If you enjoy playing online casino games, then you may have probably heard about playing all your casino favourites live online, even if you haven’t tried it yourself yet! This type of online gaming experience combines the ease of virtual casino gaming with the buzz and excitement that you get from a brick-and-mortar casino because the game is hosted by a live dealer from a studio or real casino.

There are many game providers and titles to choose from, but how do these live games work, and what technology is involved in making them happen? Explore more about what goes on behind the scenes at your favourite cashback casino.

The technology that drives live casino games

New technologies and faster internet connectivity have made broadcasting these types of games more accessible than ever! While skilled dealers handle the logistics of running the game, several technological components come into play to make the game happen. Read on to find out more about all of them.

Cameras

The most important part of the setup is the cameras in the studio or casino where the game is being broadcast from. Depending on the type of game you are playing, there may be several cameras, which cover different angles of the game. These are designed to capture high-resolution images and seamlessly stream them live, which means they boast the latest and greatest image-capturing technology. It’s worth noting that at your end, you’ll need a device that can support this type of live gaming, plus a fast internet connection for seamless gameplay.

Optical character recognition (OCR) technology

Capturing what is going on at the table effectively is one thing, but how do you translate that information and share it on a screen? Thanks to OCR, you can see exactly what cards have been dealt or what numbers have been landed on, as everything that is happening is scanned and encoded as data, and shared on the screen in real time!

For example, when playing live blackjack, you’d be able to see which cards have been dealt on the screen, without having to look at the table yourself.

Game Control Unit (GCU)

The GCU works together with OCR to encode, process and share all the data that the game is generating. This means it is a critical form of support for gaming developers, as they wouldn’t be able to offer live casino services without it!

The GCU is said to be only the size of a shoebox, but this piece of hardware is a central component of the tech set-up. Of course, it is also linked to an entire backend server infrastructure too, to make sure that it can be powered without interruption, and that all of the information from the games can be stored effectively.

Monitors

Together with the cameras, OCR technology and the GCU, monitors ensure that the dealer can keep a close eye on what is happening in the game, and the chatbox. These monitors are also placed strategically, so it might appear that the dealer is looking straight at you, which is important. However, they’re actually taking in what is happening on the screen, which is the best way to stay connected to all the players in the game at the same time.

Automated casino wheels

The OCR and GCU work together to process and share information on the screen in certain games, but in games like live roulette, the wheel can also be designed to automatically share information straight to the GCU.

For example, this would include digitised and automated casino equipment that sends information about which number the ball has landed on. This means that the recognition technology is built-in, and there is no need to rely on a camera to transfer this information (although many players might still enjoy the thrill of watching the ball as it drops into one of the numbered slots on the wheel).

Software

We’ve talked about some of the hardware involved, but when it comes to software, gaming developers also need to make sure that the game runs as smoothly as possible, and that both the software and hardware elements work together without any issues.

Some of the most important considerations are having a clean and intuitive user interface. This will depend on the game, and its features, which could even involve the use of consoles, for added functionality.

From another user-experience perspective, developers also need to make sure that there are no latency and lag issues (which involves the speed at which packets of data are shared). As we all know, no one likes to be interrupted during their game due to poor connectivity!

Studios

With all of the hardware and software elements covered, you might be wondering: where do all these games take place physically? While it’s possible to film live casino games in a real casino environment, most gaming developers have a dedicated studio space.

This includes the actual studio where the dealers are filmed, as well as a software and server room, and an analysts’ room. The analysts keep a constant eye on the game to make sure that all of the rules are being followed, and that the game is operating smoothly.

Another important task is also keeping tabs on the Instant Messaging (IM) chatbox, and making sure that all queries, which could involve disputes, are addressed.

Play casino games live at Lucky VIP

Now that you’ve learnt more about these types of games, why not join us at Lucky VIP and have a go yourself? Our forte is offering the best live dealer experience, whether that involves trying to beat the dealer at blackjack, spinning the ball or wheel in roulette and various game shows, or placing strategic bets with baccarat and poker.

As a regular player, you could also take advantage of our casino rewards, which include daily cashback promotions. Register to play and find out more.