There are a lot of great things going on in the bitcoin gambling space right now. For example, some of the world's most reputable game developers are gradually warming up to the idea of allowing their licensees to accept bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. That is big.
Along those same lines, live games have also begun showing up on sites that accept cryptocurrency.
You probably know by now that MegaMoolah.com, the biggest progressive jackpot slot in the world, is fully on board with the concept of bitcoin gambling. Though cryptocurrency does have its advantages and disadvantages as a platform for commerce, all the good things about crypto certainly outweigh the bad things. We think Bitcoin, Litecoin, and the rest are perfect for gambling among those who prefer to deal in crypto rather than fiat currency.
As for live games, they have generally been resistant to bitcoin gambling since their inception. Here's why: live games are almost always operated by the developers that produce them. Online casino operators simply license the opportunity to offer the games on their own websites.
Because the games are operated by the developers, those developers ultimately have final say over whether they want to accept crypto or not. Most have not wanted the hassle of crypto transactions - at least until now. Things are beginning to change as cryptocurrencies become the deposit preference of more and more gamblers.
Read our review of the fantastic Live Lightning Roulette!
The live game concept
If you are unfamiliar with the live game concept, it is something you really should try. In simple terms, a live game is a casino table game featuring a live dealer/croupier in a studio controlling a game being played by gamblers in remote locations. Dealer and player are connected online by way of real-time audio and video feeds.
Let's say you wanted to play a live version of classic blackjack. From your chosen online casino's website, you would select that game from the live games menu. Logging in to the game instantly connects you with the developer's studio. On your computer or mobile screen, you would see a professional blackjack dealer standing behind a table with a full boot of cards ready to go.
Somewhere on your screen, usually at the bottom, you would find an overlay of computer-generated buttons and poker chips. Using your mouse or finger, you would manipulate those buttons and chips in order to play. The rules of the game are identical to those that would apply in a brick-and-mortar casino.
You would want to keep the volume up on your computer or mobile device as well. Why? So that you can hear the action as well as see it. You should also look for a chat button somewhere on your screen. Text-based chat is your primary tool for interacting with the dealer. You type a message and he or she responds verbally. Again, that's why you would need to have the volume up on your device.
The best of both worlds
When live games first made their debut a few years back, they did not catch on with the gambling public right away. Online gamblers had trouble understanding the appeal of live games. As far as they were concerned, video simulations were the way to go. But as more players decided to give live games a try, they discovered how much better the live experience was.
The appeal of live games is the fact that they are the best of both worlds, so to speak. Because they are played online via a computer or mobile device, players don't have to travel to a brick-and-mortar casino to play their favorite table games. They can play from the privacy of their own home or office. That is important if you do not live within a reasonable distance of a brick-and-mortar establishment.
By the same token, live environment still offers the same real-time experience that involves interaction with other human beings, even though you're playing online. Having the live element makes online gaming look and feel more like being in a brick-and-mortar casino. You see the sights, you hear the sounds, and you interact with at least one other person.
Playing live games with bitcoin
In terms of the actual mechanics of playing live casino games with bitcoin, it is no different than playing video slots or video-based table games. The first step is to find a casino offering both live games and cryptocurrency banking. This is probably the hardest step.
Note that the number of online casinos now accepting cryptocurrency is larger than it has ever been. It is also growing. However, many of these casinos are not what we would consider top-tier operations. In other words, these are not the big-name online casinos everyone knows about. As such, a fair number of them still don't offer live games.
You are going to have to look around to find an online casino property that has everything you're looking for. But once you find one, the rest is pretty simple. You sign up for an account, make your deposit, sign on to your favorite live game, and play. That's it.
You will use bitcoin - or whatever cryptocurrency you chose to deposit - the same way you would use fiat currency. Everything you deposit shows up in your bankroll whenever you sign on to a new game. The only difference is that your bitcoin is represented as credits rather than fiat currency. You gamble with your credits. Should you win and wish to withdraw, you navigate to the banking section of the casino's website and submit your withdrawal request.
Cryptocurrency banking options
The Surewinner.com team routinely reviews online casinos from all over the world. One of the things we pay attention to while researching these reviews is banking. We try to figure out exactly what an online casino offers in terms of both deposits and withdrawals. As such, we have learned a few things about gambling with cryptocurrency.
First and foremost is the fact that bitcoin remains the dominant leader in the crypto space. Virtually every casino we've seen that accepts cryptocurrency deposits accepts bitcoin. Some are exclusive to bitcoin only. We say that to say this: anyone planning to gamble with cryptocurrency would do well to start by acquiring some bitcoin.
Other cryptocurrencies we have seen in the gambling space include Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, XRP, Monero, and Dash. Of these six, Litecoin and Ethereum tend to be the most popular.
The next thing we've learned is that there are some casinos that convert everything to bitcoin. In other words, you can only gamble with bitcoin - even if you deposit using another crypto. This is accomplished by converting your chosen cryptocurrency into bitcoin immediately after your deposit is made.
Why would an online casino do this? Because they want to offer a uniform currency that covers all their games. It is easier to convert your Litecoin or Ethereum into Bitcoin than expect every player to gamble using credits, then convert back and forth between credits and their individual currencies. Converting everything to bitcoin at the time of deposit creates a more uniform gambling space for all players.
Deposits and withdrawals
When it comes to depositing and withdrawing cryptocurrency, there really is no difference between the live games and their video counterparts. To deposit, you need to have a digital wallet that already holds the coin you want to use. Obtaining a wallet is pretty simple. You can get one separately or through the exchange from which you obtain your coin.
There are some online casinos out there that offer both wallets and exchange services. They are rare, but they do exist. For the sake of anonymity and security, we would recommend staying away from these casinos. Get your wallet and your crypto separately, then find an online casino willing to accept crypto.
The nice thing about bitcoin gambling is that you typically need just an e-mail address in order to both obtain your coin and make a casino deposit. This affords quite a bit of anonymity for both live games and video slots. Anonymity makes bitcoin gambling that much more enjoyable to people who do not want to share their personal information online.
As for deposits, this is the one part of bitcoin gambling that can be tricky. Some of the casinos accepting cryptocurrency deposits do not allow withdrawals in crypto. Why this is, we are not sure. But the fact remains that such is the case. If you were to play at one of those casinos, you would have to withdraw by way of paper check, bank transfer, or electronic payment system.
Fortunately, a growing number of online casinos are warming up to the idea of using cryptocurrency in both directions. If you deposit Bitcoin or Litecoin, you withdraw the same cryptocurrency. This is the best way to do it, in our opinion.
Play live games with bitcoin
Live games have slowly but surely come to the bitcoin gambling space. That is a good thing for people who love both cryptocurrency and live table games played online. Hopefully the trend will continue to grow in the coming months and years. It would be awesome if every online casino eventually accepted bitcoin while also offering great live games. Online gambling would be so much better for it.
Next Post: Two huge bitcoin wins playing Live Lightning Roulette
|
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
