Online Live Casino UK – The Country’s Most Exciting Live Dealer Games
Online casinos are here to stay. They are growing massively, while money is being thrown around like there’s no tomorrow. One of the key components of this growth is the emergence of live dealer casino games. It’s causing a real stir, and we’re here to help you find the best online live casino the UK has to offer.
UK Gambling licence no. 39028- High quality games from Evolution
- Great customer service
- Decent bonus amount
First-time depositors • Min deposit £10 • Claim within 48 hours • Expires in 90 days • 30X wagering • Valid on selected slots • UK and Ireland only • Full T&Cs apply
UK Gambling licence no. 34161- Great Evolution selection
- Good bonuses
- World-class dealers
Full T&Cs. New customers only. Min deposit £20 (exc PayPal). Max bonus £30, bonus amount non-withdrawable, playable on selected games only. 30x wagering for £30 bonus. Expires within 30 days. Max win £2,000.
The live casinos we’ve selected as our favourites all have something in common – the operator has identified that their players want an authentic live casino experience without having to leave the house. They want the freedom to be able to interact with live dealers while sitting in their pyjamas, stuffing pizza into their faces. Read on, and we’ll reveal the pros and cons of online live casinos in the UK.
How to Choose the Best Live Casino for You
The wealth of live dealer games on offer means you might have to do a bit of shopping to choose the right casino. Before you decide, it’s beneficial to get an overview of what’s out there and to consider your own needs. Are you a new player looking to spend your welcome bonus on the best UK online casino live games? If so, you need to consider the wagering requirements stated in the bonus terms and conditions. In some casinos, you’ll find that live casino dealer games don’t contribute to the playthroughs needed to claim the full bonus.
Are you looking for high-roller or low stakes tables? Big spenders should look out for operators with exclusive live suites with high limits. Is the game you want available? Do you perchance have a lucky dealer who seems to have magic hands? It’s worth considering that some live casino games are supplied to multiple operators simultaneously, so your lucky charm might not be exclusive to one casino.
Advantages of a Live Casino
Playing poker or blackjack against a house dealer injects a lot of fun into the gameplay. Whether it’s watching the cards being shuffled, or just staring longingly into the dealer’s eyes, the human interaction removes the distance and the robotic nature of an automated online casino table game. Besides that, seeing the cards being turned or the roulette wheel spun takes away any doubt you may have about the result. It creates an air of authenticity and trustworthiness.
When it comes to live online casinos, UK-based punters have a distinct advantage. Some of the top live dealer games are provided by UK companies, and the country has a huge number of licenced online casinos (300+), meaning the choice of live games is immense. Given the shuffling for space in crowded competition, the quality has risen, and UK players can expect increasingly more bang for their buck.
The Most Popular Live Dealer Games
There are no real surprises when it comes to the most popular live dealer games in online casinos. However, the classics of roulette, blackjack and poker are propped up by a multitude of game variants, and, increasingly, the dice-based Chinese game, sic-bo. Poker variants such as Casino Hold’em, Texas Hold’em and Three Card Poker can be found decking the halls in almost any live online casino.
Live Blackjack
As the most popular card game in live casinos in the UK, you’d expect to find all kinds of variants and betting limits associated with live online blackjack. Indeed, you can. Sometimes, things are as they seem. A sizeable portion of live casino suites have incorporated popular gameplay variants such as Blackjack Party and VIP, or High-Stakes Blackjack. Live online blackjack has spawned other interesting features such as Bet Behind, where you can bet on a player at the (virtual) table to bring home the bacon. If they win, so do you. It adds a massively multiplayer-like element to proceedings and can be a lot of fun.
Live Roulette
Almost all variations of live roulette can be found skulking in the libraries of online casinos. If you thought that making variations of a simple game like roulette was impossible, implausible, or downright nonsensical, think again. Where there’s a will there’s a way, and online casinos are positively loaded with will. The classic games of American, European and French roulette are everywhere, but you can also discover Ra Roulette, Sizzling Hot Roulette, Double Ball and Immersive Roulette among others, supporting the traditional favourites. Immersive Roulette, featuring multiple HD camera angles and slow-motion replays, even went as far as winning EGR’s Game of the Year award in 2014 – a prize voted for by operators themselves.
