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Live casinos allow you to play exciting games such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat with professional dealers based in dedicated studios. These games replicate the social aspect of visiting a land-based casino, as you can chat to the dealers while the action unfolds, all from the comfort of your own home.
Our experts have identified the best online live casino sites and mobile apps in the US. Almost all of the best online casinos have live dealer games, some offering more variety than others. We will explain how to create an account, make a deposit, claim a sign-up bonus, access live casino games and request a payout, so keep reading to learn more.
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Live casinos are currently available in these states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, Delaware and West Virginia. Evolution Gaming, the worldโs leading supplier of live dealer games, has dedicated studios in five of the states. Rivals such as Playtech have also set up studios in large states such as New Jersey and Michigan.
Right now, you can only play legal online live casino games in the six states listed above. New Jersey bettors can choose from a wide array of live online casinos in NJ, whereas the best Connecticut online casinos are easy, as there are only two in operation in the state.
The sheer number of live dealer games really depends on the state. For example, there are a few more Pennsylvania online casinos in operation than West Virginia online casinos, so naturally there are more choices.
Additionally, the games on offer also vary on a state-by-state basis. More states are expected to legalize online casino gaming in the future. Lawmakers in Indiana and New York especially have been trying to drum up support for bills.
You will often find more than a dozen live dealer games on offer when you visit an elite online casino. These are the most common games to check out:
Blackjack is Americaโs most popular table game. Players love the speed and variety of the gameplay, the strategy required, and the high RTP. You can play the best Live Blackjack online at any high-quality online casino in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, Delaware or West Virginia. Variants include classic blackjack, Speed Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, and Lightning Blackjack, which offers fun multipliers.
Many players at online roulette sites prefer live dealer roulette to virtual roulette, as there is no need to rely on Random Number Generator (RNG) software to deliver the results. There is something reassuring, exciting, and theatrical about watching a croupier spin the wheel and waiting in anticipation to see which pocket the ivory ball nestles into.
You can typically play European and American roulette, along with variants such as Lightning Roulette and Lightning Auto Roulette. European roulette has a higher Return to Player (RTP) rate than American roulette, as there is only a single zero, so we recommend playing that version. French roulette has the highest RTP, but it is rarely available as a live casino game.
You can legally play online poker tournaments and cash games against fellow players in certain states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and also at Michigan online casinos. However, online casinos also allow you to play poker-style games against the house. They include virtual table poker games, video poker, and live dealer table poker. In the live casino section, you are likely to find three card poker, Ultimate Texas Holdโem, and potentially Casino Holdโem.
Baccarat is another hugely popular casino game, which works very well in the live dealer format. You can benefit from a high RTP, especially if you back the dealer bet when playing live online casino baccarat. It follows the Punto Banco version of the game, which is very easy to understand. Professional dealers can help you with anything that is unclear. You can find all the online baccarat casinos available in your state here on Casinos.com.
Some live online casino sites may begin to introduce live lottery-style games such as keno in the future. Right now, those games are not offered at licensed online casinos in the United States, but the industry is still relatively new and ranges are expanding all the time.
Sic Bo is another live dealer game that could be launched in the future. It is available at live casinos in other markets, such as the UK, and providers such as Evolution Gaming may add it when they build out their studio capacity in states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Sic Bo is a dice game, whereby you bet on the results of the three dice the dealer rolls. It is not available right now, but fans of dice games can play live dealer craps.
Hi-Lo is one of the simplest online casino games, as it simply requires you to predict whether the next card dealt will be higher or lower than its predecessor. This is a popular live casino game around the world, and it should win over many fans when it arrives in the United States.
The best live casino sites offer game-show-style titles. The most popular is Dream Catcher, which is similar to roulette. However, it adds elements of bingo and slots too, resulting in a vibrant live gaming experience. This is a game developed by Evolution Gaming, with an RTP of 96.58%.
The wheel has 52 pockets, each marked with the numbers 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40. The number tells you the payout you will win if you bet on that pocket, so the number 2 pays out at 2:1 (+200), while the number 40 pays 40:1 (+4000). There is also a 7x multiplier, which can lead to huge payouts.
Spin a Win is a live casino game developed by Playtech, the worldโs largest supplier of online gambling software. It has live dealer studios in Michigan and New Jersey, allowing online casinos in those states to host Spin a Win. This game is very similar to Dream Catcher, with 54 equal sections, marked 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, x2, or x7. You can bet on pockets or place side bets.
Dragon Tiger is similar to baccarat or Casino War. You can bet on either the Dragon, the Tiger, or a tie when playing this card game, which typically has an RTP of 96.27%. It is simpler than baccarat in some ways, but there are also some fun side bets to spice up the action.
There are several important factors to consider when assessing the overall appeal of a live online casino. We have identified seven key areas:
The best online live casino sites offer high-quality games from elite providers such as Evolution Gaming and Playtech.
You can browse a reasonably wide selection of live online casino games at the best sites and mobile apps. The best online blackjack casinos will offer several blackjack variants, in both live dealer and RNG format, as well as live roulette and table poker variants, plus baccarat, craps and game shows such as Dream Catcher and Football Studio.
