When the first gambling site was launched in the mid-1990s, nobody expected to play live games hosted by real-life dealers online. Today, gamers are quitting their land-based casino memberships in favor of playing at the best live casinos.
But unlike RNG games, players pay as little as $5 to enjoy live casino games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat. So, why is it that these games are more expensive to play than RNG-powered games? Below are the facts!
One of the main reasons why players frequent live casinos online is to interact with friendly croupiers. Usually, live croupiers deal out the cards and help beginner players settle in whenever possible. Also, live dealers are responsible for nailing down cheating players or kicking out unruly players.
But as expected, they charge the casino a small fee for these services. After all, the dealer has bills to pay back at home. In other words, live online casinos pay them salaries. Because of this, players can’t book a seat if they have not placed a real-money bet.
Live casino studio setup is strikingly similar to brick-and-mortar casinos. Apart from the live croupier, you’ll notice tables, cards, and everything else you’ll get on a real-life casino. In some cases, live casinos display huge TV screens in the background showing international news stations in real-time. Of course, this adds to the transparency factor.
But how much does it really cost to live stream casino games? A lot! While there is no fixed cost for this, you can rest assured that casinos spend a fortune to stream games.
For instance, most casino studios are fixed with omnidirectional cameras to give players a better view. Also, casinos spend considerable amounts to purchase and maintain the live dealer room software. So, don’t walk in empty-handed.
There is no denying that most casino players prefer playing RNG games like video slots. In fact, most casino rewards are tied to online slots and RNG games in general. But here is the secret; casinos know that some live games such as blackjack and poker are easier to win when using an optimal strategy. Remember, games like blackjack and poker offer a house edge of less than 1%.
So, to make up for the lost ground, casinos charge players a fee to play these live table games. But still, most live casinos offer players frequent bonuses and rewards, although not as much as you’ll get with RNG games. Some even provide weekly, monthly, or daily cash tournaments. But overall, it’s a pay-to-play affair.
The idea of playing RNG games without risking anything can be irresistible. However, you won’t pay much to play live casino games. Usually, the wager is something between $1 and $10 per hand. Now compare this to what you spend at land-based venues, which is something between $10 and $25.
For example, a gamer plays on a $1/hand live blackjack table, playing 50 hands per hour. Now this means the player spends at least $50/hour. Considering the house edge is 1%, the player’s theoretical loss per hour is $0.50.
On the other hand, if the same player bets the minimum $10/hand and plays 50 hands per hour on a land-based casino, they’ll lose $5/hour. That’s if the house edge remains unchanged.
All said, streaming and managing live dealer games is not a layman’s task. Casinos spend huge sums paying the dealers, managing the software, and setting up a state-of-the-art studio. But as said above, it doesn’t need an enormous bankroll to enjoy a live dealer experience. Just find an affordable table and use your skills to win the game. That’s it!