Live Baccarat
Baccarat is Asia’s most popular casino table game, but it travels well, and a healthy selection of live baccarat games can be found in UK licenced casinos. There tends to be fewer live baccarat tables than those dealing poker and blackjack, but you can still find a range of games with special side bets such as Player Bonus, Banker Bonus, and Pairs. If you are in a hurry, live Speed Baccarat will do the trick, with each game round limited to twenty-seven intense seconds. You can also find live dealer baccarat with seventeen camera angles, including blockbuster close-ups of the squeeze.
Other Popular Live Games
One of the great things about live online casinos is the variety and choice available to every punter from their own home. Providers are able to host the games at a lower cost than at land based casinos, so there is much greater scope. As a result, online operators can offer more games than any single land based casino can dream of, save for the colossal casinos in Las Vegas or Macau. Less popular game variants, therefore, attract a larger following online.
Texas Hold’em
One of the most widely played poker variants, Texas Hold’em can be found in Evolution’s live suite. You play against the dealer, and there is a limit to how many people can play at a time, although, most live casinos enable you to watch and bet on games you are not participating in. Each player is dealt two cards, faced down, with five community cards in the centre. The community cards are revealed in stages, and you use the community cards to (hopefully) improve your hand.
The game will automatically create the best possible hand for you, so there’s no need to worry about swapping out cards yourself. In order to register a win, the dealer must qualify with a ranked hand that you must better. Our dedicated live Ultimate Texas Hold’em page goes into more detail about the rules.
Casino Hold’em
If you are a fan of Texas Hold’em, you’ll surely enjoy Casino Hold’em. In both games, you face off against the dealer. You get your two cards, which are then supplemented by three community cards, just like in standard poker. Both player and dealer can use any of the three community cards to form the best poker hand possible. This is done automatically by the game software, so there is no physical picking up of cards required. By playing only against the dealer, it speeds the game up and keeps it simple.
An unlimited number of players can take part and make bets at a live online table, which really adds to the excitement. Casino Hold’em could be described as a faster, more streamlined version of Ultimate Texas Hold’em. It’s great for players who like to get through a greater number of hands played per minute, whilst retaining its poker charm.
Three Card Poker
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out that Three Card Poker is a variant of poker, where each player gets a hand of three cards. Also going by the names Poker Three, Trey Poker, or Tri Card Poker, this game is a relative newcomer to the casino scene. Invented in 1994, its availability in UK online live casinos is limited, but we don’t anticipate it disappearing anytime soon.
Live Three Card Poker is one of the more recent additions to Evolution’s library of poker variants. Rather than using the full five cards to create a poker hand, in this version, both dealer and players make do with just three. As a result, the game uses a modified version of the standard poker hands table, reducing the strength of a flush given that it is much easier to land across three cards compared to five.
Sic Bo
Few casinos offer the Chinese dice game, sic bo, but if you are looking something a bit different, it can be a lot of fun. You simply have to predict the total value of three dice, which are thrown by an electronic dice tumbler. You can place as many bets as you want, and you can bet on any outcome. The game is huge in Asia and is known for its fast-paced, simple gameplay.
Sic bo has been around in the digital online casino space for quite some time, but Evolution has brought it to the live dealer market and it’s currently experiencing a bit of a comeback. If you’re looking for a live dealer game that thinks outside of the box, this could be what you’ve been looking for. Our dedicated sic bo page will tell you where you can play online.
Carribean Stud
In Caribbean Stud Poker you are playing against the casino. Live Caribbean Stud Poker is found in an increasing number of online casinos. The only totals that matter to you are yours and the house.
You place an ante wager before being dealt a five card hand. The dealer also gets five, with one exposed. You then either fold, losing the ante, or bet more to double the ante. The dealer then reveals his cards. If they are not better than ace-king, you get even money on the ante and nothing on the bet. If better than ace-king, the dealer’s hand qualifies for play against yours, and if it beats your hands, you lose your ante and bet. If you beat the dealer’s hand, you get even money on the ante plus a specified payout based on your hand.
The Online Format with Live Dealer Casinos
The live casino format is nothing without live dealers. They are the bread and butter. It makes a lot of difference being welcomed to a table by a friendly dealer, compared to when you play an automated game. The live dealer announces betting windows and wins and keeps you fully aware of what is going on, making it as easy and comfortable as possible for the punter. So much so, you could probably play whilst doing the ironing, or…trampolining, although we wouldn’t go as far as to recommend it. Some software providers, such as Evolution, even allow for two-way chat communication. If you are keen to shop around and find your favourite live dealer casino manually, you’ll come across some UK-based live casinos, as well as plenty of English-speaking croupiers from exotic locations. Either way, you’ll feel at home in more ways than one.