It is important to find a reliable online casino that offers a strong connection and a clear picture when playing live dealer games. Some sites and apps are prone to glitches, freezing pages and crashes, which can wreak havoc on live dealer games, so stick to the fast, dependable sites recommended on this page.
The overall user experience is another important consideration. The best operators make it quick and easy for you to find live casino games, and they provide clear information about the payouts and the rules.
You can benefit from best online casino bonuses when you sign up at top live dealer casinos online. They also provide recurring promotions for existing customers, along with rewards programs. The best deals come with relatively low rollover requirements.
The best payout online casinos pay out quickly via lots of different methods, including debit cards, prepaid Play+ cards, PayPal, Venmo, online banking, ACH, a bank wire or cash at the cage.
You should be able to access 24/7 support through live chat, email and possibly over the phone at the leading online live casino sites and mobile apps. The agents should deal with requests quickly and in a friendly, professional manner.
You can play live dealer games by signing up with a licensed online casino in your state. We have broken the process down into seven steps:
The best live dealer casinos provide their customers with a wide range of free deposit and withdrawal methods. You can use Visa, which is very common and widely used, and Mastercard if you want to fund your account using a credit card or debit card. Online casinos that accept Mastercard include Caesars and DraftKings. Discover is sometimes available, and American Express is occasionally accepted. Additional deposit methods may include Play+, Venmo, VIP Preferred, an online bank transfer, a wire transfer, cash at the casino cage or cash at a participating retailer using PayNearMe or Vanilla. Alternatively, there are online casinos that accept Skrill, another digital wallet. Finally, as the most popular payment method, there are also plenty of online casinos that take Paypal.
The limits vary, but most sites impose a minimum deposit of $10 and a minimum withdrawal of $20. High rollers can speak to an account manager about large deposits and payouts. All deposits should be instant. The best online casinos process payout requests on the day they are made, so you do not have to wait long for your funds. Debit card payouts, Play+, PayPal, Venmo and cash at the cage are normally the quickest methods. You can alternatively go for a bank transfer, wire transfer, VIP Preferred e-check or a paper check in the mail.
Most online casinos provide customers with a generous welcome bonus, which may include bonus funds, free spins, or a combination of the two. You will normally be offered a deposit match bonus, and you may be given extra bonus funds on top. For example, you might be offered a 100% sign-up bonus worth up to $1,000, plus an extra $25 on the house.
Certain casinos may give you a โPlay It Againโ welcome bonus instead. In that case, any losses suffered in your first 24 hours will be refunded in the form of bonus credits, typically with a 1x rollover requirement. You should find weekly or recurring live casino bonuses, too, such as โbet and getโ offers, reload bonuses, leaderboard challenges, prize draws, and loyalty rewards through programs such as MGM Rewards and Caesars Rewards.
You need to satisfy certain wagering requirements before your bonus funds will convert to cash. The most important term to look out for is the rollover requirement, also known as the playthrough requirement or the turnover requirement. It tells you the number of times you need to play the bonus funds through before you can cash out.
For example, a $100 bonus with a 10x rollover requirement means you need to place $1,000 worth of bets before withdrawing. Most video slots online count 100% towards completing rollover requirements, but live casino games may only count 20% or 10% if they have a high RTP, such as blackjack. If there is a 10x rollover requirement and you are playing a game that only counts 20%, it means the rollover requirement is actually 50x.
You will need to complete the rollover requirements within a certain number of days. If you do not satisfy them in that time, they will be removed from your account.
You can play live casino games on an iPhone or Android device in Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware or West Virginia, either though your browser, or by finding the best real casino apps at Casinos.com. Most operators provide high-quality, native casino apps, which you can download from Google Play or the App Store. If you do not want an app taking up space on your device, simply visit the casinoโs website via your mobile browser, and you will find that the site is optimized for the smaller screen.
We constantly scour the market for new online casinos that accept us players offering live dealer games. You can bookmark this page and return any time you would like the latest information about the best online live casino operators in your state, along with the welcome bonuses they are offering.
Online casinos do not have their own live dealer studios. Instead, they work with specialist suppliers, who have many years of expertise in this field. In the United States, online casinos can only host live casino games taking place in the same state, which requires suppliers to build separate studios in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Delaware, West Virginia and Connecticut. These are the top live casino game providers:
Evolution Gaming is the worldโs largest supplier of live casino games. The Swedish company also owns famous developers such as NetEnt, Red Tiger and Ezugi, making it one of the worldโs largest online gambling businesses. Evolution, which was founded in 2006, has built live dealer studios in Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, allowing it to supply online casinos in those states with various games, including blackjack, roulette, table poker and game shows.
Playtech is a European company based on the Isle of Man. It supplies live dealer games, online slots, virtual table games, sports betting software and financial trading tools. Playtech is a major rival to Evolution Gaming on a worldwide basis, and it has set up studios in Michigan and New Jersey to supply casino sites and mobile apps in those states.
Pragmatic Play, Extreme Live Gaming and Authentic Gaming are some of the other leading suppliers of live casino games on a global basis. They may expand into the United States at some point in the future, as the online live casino industry matures.
