Live casino has grown in popularity over the years, providing increasingly immersive gameplay experiences for gamblers across the globe. While early live dealer iterations were pretty basic, nowadays they’re getting closer and closer to the real deal. Players can enjoy a premium casino experience in real-time featuring real dealers, cards and roulette wheels without stepping anywhere near a brick-and-mortar casino. But is it safe to play live casino games? Let’s take a look behind the scenes to find out.

What are live casino games?

Before we get into what makes a live casino game safe, let’s go back to basics.

In the simplest terms, live casino games are real-life games featuring actual dealers that are filmed and streamed live from a dedicated studio. Within these studios, physical casino tables and realistic backdrops are set up in front of the camera to create an authentic casino environment. Modern live casino software allows players to take part on their desktop or mobile device, and play against other online casino players in different locations. Through live chat functions, players can even interact with the host of the game.

At On Air Entertainment, we’re currently busy creating our debut live casino game, Blackjack, which is due to premiere in November and will showcase a clean user interface with a range of side bets and advanced features. Stay tuned for more!

Regulation and licences

As with their land-based counterparts, online casinos are covered by strict regulations to ensure the utmost accountability and to protect the safety of players. Those operating in regulated markets are licensed by the local gambling authorities and must meet and continue to abide by certain rules and regulations to obtain and retain a licence. Tapping into the industry’s largest customer base via Games Global, On Air Entertainment is set to provide content to gaming operators and their players across multiple regulated markets worldwide.

If you’re looking to play live casino games, be sure to check your local online gambling regulations first and look out for the appropriate licences on the casino website before you make a deposit.

All eyes are on the table

Live casino games are specifically designed to take players close to the action and deliver an immersive, realistic gaming experience. As a game plays out, multiple cameras capture the wider scene, the dealer and the game itself, covering all bases and streaming the action straight to a player’s device of choice.

While in a land-based casino you’d be able to keep your eye on the gameplay in front of you, these various camera angles ensure every move is monitored and any issues are spotted. In card games such as blackjack, the decks are shuffled in full view of the player, meaning there’s no room for foul play. On the other side of the camera, the director and crew are there to guarantee fairness in every hand delt. Indeed, at On Air we will have a team on hand to supervise the integrity of our games at all times, making sure that results are processed correctly and ensuring an overall seamless gameplay experience.

As you would when stepping up to a table in a real casino, you put your trust in the hands of the dealer, but there is so much more going on behind the scenes to ensure fairness and safety. 

Product integrity

While the dealer provides the human element, and the studio team makes sure every action is broadcast, the digital technology behind the scenes is what really ensures a game’s integrity and fairness. Live casino software is programmed to automatically and accurately read the results of a game. Casinos, studios and suppliers have their software audited regularly to guarantee fair play, so look out for seals of approval from organisations such as eCOGRA when choosing a casino.

Here at On Air Entertainment, we’ve also teamed up with specialist game integrity and risk provider Live Fraud Solution to guarantee all our upcoming games deliver the safest and fairest live gaming experiences.

Secure banking and player support

Online deposit and withdrawal methods have come a long way over the years, and there is now a wide range of options out there for safely depositing cash at an online casino, whether via debit card, instant bank transfer, e-payment or cryptocurrency. Although there are many safe transaction methods available, withdrawal times do often differ; for example, while deposits are instant on the debit card, it may take a few days for a withdrawal to clear. Meanwhile, withdrawals when using E-Wallets are generally pretty quick. Ultimately, the method you use to deposit and withdraw cash at any online casino really comes down to personal choice.    

It goes without saying that when you sign up for an online casino, you should always use a strong password to protect your account. Above all, make sure you choose a reputable casino before providing sensitive information or depositing funds.

If you do have a problem with deposits or withdrawals, help will be at hand. Online casinos provide a customer help centre, often with live chat and email support available 24/7. 

Safer Gambling

Like all forms of gambling, live casino games should only be played for entertainment: you should always do so within your means and for fun, not for profit.

From providing player protection tools such as self-exclusion to publishing guidance on seeking formal support, reputable casinos will be doing all they can to prevent problem gambling and protect their players from gambling-related harms. They’ll be dedicated to promoting safer gambling, so keep an eye out for commitments on their site. 

With more than a century of collective industry experience, the On Air team knows how vital player protection is for the future of live casinos. That’s why we place safer gambling at the very heart of all we do.

Final thoughts

Playing live casino games such as blackjack, baccarat and roulette at online casinos can be a safe and enjoyable pastime for adults. Both the industry itself and external regulators have ensured safeguards are in place to protect players from harm, to protect their money, and to ensure the fairness, integrity and sustainability of live casinos as a whole. Before making a deposit at any online casino, we urge you to do your research on local regulations and on your casino of choice to ensure correct and robust safety measures are in place.