If you already play online poker for money but feel you’re ready for a more immersive poker experience, then live dealer poker games are the next step in your online poker journey. 

Here we’re going to let you in on what you can expect to experience when playing live dealer poker games, how to get set up so you’re able to play them without any problems and how to choose the best live dealer poker game for you. 

What is live dealer poker?

Live poker games are relatively new on the scene and are played very similarly to normal online poker games. The main difference is that you have a real professional dealer who deals and streams the game to you live while you play, and in some versions of live poker, you compete only against the dealer, not other players. 

“Live” does literally mean that you’re in direct communication with the dealer and other players, so expect the same level of interaction and banter as if everyone really is sitting across the table from you. Live dealer poker really is the closest virtual experience you can get to feeling like you’re in a real casino and this is helping fuel its growing popularity when compared to offline poker and other casino games. 

A quick walkthrough of how a live dealer game might go

When you join a game, you’ll be greeted by the dealer and will likely see the in-game chat box light up with banter and conversation between the other players (and spectators, if any are allowed). Just like in real online poker games, you still have buttons and prompts on your UI (user interface), with which you interact with your cards and chips and play the game. 

A good live dealer will engage with you, will look at the camera and will have a good attitude and general good vibe, which keeps the game going and the conversation flowing. They’ll ask periodically if there are any questions and also try to steer the conversation away from divisive topics and keep everyone who’s present at the table happy. 

From there, the game plays out as it normally would in a casino or any other online poker game. As long as you know how to play poker, then all you have to do is just have fun, apply your winning poker strategy, hope for the luck of the draw and enjoy the live dealer experience to the absolute fullest. 

Important rules and etiquette

One of the first things you’ll notice when you join a live dealer game is that the dealer will greet you. While you may not be used to this level of interactivity at the start, it’s easy to say hello back. Even if you don’t particularly want to chat, it’s the polite thing to do. 

Generally speaking, you should know most of the basic dos and don’ts of live dealer poker because it really comes down to just being kind, considerate and patient – just like you would be if you were playing in person. Keep your chat friendly and clean and well away from polarizing topics such as religion or politics. This is just to keep everyone engaged and make sure that the other players are having as good a time as you are. 

Besides just being polite and respectful, the only thing left to do is have fun!

Getting set up to play

You don’t need anything special to play live dealer games: the computer or mobile device you usually use to play poker online will likely be just fine. However, mobile users might want to consider the size of the screen on their device as you might not be able to see the dealer or the game clearly if your display is too small. 

So, now that you have a device with enough screen real estate, you just need to make sure that you have an internet connection capable of handling the video and audio stream of the game itself. Slow internet speeds may result in the game being difficult to follow and may become entirely unplayable if it’s very slow. To keep the experience at its most excellent and immersive and to prevent difficulties in communicating with the dealer and other players, a good fiber internet connection for home users or a 4G connection for mobile users is highly recommended. 

You don’t need any special software to play live dealer poker games as any good online casino operator should have live dealer games as part of their standard offering, meaning no downloads and no fiddling with software on your side – simply log onto your favorite online casino with live dealers, join the game and start playing. 

Choosing the right live dealer game

There is no real science to picking the best live dealer poker game for you, but there are a few factors to keep in mind when browsing different live dealer tables while you search for the room that suits you best. 

First and foremost, pick the poker variant that you want to play, such as Texas Hold’em online. Whether you enjoy a classic game of Hold’em or you’re an Omaha player, there is a live dealer game offering your preferred online poker game and professional dealers who are ready to take your experience to the next level. Put simply, the best type of game for you is the one you have the most fun playing. 

Then you need to keep in mind whether you want a game where you compete against other players or if you are playing exclusively against the dealer. Not all poker games that you find at a live dealer casino will offer the same experience in this regard, so check before you jump into a game. 

Another factor you should be aware of when choosing which online live casino poker game you want to play is the RTP (return to player, represented as a percentage). Choosing a game that has a higher RTP can mean you might be able to play for longer if you’re on a limited bankroll as the potential returns are higher than a game with a lower RTP. 

But just because you can sit down and play for longer doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Sometimes knowing when to get up from a table and cash out can be the difference between a profit and going completely bust due to a bad run. 

Play exciting live poker at BetMGM

Now that you’re ready to take on the immersive experience of live dealer poker games and know how to choose and play your favorite, it’s time to try some of our games here at BetMGM. Register with us and gain access to some of the best live dealer poker games, online poker tournaments and online poker cash games available. If playing live poker online isn’t for you, then try out any of our other online casino games, including table games of every variety as well as online slots.