Best of Both Worlds: The Appeal of Live Dealer Play

As a rule of thumb, gamblers fall into two groups.

The first get their thrills at brick-and-mortar casinos and betting parlors; the second prefer to place their bets online, from the comforts of their own home, office, or anywhere they wish!

The two groups have a great deal in common – most obviously, both are trying to get the best of it against the casino’s formidable house edge. But there are important differences as well.

Generally speaking, brick-and-mortar players get a kick out of social interactions, both with dealers and other players, as well as the many services and amenities offered. (Pro tip: if you fall into this category, get to know our  World Casino Directory – they are a phenomenal resource on casinos and casino news the whole world over.)

Online players, on the other hand, revel in their own privacy, to say nothing of the ability to toggle between different providers, games, and regions (even currencies!) with unprecedented ease.

Which is better?

That’s entirely a matter of taste…

… but no matter a player’s preference, Live Dealer play offers a bit of both.

The meteoric rise of Live Dealer Casino Gaming is a testament to the power of combining these two approaches.

From the online side of things, players retain both their personal privacy and the incredible array of options that remote play has to offer.

As online play has continued to grow into the multi-billion dollar industry it is today, the variety (both in quality and in quantity) of options available to punters has become positively dizzying.

There’s no question about it! Today’s gamblers have more choices (which is to say, more power) than any generation to come before them.

At the same time, Brick-and-mortar veterans get their taste of social interaction thanks to the dealers, who are more focused on them than usual thanks to the 1-to-1 ratio of most tables.

When there’s only one gambler seated at the table, who else is the dealer going to talk to?

Just because players love something, though, doesn’t mean it will necessarily come to pass. After all, gamblers would love to see looser slots, more frequent jackpots, and a negative house edge!

But don’t expect to see those innovations go mainstream any time soon! Why not?

Because they cut directly into game provider’s profits, that’s why!

For a trend to really take root in the industry, it has to work for both sides.

In Live Dealer play, that’s definitely the case. Players love it for all the reasons mentioned above… but casinos, especially top casinos, love them too!

There are a few reasons for this.

One, it costs a lot of money to keep a brick-and-mortar casino open: the dealers and staff have to be paid; the light and heating bills have to be taken care of; food and drink services have to be staffed and managed; with permits, taxes, hospitality, and security concerns, the expenses mount very quickly.

Plus, these expenses are incurred whenever the casino is open – often 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – regardless of how many players are active.

Live Dealer play minimizes all of these expenses. The only major cost considerations are dealers, tech, and the broadcasting site…

… and best of all, the costs can be reduced when fewer players are active.

Another key reason is this: because they , casinos make more more money when more bets are placed per hour.

If they had their druthers, players would always sit alone at empty tables with the dealer. This minimizes socializing, cross-talk, and all the pleasantries that slow the action down.

Finally, most land-based casinos are limited to clientele who either live or travel to their region. The Live Dealer movement allows these companies to serve a much, much larger group of players.

This allows savvy companies to expand their business exponentially. What’s more, the resulting competition results in more advantages for players!

It’s a virtuous cycle for sure, and one that benefits players and casinos both. No wonder Live Dealer business is booming!