How Live Dealer Casino Games Work
Live dealer casino suites are often recorded in studios where tens of dealers work their magic simultaneously. It is quite possible that when you are playing, you’ll recognise another dealer lurking around in the background. The rooms have loads of cameras dotted around, and some games are recorded with over 15 cameras, for the closest replication of an actual visit to the casino.
If you are playing a card game, you’ll see the cards being shuffled and cut, the hands dealt out each betting round. Watching from your screen you’ll see the live dealer flanked by an interactive control panel, where you place your bets in real time, look at previous betting rounds, read game instructions, and check your account balance. Some games have a chat feature, so you can talk to the dealer and other players. Other games might have a tip box, for if you are feeling particularly generous. It all adds up to an impressive replication of a real bricks and mortar casino experience. Just don’t go expecting a free drink.
Our Favourite Live Casino Online Providers
The best providers of live casino online games combine high-quality games with lots of choice, a range of table limits, and an immersive all-round experience. The dealers are friendly and communicate clearly, and nothing is left to chance – except for the games themselves.
Only a handful of top UK online casinos have their own in-house live dealer solution. It’s an expensive business to run. Consequently, the same live dealer suite is sometimes shared between various operators. Evolution is the biggest independent live dealer casino provider and has won the award for Best Live Gaming Provider of the Year, every year since 2010.
| Casino | Bonus | Rating | Action | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party Casino |
EVOLUTION Full of innovative features and found in many online casinos
|
Visit Casino | Full T&Cs. 18+. UK & ROI only. New customers only. Deposit & spend £10, to get 50 Free Spins on selected slot games (Value £0.10 each). Use within 7 days. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. | |
| NetEnt |
NETENT A big-hitter with lots of great games
|
Visit Casino | Full T&Cs. 18+ New players, £10+ deposit, no e-wallets/prepaid cards, up to 500 Free Spins, 40x wagering on Free Spins winnings, £5 max bonus stake. Terms apply. GambleAware |
Why Live Games Are Better than Land-Based
It’s easy to fathom why live online games are growing in popularity. The advantages of playing from wherever you’ve got an internet connection are plenty. The ability to sit in the comfort of your own home and feel like you are in a real casino is a joy to behold. It’s a veritable revolution for lazy people, and let’s face it – there are not many of us who wouldn’t prefer to stay in at least one night a week. Advancements in the quality of online live casino games has bridged the gap to land-based casinos in many respects. Sure, you won’t get the bright lights, the bar service and the company, but you’ll barely have to move a muscle, and you can readily stuff crisps into your face and get a beer from the fridge.
Switching from one casino to another is a darned sight easier on your computer than with brick and mortar casinos. Unless you are on the Strip in Las Vegas, you might have to get a taxi to go from one land-based casino to the next. When online, you have hundreds of casinos at your fingertips. Meanwhile, there are huge varieties of welcome bonuses and promotions on offer; many of which will add to your bankroll, as opposed to the free drink on offer in a land-based casino.
Typical Live Casinos Q&As
We’ve been sampling the delights of live online casinos since the beginning, and there are some questions that we keep getting asked. Without further ado, here are the answers.
Will Live Games Work on My Mobile?
If you have an iOS, Android or Windows smartphone, you’ve updated your OS version, and you have a working internet connection, you’ll be good to go. Some older OS versions may not work, while some casinos require you to download software.
Will My Internet Connection Affect Video Quality?
Potentially, yes. However, most providers have adjustable settings to reduce quality for slower connections.
Roundup of Live Casino Gaming
To summarise, you can have a lot of fun playing in a live casino online if you choose the right place to do so. It’s worth staying in and having a punt. There are some big differences between the main providers, but they all have their strong points. Our favourite live casinos were selected predominantly for their choice of games, the atmosphere, the table limits and a user-friendly interface. We also preferred providers that were up front and open about house rules and RTP rates. We’ve filtered out the dross and selected only the best to recommend. Navigate to our main page for an overview of the best online casinos in the UK.
Reviewed by Samuel Tucket