Playing at a Live Casino in New Jersey

The US is seeing an increasingly liberal approach to online gambling and New Jersey seems to be the star of the show. Since the legalization of online gambling, the Garden State’s gambling industry has seen revenues top $16 million per year.

One of the most interesting rises in online gambling is the live casino. The live dealer casino seeks to blend the convenience of online gambling with the atmosphere of a real casino.

It’s fast becoming a favorite among players who want to experience real-life gaming without leaving their sofas.

What is a Live Casino?

A live casino often referred to as a virtual casino, involves a player gambling from the comfort of their own home while experiencing the excitement of playing in a live casino setting. There would be a direct video link to a live dealer who acknowledges bets, spins the wheel, deals the cards, and shuffles chips across the table.

Live casinos are not video games, where the interactions with the dealer are programmed into the game. You’re playing with a real dealer who will act like any dealer in a real casino!

Most live casinos online also have a chat feature, so you can chat with your fellow players as you would in a real casino. The dealer will also interact with players who want to chat with them, thus giving you a truly immersive experience.

Some of the more advanced virtual casinos will even allow you to change camera angles and look around, so you can feel like you’re in a real casino.

However, the rules of the games remain the same as those in a conventional online casino. There’s no difference in the way you gamble.

How Do Outcomes Differ from a Regular Online Casino?

From a technical standpoint, online casinos differ from live casinos. When you gamble with an online casino the outcomes are determined via a random number generator.

Lots of players prefer virtual casinos because the cards are shuffled and the ball is thrown onto the roulette wheel in the same way as a real casino.

Live Dealer Casino Games

Online live casinos are a relatively new addition to the world of online gambling, so there are still only a few choices of casinos to play at. This limited selection also applies to the number of games available to play.

Many of the games you’re used to playing may not be available through a specific casino’s live option.

Live Dealer Blackjack

Live blackjack is one of the staples of the virtual casino. The game proceeds as you would expect it to in a real, land-based casino. You’ll play alone with just the dealer in front of you.

You’ll start by placing your bet and then the dealer will give you two cards. The object of the game is not to make 21 as is a common misconception, but instead to beat the dealer’s score. You’ll see one "up" card from the dealer, thus allowing you to decide whether to stay or take another card.

Live blackjack also allows you to play blackjack double downs and to split when necessary.

You should check out the payout awarded for a natural (where you make 21 with your initial two cards) before you play as the payout can drastically alter the house edge.

Live Dealer Roulette

Live roulette is the other game you can expect at every live casino online. It works in the same way as conventional roulette.

Players are able to play anything from odds/evens to red/black to specific numbers. The live dealer will place the ball onto the wheel for fate to decide.

You should check whether the live roulette game in question is American roulette or French roulette. The difference being the presence of the ‘00’ number, which tilts the odds in favor of the house.

Live Dealer Baccarat

Live baccarat is a popular casino game available through the virtual casino setting. Baccarat is favored among players due to the relatively low house edge and the high betting limits many casinos employ.

Baccarat also offers a more easygoing setting for players who are just looking to have fun, which is something poker tends not to offer.

Players have numerous betting options, including the color of the cards, the suits, the numeric total of the dealer’s hand, and more.

Most live baccarat games have three streets, so players have three opportunities to bet. To enhance your odds of winning at live baccarat you should choose the games with the fewest number of decks in play.

Try to find games with less than six decks.

Take note there are many varieties of baccarat, including traditional, speed, and progressive (currently only offered through Playtech software).

Live Dealer Casino Poker

Poker is the quintessential casino game. Live poker has all the variations you would expect in a real casino, but the most common variations are Five-Card Draw and Texas Hold’em.

Playing live poker is different from what you would experience in a casino. In a live poker game you won’t be playing against other players. Instead, your hand will always compete with the dealer’s hand.

Like in real poker, you should understand hand rankings and betting sizes to increase your chances of winning. Table position is not a factor in live casino poker games as there are only two players. You’re always playing heads-up poker.

Make sure you know how to play your favorite variation of poker in a heads-up setting as poker is a game of extreme nuance and skill.

Live Dealer Casino Mobile Apps

Online casinos have also moved into providing mobile apps with live dealers. Players can play anywhere where there’s a stable Internet connection.

All games work in the same way as above. There’s no real difference between playing on a computer and playing via an app.

The only aspect you will need to bear in mind is your operating system. Unfortunately, many of the main app providers, like Playtech, Evolution, and Netent, only support certain operating systems.

For example, Evolution-powered live casinos online only support Android operating systems, so if you use an iPhone you’re out of luck.

If you decide to play a live game via mobile casino app, make sure you know your operating system and phone model first to avoid disappointment.

The Beginner’s Guide to Playing in a Live Casino for the First Time

For newer players, it can be daunting to play in a live casino for the first time. If you’re used to playing in a land-based casino or in a standard online casino you may be wondering where to start.

