How to Play at a Live Dealer Casino

1. How to Choose a Safe Live Casino

The safety and security of your iGaming experience begins right here. Choose the right operator, and you’ll have nothing to worry about – except maybe your bankroll, should you manage it poorly. Choose the wrong operator, and it can spiral into a nightmare from which it can take weeks, if not months, to wake.

Rogue casinos do exist. They prey on the unsuspecting and unwitting. They use illegal tactics to steal everything from money, to banking info, to complete identities. You can avoid getting tangled up in such a mess by performing simple due diligence.

You need to make sure that, 1) the live casino is licensed in a reputable jurisdiction; 2) it’s been in operation a minimum of two years—the longer the better; 3) there are no recent claims of dis-reputability against the operator.

Instead of walking you through the entire process, I’ll refer you to a page that’s already done an excellent job in teaching how to find a safe, secure gaming website.

• Crash Course in Online Casino Safety & Security

Reputation is critical, but there are other factors you may want to look for when choosing the right live casino. Game variety is a big one. Make sure the operator supplies the types of games you want to play. Every casino has the popular titles, like blackjack and roulette, but if you want to play Lightning Dice or Dream Catcher, for example, you’ll have to join a casino that employs Evolution Gaming software.

Regional player acceptance is another important feature to look for. If you’re in Canada, you need a site that accepts Canadian players. Also have a glance at the banking section to make sure you’ll be able to fund your account. I happen to prefer live dealer casinos that accept Interac eTransfers; a Canadian-exclusive option that implies the strictest security. If you have a preference, make sure it’s an option.

2. Learn How to Set Up a Live Casino Account

This is a two-step process, really. First, you’ll learn how to register a new user account. Second, you’ll learn to fund the account.

Account Registration

Setting up your account couldn’t be easier. Just press the Join or Sign Up option and fill out the form. There are only two ways you can mess this up. The first is an innocent mistake, like typo-ing your name or address. Be sure to double-check all of your info to make sure it’s spelled correctly, and you’ll avoid any grief down the road.

The second is of a duplicitous nature – intentionally lying on your registration form. If you’re not who you say you are, or if your not legally eligible to play (too young, from a prohibited country, etc.), you could try lying on the sign-up page. But I assure you, you won’t get away with it for very long.

Online casinos are bound by regulatory law to verify the identity of their members. You might be able to get money in before they catch you, but you won’t be able to get money out, and could face serious fraud charges when they catch you. Consider yourself warned…

So, fill out the form, be honest, double-check for accuracy, and submit. You’ll have to verify your email address, then you’re all set to go.

Funding Your Account

At this point, you need to choose a banking method. If you see a deposit option on the list that you’re familiar with—maybe you use Visa gift cards or Interac Online for all your internet purchases—this part is easy. If not, have a look at this quick iGaming payments review so you can make an educated choice.

• Live Dealer Deposit Options in Canada

Once you’ve chosen the right payment solution, go to the casino’s banking page and choose to make a deposit. Select your method from the list, enter the amount you wish to deposit, then follow the instructions provided. Most payments are instant, so your bankroll should be stocked within a few seconds of submitting the payment.

3. Check Out the Games Before You Play

Now that you’re ready to go, be careful not to rush it, but also don’t let yourself feel intimidated. Live games are rarely available in free-play mode. The best way to get initiated is to ease into it. At a land-based casino you’d walk up and observe the table for a moment before you took a seat. The same can and should be done at a live casino.

Take a moment to read over the rules and the minimum/maximum stakes. You don’t want to accidentally join a high-roller table with a recreational bankroll. Watch a few rounds of play, and don’t start betting until you feel comfortable.

4. How to Play at a Live Dealer Casino

Game play will vary by the type of game you’re playing. We can generally split them into two groups – card games and non-card games. Card games would include things like blackjack, baccarat, casino hold’em, three card poker, etc. Non-card games would cover everything else, such as roulette, wheel games, dice games and sicbo.

Card games may require you to take a seat. If so, seats will be limited. When sitting, you will be able to play the game, and have to wait for your turn to take action. You’ll be on a timer, so don’t take too long, but again, don’t feel intimidated. If you followed the above step, you spent enough time observing the table to feel comfortable.

Choose your bet size by tapping on a chip from the bottom of the screen. You can bet more than one chip. If you want to bet $20, tap the $10 chip twice, then press the betting area on the table twice. To bet $15, tap the $10 chip, press the betting area, then repeat this with the $5 chip.

For games like baccarat or roulette, where you choose where or what to bet on, you’ll press the area of the table that corresponds with your desired wager. If you make a mistake, press the Clear Bets button to start over. In a decision based game, such as blackjack, all available options will be presented at the bottom of the screen. You can tap on Hit, Stand, Double, Split, etc.

In essence, playing the games is the same as playing in a live casino, except that all of your actions are made with the click of a mouse, or tap of a finger.

5. Learn How to Interact with Live Dealers and Players

One of the primary reasons so many players choose live dealer casinos over the computer generated variety is the ability to interact with others. You’ll be able to chat with the dealer, as well as your fellow players, via text chat. The chat window is usually to one side of the table. Simply press on the text input box, type your message, and hit Enter, or tap Send.

The dealer—having more than enough responsibilities already—is the only person able to chat via microphone. Their table is equipped with a small monitor that displays all conversing activity, so they can keep up with the chat, welcome new players to the table, and acknowledge the conversation.

The best live dealers are often the ones with a charismatic and humorous personalty. You’ll get to know the good ones as you play more.

A word of caution—don’t bother berating other players for what you consider to be bad game play. This is not only rude, it’s in bad taste, and against all degrees of casino etiquette. You may even get reported for it. If you aren’t happy with the other players, ignore them or find a new table to play it.

For more information, see: How to Speak with Live Dealers

6. Play Live Casino Games to Win

Let me start by saying that your number one goal should be entertainment. Casino games are meant to be an exciting pastime, just like any other form of entertainment. Yes, you have a chance to win your money back, if not more money than you started with, but the odds are not in your favor. You need to accept this fact and learn to enjoy the experience for what it is. If you win, fantastic! If not, that’s okay. So long as you had fun and didn’t lose more than you budgeted for it, then there’s no harm done. That being said…

Everyone loves to win! The true thrill of gambling comes from a satisfying win. Responsibility is key, but there’s nothing wrong with giving yourself the highest odds of winning. You can do this by knowing the rules of the game you intend to play, and employing the best strategy for that game. Doing so will decrease the house edge to a minimum, thereby boosting the theoretical return to player (RTP) to its highest point.

The game you’re playing will determine the strategy to employ. At this point, I must direct you to the following page, where you’ll find rules and strategies for a list of casino game titles… Good luck, have fun, and play responsibly!

• How to Play & Win Casino Games for Real Money