Online Casino vs Live Casino
It’s the 21st century.
Casino players are presented with a multitude of choice when it comes to the types of games they can play. From realistic live dealer games to fantasy-themed online slots, you may find yourself wondering which to choose. No one game or genre is necessarily “better” than the other, but there’s certainly pros and cons to consider, depending on your personal preferences.
Here at 21.co.uk, we tend to think of online casino as a broad term for what is very simply known as a casino which is online, covering all genres and types of game. However, many people think of online casino and live casino as two separate realms, with the online aspect being your virtual or simulated games.
To help our players narrow down the hundreds of options on offer here at 21.co.uk, we’re answering perhaps one of the biggest burning questions among the casino community - online casino UK games or live casino? Sit down, get comfortable and prepare for the ultimate battle: online casino vs live casino.
Online Casino: the Pros and Cons
We gave a full overview of everything you need to know about the virtual side of things in our Player’s Guide to Online Casino. If you’re new to the industry in general, we highly suggest reading this before getting started. What tends to put players off simulated table games and slots is the lack of realistic elements - fans of table games in particular tend to gravitate towards live casino products as they specialise in replicating a real life casino experience. You’re never going to get a live dealer in something like Blackjack Perfect Pairs, although the way technology is advancing, who knows what will be possible in the near future.
On a more positive note, simulated table games are a great way to practice before you go against a real dealer in live blackjack, for example. You can put your favourite blackjack strategy to the test or experiment with side bets with the table all to yourself. If you find you want to keep it that way - then great. If you want to move onto live table games when you feel more confident about how it all works, then you’re free to do that too.
Live Casino: the Pros and Cons
As mentioned, the main difference between online casino and live casino is that you get a more realistic experience that’s as close to the real thing as it gets. How is this achieved? Through a live video feed - you’re playing at a real table, with real cards, chips etc. Your croupier will interact with players and greet you when you take your seat at the table. The downside? There may not actually be an empty seat at your chosen table.
Evolution Gaming have come up with a solution to this problem - the Bet Behind feature. Obviously this isn’t an issue in games like Live Roulette, which allows an unlimited number of players to place bets at once. But for games like blackjack, you may find yourself without a seat. The Bet Behind feature is designed to eliminate this problem, allowing a virtually unlimited number of people to ‘bet behind’ one of the seven seated players. You can even strategically pick which player you’d like to bet behind, as players on a winning streak will be signposted. Whilst this does alleviate the problem somewhat, it’s not quite the same as making your own moves, and you’re relying on your chosen player to not make unwise decisions. You’re never going to have this problem in a game which isn’t live, which is where simulated casino games can really hold some appeal.
Which is Better For Your Budget?
Bankroll can play heavily into your preferred choice of what casino games you wish to play. Many live casino tables cater to different gameplay. Which game you want to play should also be considered, as minimum bets in roulette are generally a lot lower than in blackjack. If blackjack is your game of choice, and you prefer to make small bets, then a virtual blackjack table may suit your needs more than a live one, as the majority of live blackjack games require a bet of £25 or above. However, you can play at our 21.co.uk Live Blackjack table, complete with our logo, from £5 per round if you’re looking to stretch your bankroll out further.
Slots are of course a great option for those with smaller budgets or those who simply want to play as many rounds as possible, with the likes of Book of Ra Deluxe available to play from 10p per spin.
Online Casino vs Live Casino: the Verdict
Although there are numerous factors to consider when it comes to the online casino vs live casino debate, there’s a couple of things that are guaranteed whichever you choose: convenience and high quality. The “best” option really comes down to individual needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a game that allows you to play at your own pace with more versatile betting limits, but with all of the perks of a live casino game, give something like Blackjack Perfect Pairs a try. If you’re all about an authentic casino experience with plenty of personal touches, then the likes of live blackjack and Live Casino Hold’em are for you.