The first step is to find a live casino online that works for you. In the next section, you’ll find a list of recommended casinos.

Once you’ve found a casino, you must register an account, set up your payment method of choice, and fulfill any ID requirements.

Step One – Register an Account

Your first step is to create an account. You’ll typically find this button in the top-right corner of any page you visit on the casino’s website. Most online casinos have a separate live casino, so you’ll automatically register yourself with both when you make an account.

Simply enter your personal details. Make sure these are 100% accurate as you’ll need them to match any identification documents you submit later. Get it wrong and you may not be able to withdraw your winnings.

In some casinos, you’ll also have the choice of a variety of bonuses when you register an account. The best bonus depends on the games you like to play.

Step Two – Select Your Payment Method

Your next step is to add some real money to your account. For this, you’ll need to enter the casino cashier, which may have a separate button next to the account settings section or maybe within your account settings.

Once you find the cashier, select ‘Deposit’ and you’ll be presented with lots of different payment methods.

Use your credit/debit card or an e-wallet like Neteller, Skrill, or PayPal if you want the funds to become available immediately. Wire transfers and checks may take anywhere from five to ten business days to process.

Add in the necessary details and choose how much you want to deposit. All casinos will have clear instructions on-screen.

Step Three – Meet Any ID Requirements

You will now have a choice. After step two you can either start playing in the virtual casino immediately or you can fulfill the casino’s ID requirements.

Select the former and this step will appear when you attempt to make your first withdrawal.

Due to anti-money laundering requirements, the casino will ask for some form of photo identification, such as a passport or driving license. They will also ask for proof of address, which can take the form of something like a utility bill, bank statement, or cell phone bill.

Some casinos may also ask for a picture of the depositing method used. For e-wallets, a screenshot is fine. For credit/debit cards, a picture of the card will suffice.

Make sure all scanned images are HD quality.

Top 5 Live Casinos Online

Live casinos online are a relatively recent addition to the raft of different gambling options available to New Jersey players.

Like with any online casino, there are different games available and different bonuses presented. Double-check to make sure any bonuses are not outdated when you sign up with any live casino.

888 live casino

888 Casino offers all the classic casino games with live dealers. You will find live dealer roulette, blackjack, baccarat, casino hold'em, three card poker, and Caribbean stud. 

The live casino software is powered by Evolution Gaming offering a nearly perfect platform and extremely fast loading times. 

Betfair live casino

Betfair Casino has some of the most advanced live dealer games in the industry. The brand's live casino is powered by Playtech and offers a huge selection of live casino games. Players have the choice of more than 70 variations of roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. You can try them out with a free $20 bonus!

Golden Nugget live casino

Golden Nugget is a well-known name in casino gaming. The live dealer casino games at Golden Nugget are broadcast directly from Golden Nugget's live casino studio in Atlantic City. The live dealer games available include live blackjack, live roulette, live baccarat, and Live Casino Hold'em.

Golden Nugget offers a 100% first deposit match bonus up to $1,000! New players are also eligible for a free $20 sign up bonus. 

FanDuel live casino

FanDuel NJ offers its players a selection of tables for many different live dealer casino games including live blackjack, live roulette, live baccarat, and live hold'em. New players are eligible for a huge 100% first deposit match bonus up to $2,500! When signing up, new players can also receive a free $30 sign up bonus. 

Borgata live casino

Borgata offers its players live dealer games, streamed from Golden Nugget's live casino studio. Players can choose from a variety of live dealer casino games including live blackjack, live roulette, live baccarat, and Live Casino Hold'em. New players receive a no deposit bonus offer os $20 free! When making your first deposit, you are eligible for a 100% first deposit bonus up to $600. 

FAQs - Live Dealer Casinos

Playing at live casinos for the first time is a daunting experience for those who have never tried them before. Don’t be afraid to contact your casino if you want to know more about how their virtual casino works.

Are live casinos really real-time gaming?

Yes. The dealer is shuffling the cards and spinning the wheel as you play. Like in a real casino, you’ll see the dealer use a real shoe, so you know you’re getting a fair game. Cards are typically burned (removed) from the top of the shoe every hand to prevent card counting.

How are live dealer casinos streamed? 

This depends on the live casino in question. Some have dedicated studios and other tables are streamed live from real land-based casinos. Most online gaming venues only have live tables available at certain hours.

Can you chat with the dealer and to other players in a live casino? 

Many casinos actively encourage the dealer to respond to players. Just type in your message and the dealer will respond to the camera.

Sometimes you can chat with other players, but if the live casino operates what’s called a ‘general play’ table this won’t be possible.

How do I avoid making an embarrassing mistake at the live casino table?

Like in land-based casinos, new players naturally worry about messing up and making a fool of themselves. Most live casinos allow you to spectate so you can watch how the dealer operates. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the view and game settings.