Live Dealer Games are a highly entertaining form of online gambling. So, for that reason, both Golden NuggetCasino.com and BetfairCasino.com are to be commended for introducing these games to NJ online players. However, the NJ Live Dealer Games are still a work in progress. This post will briefly recap what is great about these games and then discuss some of the ways the Live Dealer Games can be better.
Live Dealer Games Great Features
The NJ Live Dealer Games already have a lot going for them, most notably the opportunity for social interaction that is missing in other online casino games. Playing online with a Live Dealer is also a lot of fun.
Live Dealer Games Replicate the Real Casino Experience
Having a close up view of the cards being dealt or wheel being spun in real time by a real person, who also happens to be very easy on the eyes, is a very exciting experience. It is as close as you can get to playing in a real casino without actually making the trip. Because the dealers were selected more for their attractiveness than previous experience, there was skepticism at first about their ability to perform the job effectively. However, those fears proved unfounded. The games are actually a lot faster than the Atlantic City casino versions. In addition, prompts that the dealer can see, but you can’t, virtually eliminate the possibility for errors.
Full Tables for a Great Social Experience
While the Live Dealer Games in New Jersey are only offered from noon to 3 a.m. and not 24/7, the reason is that there are much fewer players in the morning. Live Dealer play would not be anywhere near as much fun with a half empty table. However, by keeping the games open during the hours that are most popular, the tables fill up quickly. Playing with a Live Dealer is a social experience, where chatting not only with the dealer, but with the other players, too, is the name of the game. Therefore, the more the merrier!
Bet Behind (coming soon)
The addition of the Bet Behind feature for Live Dealer Blackjack (described in my post of 9/24/17) will allow even more players the opportunity for action. In Atlantic City, if there are no seats available at the stakes you want to play, which happens frequently, especially on weekends, your only options are to wait for a seat or play a more expensive game. However, with the Bet Behind feature, players can enjoy the action even when a seat is not available. While waiting for a seat, a player can “bet behind” the other player of his or her choice. The only disadvantage for the bet behind player is not having any say on how the hand is played.
As of this writing, there is no indication that Bet Behind is up and running at Golden Nugget and Betfair Online Casinos. As soon as we get word that it is, you will be advised in this column.
Casino Hold’Em Added to the Game Roster
Up until very recently, the Live Dealer platform in New Jersey was limited to three games: blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. Granted, of the various casino table games, these three are the most popular. However, most foreign online casinos that offer Live Dealer gambling also include Casino Hold’Em as a fourth option. This game is perfectly suited for the Live Dealer format, and because most players are already familiar with Texas Hold’Em, as played in poker rooms, this variation should be very easy to learn.
Live Dealer Casino Hold’Em is now available on GoldenNuggetCasino.com. Look for it to be added to the Betfair lineup soon.
How the NJ Live Dealer Games Can Be Better
There is no doubt that NJ Live Dealer online gambling is off to a successful start. However, there is still considerable room for improvement. The following are the particular features that are presently not available that I would like to see implemented ASAP. I think they would improve the games immensely.
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Better Rules
Apparently, the casinos feel that in exchange for for the added entertainment experience that Live Dealer games offer over other online games, they are entitled to have rules that are less favorable to the player. However, many NJ gamblers are not as naïve about features which are good for the player or good for the house as casino executives may think. For example, it is widely known that the house edge for American roulette with both a single and double zero is higher than the house edge for European roulette with only a single zero. Yet the only version of Live Dealer Roulette offered is American Roulette. Similarly, in Live Dealer Blackjack, the dealer hits soft 17, which hurts the player. Live Dealer Games need to offer better rules, especially if the casinos hope to attract bigger bettors.
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More Frequent and Better Promotions
The Weekend Bonus offered at Betfair Online Casino is a start, but the problem is that the offer can only be accessed by big bettors. There need to be more special incentives that would appeal to the casual player Deposit bonuses and drawings are obvious possibilities. Much like TropicanaCasino.com frequently holds drawings where a few people win overnight stays and a much larger number of players win Bonus Money, Golden Nugget and Betfair Online Casinos could do likewise with a top prize being a stay at the Golden Nugget.
There could also be special prizes during designated hours for players who get certain blackjack hands or when a certain number (i.e., 7) lands on the roulette wheel.
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Offer Bingo
Bingo is a fun game that takes no skill and can be easily adapted to the Live Dealer format.
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Offer Tutorials and Hosted Chat Sessions Where Players Can Ask Questions and Get Tips from Experts
In the months and years to come, an increasing number of millennials and inexperienced players will be gravitating to the Live Dealer Games. The casino would be performing a valuable service by periodically offering tutorials and hosted chat sessions. These events would give newcomers to the games an opportunity to learn the basics of a game they might not have played before, ask questions, and even receive helpful tips on money management.
Summary
In summary, there are many ways that the NJ Live Dealer Games can be made better. Player feedback is always taken into consideration, so if you agree with any of my suggestions, let the casinos know. Then hope that at least some of these better changes for the bettor become a reality.
