Do Players Feel More “In Control” With Live Dealer Games?

Live dealer games launched in 2017, and since then, they’ve taken over the internet by storm. The popularity of live dealer games continues to grow as technology develops and more games are made available.

There are plenty of benefits to playing live dealer games. Players love the realistic feel they offer, and the ability to play against others as well as the dealer. But do players actually feel more in control with live dealer games than they do with traditional table games?

To answer that question, we first need to understand how live dealer games differ from other online casino games.

How Live Dealer Games Are Different From Other Online Casino Games

The main reason live dealer games differ from traditional table games is that game results aren’t determined by an algorithm. Like playing a game in a land-based casino, the odds of winning are determined by luck and skill.

Let’s look at all the ways in which live dealer games differ from computer-based casino games.

Live Dealer Games Combine Luck and Skill

Compared to computer-based table games and slot machines, live dealer games require some skill. The former requires no skill whatsoever, as game results are determined by luck alone; with the latter, you’ll need to have a little bit of luck, but you’ll also need to show a bit of skill if you want to win.

As the saying goes, you’ll need to know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em.

Play Games In Real-Time 

When you play live dealer games, you’re playing against actual human dealers who use real cards, roulette wheels, and dice. When players see these tangible items, they understand that they’re not just playing against some random computer.

Playing against a computer can make us feel as though the decks are stacked against us. We’re all a bit wary of casinos (we know the house always wins), and playing against a computer can make us feel even more helpless and unable to control the results.

More Game Variety

Every player has a select set of games they gravitate toward (mostly because they find they’re more likely to win!).

Live dealer games offer more variety than computer-based games. You’ll see games like Sic Bo, Teen Patti, and auto roulette in live dealer format – games that aren’t always available as straight table games.

Why Players Feel More In Control With Live Dealer Games

Now that you have a better understanding of how live dealer games differ from other types of online casino games, let’s look at some of the reasons why players might feel more in control of the outcomes of the former versus the latter.

Some Live Dealer Games Require Strategy

Unlike computer-based games, some live dealer games require strategy. You’ll need to have a basic understanding of blackjack, baccarat, table poker, and craps if you want to win against the dealer.

That being said, games of chance, such as roulette, won’t make a difference if they’re played against a live dealer or a computer.

Results of Live Dealer Game Aren’t Determined by RNGs

When you play a table game against a computer, the results are determined by RNGs and return-to-player percentages (RTPs). This means that the outcome of a computer-based online casino game is always determined before you even start playing.

Because live dealer game results aren’t determined by RNGs or RTPs, a lot of players believe they have more control over the outcomes.

Live Dealer Games Offer Transparency

When you play a casino game against a live dealer, you can see the mechanics of the game played out on your screen. This differs from computer-based casino games that often feel AI-generated or otherwise “fake”.

Some players simply feel as though the odds are better if they can see a live dealer shuffle and deal the cards (although this could be more of an illusion).

The bottom line? Most players feel they’re more in control when playing live dealer games than when playing other types of casino games, and there’s plenty of reasoning to back up those assumptions.

Yet, it’s important to understand that players have absolutely no control over the outcomes of games that are purely luck based.