Most online casino games require Random Number Generators to provide the results. This RNG software delivers a large volume of long-chain numbers per second, and the number at the precise time you click will dictate the result. It is all legit, as licensed online casinos are regularly tested by examiners to ensure their RNG tools are working correctly and fairly.
However, these games are impersonal. Some players prefer to speak to a live dealer and watch the cards being dealt or the wheel spinning. Those players can delve into the live casino section, where they will be connected with professional, friendly dealers, who they can interact with throughout the session.
In some countries, online casino players are connected to dealers at a land-based casino via a video stream. We have not seen any US online casinos offering this service yet โ they host streams of dealers in studios instead โ but this could be an exciting future development to look out for.
The best online casinos offer betting limits to suit all budgets within their live dealer sections. For example, you can bet just $0.10 per spin when playing Dream Catcher at Caesars Palace Online Casino in WV, while its live dealer roulette games start at $0.20 per spin. High rollers can bet $25,000 on a single hand when playing live baccarat at Caesars Palace Online Casino, and its live dealer roulette game is playable at $20,000 per spin.
We identify every licensed, regulated online casino in the United States and subject them to thorough reviews. Our experts only recommend legal, legitimate sites and mobile apps. They gain first-hand experience of each live casino by creating an account. The reviewers make deposits, claim promos, play a variety of live dealer games and request payouts.
Throughout the review process, we make detailed notes on the user experience, the game quality and game variety within the live dealer section, the quality of the bonuses, the payout speeds, the customer service and the security. We then compare each online live casino and rank them in order of their overall quality. Only the very best online casinos for live dealer play are listed on this page. We continuously review the list, adding any elite sites that launch and removing any casinos whose standards slip, so you will always find up-to-date information.
Emma Trotter is a Senior Editor at Casinos.com. Emma has worked as a staff writer and editor for nearly two decades, extensively covering celebrity news and the Las Vegas entertainment, casino and tourism scenes. She spent several years in in-house roles at Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Las Vegas before stepping into iGaming affiliate site content.
It is safe to play online live casino games in the US, provided you stick to licensed, regulated operators. Online casino gaming is only legal in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware and Connecticut right now. Look for secure sites and mobile apps licensed by local regulatory bodies, such as the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
Live casino games do not rely on Random Number Generator (RNG) software to deliver the results. A real dealer located in a dedicated studio within your state will deal the cards or spin the wheel instead, and you can watch the action live online while placing your bets.
You can play online live casino games on a mobile device in states such as Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Licensed online casino operators offer native mobile apps, which you can download through the App Store or Google Play, or you can visit their mobile-optimized sites from the browser on your mobile device.
Live dealer casino games stream from dedicated studios in the United States. Evolution Gaming is the market leading supplier, and it has studios in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut and West Virginia. Playtech has also set up live dealer studios in Michigan and New Jersey.
Live casino games are legal in certain states. You can play online live casino games in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware and Connecticut. Just make sure you use a licensed online casino that falls under the jurisdiction of your local regulator, such as the Michigan Gaming Control Board or the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
Live casino games should have the same RTP rates as virtual blackjack and roulette games. They are designed to perfectly replicate the payout rates found at land-based casinos, and so are virtual casino games. However, some higher RTP variants โ such as French roulette and Blackjack Xchange โ may not be available in live dealer format.
Some producers will create exclusive online live casino games for certain operators. For example, you can find exclusive Live Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, and table poker games at DraftKings Casino, although they are very similar to the live online casino titles available at rival sites.
Some leading online casinos will stream live casino games such as roulette, blackjack, baccarat and table poker in HD. You should always benefit from a clear picture when you use a high-quality, licensed online casino such as BetMGM, Caesars Palace Online Casino, FanDuel Casino, DraftKings Casino or BetRivers.
In some countries, live dealer games are streamed from real land-based casinos. In states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia, you can only play live casino games hosted within those states. We have not seen any retail casinos offering live streaming in those states, as the online casinos connect you with dealers in dedicated studios instead.
Live dealers cannot cheat if you use licensed, regulated online casinos. They are regularly examined by external agencies on a random basis to ensure that everything is above board and that they are providing their customers with a safe and fair online casino gaming experience, including live dealer play.
You can certainly win real money playing live casino games if you use a legitimate, legal site or mobile app. Licensed, regulated online casinos in the United States always provide quick, secure payouts. It is rare to find an online casino that allows you to play live casino games for free in demo mode, so real money play dominates proceedings.
Most online casinos impose a 10x or 15x rollover requirement on their bonus funds. However, you normally find that only slots count 100% towards completing those requirements. Live casino games may only count 20%, so you need to essentially multiply the rollover requirement by five if that is the case.
You can absolutely chat with the live dealers at online live casinos. That is one of the main reasons why these games have proved popular, as they replicate the social, interactive experience you enjoy when visiting a land-based casino, but you can still enjoy your favorite games from the comfort of your own home.
Live casino games proceed in real time if you lose connection. If you placed a bet before losing connection, it will be settled based on the result. When you reconnect, your winnings will be waiting for you if the bet was successful. If you did not place a bet, you can simply rejoin the game when you log back in.