovegas Casino, Betfair Casino and William Hill Casino have been known to offer live casino bonuses to their new customers. Check out the reviews to see if they still have them on offer!
Where to Look for Live Casino Bonuses?
Coming across a live casino deposit bonus is already quite a hard task. Pair that with the fact that no deposit bonuses are just as difficult to come by at casino sites and you have the answer to this question. In case you're still wondering, finding a live casino no deposit bonus is almost unheard of. Never say never though, right. Let's just say that if you do happen to come across one, then consider this your lucky day!