The very first online casinos were powered by software, custom coded by specialty gaming software development companies. As time progressed, many of these companies came and went, but in the general, the top companies, MicroGaming, Real Time Gaming, Vegas Technology, Cassava, Playtech, and Cryptologic have all solidified their place in the online gaming industry as trustworthy and reliable gaming software providers. As a result, the first customers of most online casinos were either forced to play Java casino games, or download the casino itself to their computer.
Post 2000, the idea of “Live action dealers” for online casinos became more prevalent. For some people, seeing is believing, and with the advent of higher bandwidth internet connections and reliable video cameras, a few companies experimented with live dealers interacting with their clients. Many Asian players, particularly those that enjoy Baccarat, actually prefer a live dealer opposed to gaming software, a fact mostly due to learning to trust casino software. Also, the idea of chatting with an attractive female dealer in real time is also exciting, and brings an allure of its own to live action online casinos.
Vegas Sky Casino – Rival Gaming – USA and International Players Accepted
Given these two different systems: software based online casinos versus live dealer online casinos, we’ve put together a list of benefits that apply to each gaming environment, and also included drawbacks as well.
Software Based Online Casinos
- Exciting Casino Graphics, Animations – Downloadable online casinos have come a long way since their inception in the mid 1990s. Now, casino customers that use software enjoy rich graphics and animation. Some casinos even use the latest 3D technology to make game play a lifelike experience. These graphics, teamed with sound effects, can make online casino software almost hypnotic.
- Fast Game Play – When you download an online casino, you’re essentially putting many of the graphics and game programming on your computer, which means that game play will be much faster. Unlike brick and mortar casino operations, where you have to wait for other players to play their hands, software based casinos allow you go heads up with the dealer in a very fast paced environment. This can be a drawback for those that have trouble managing their bankrolls, but it also makes the casino gaming experience MUCH more enjoyable overall.
- Casino Game Chat and Social Programming – Initial prototypes of online casino software were only setup for the dealer (or slot machine) to only interact with one player. Now, however, some casino companies have implemented chat into their games, which allows players the option of playing at a table with others. This can be more enjoyable, and it makes the casino experience more authentic and sociable. Chat can slow some games down, but an online casinos customer always has to option to play games solo if the social games are not fast enough.
- Massive Selection of Games – The fact is, some online casinos offer more types of games than even the largest of land based casinos. Remember, online casinos are not limited by space: only how fast their servers can go – and server technology is improving at an exponential rate. MicroGaming, for example, boasts a lineup of over 135 games. That’s more games than most people will ever play, but this impressive variety of gaming options means that there’s something for every customer to enjoy. More games also means that if you get bored with a particular casino game, or, are not having any luck, you can always move on and try another.
- Highly Integrated Casino Wallet Systems – One final advantage of using online casino software is the highly integrated banking systems that software companies have painstakingly built. Instead of waiting hours or days for money to be transferred between casino accounts, or waiting endlessly for a payout or deposit to be processed, the top gaming software companies of today have literally automated almost all aspects of casino gambling, which means less wasted time. Wallet systems are also very efficient at sportsbook/casino/poker room operations, where players can easily move funds between each type of wagering activity with relative ease.
Paradise 8 Casino – Rival Gaming – USA and International Players Accepted
Rich Casino – Top Game – USA and International Players Accepted
Live Dealer Online Casinos
- Game play is more authentic, trustworthy – Sometimes, it’s hard to know just how fair (or unfair) casino software is, because you can’t actually see the deck of cards, slot machine, or video poker window yourself. With live dealer casinos, players can watch the dealer shuffle the cards, spin the roulette ball, or collect the craps dice live, which gives some people a greater sense of security. It’s harder to cheat players if you’re on live camera, therefore, some people are more inclined to trust live dealers to computer dealers.
- Live Social Interaction with other Players – Most all live dealer casino games are played by multiple players at once, which means you can all be interacting in real time, just as if you were sitting at a table or slot machine bank in Las Vegas. As a result, many live dealer casinos have advanced player chat systems, which lend a social element to online gaming that many people crave. On the other hand, chat can be annoying, especially if there are foul mouthed players at your table. If this is the case, you can simply hit the “ignore” button and their chat lines disappear. Can you hit “ignore” in Las Vegas? Probably not
. - Attractive Female Dealers – It’s no secret that sex sells, especially among male online casino players. Accordingly, live action online casinos hire attractive models as dealers, which almost always excites the players. Additionally, some live action casinos allow players to interact and flirt with the dealer, which is also an added plus. This can make a rainy night at home alone more enjoyable, because you’re chatting/flirting with a beautiful dealer while in the comfort of your own home.
- Internet Video Technology is rapidly improving – The first live action online casinos generally all face one common roadblock: how to broadcast casino games over the internet with a reliable video feed that didn’t overload a client’s computer or demand ultra high end server technology. Now, however, video encoding, broadcasting, internet bandwidth, and server technology have all grown (and continue to grow) by leaps and bounds each year. That means that your live action casino connection will be fast, with a clear picture, and reliable. You won’t have to worry about running multiple applications on your computer while playing at a live action casino, because PC streaming video capabilities have also improved dramatically in recent years. Even people using average internet connection services can enjoy live action casinos.
Cherry Red Casino – Real Time Gaming – USA and International Players Accepted
Zodiac Casino – MicroGaming – International Players Only
For the time being, JaxCasinos.com only advertises software based gaming, in part because these companies have advertising programs that allow casino clients to be tracked by where they originate from, which improves customer retention at online casinos. In time, we’ll surely post a few live action casino sites, which will of course be tested to make sure they are reliable and trustworthy.
Play software based online casino games (flash or download) at the following casinos:
- Paradise 8 Casino – Rival Gaming – USA and International Players Accepted
- Cherry Red Casino – Real Time Gaming – USA and International Players Accepted
- Rome Casino – Top Game – USA and International Players Accepted
- Lucky Emperor Casino – MicroGaming – International Players Only
- Gaming Club Casino – MicroGaming – International Players Only