Menu
Live streaming might not be as immersive as being in the casino in person, but it sure comes close.
Sure, there are no fine ladies and gentlemen playing dress up, cigar flames in the sky, or strangers giving you the lucky throw on the craps table. However, being able to bring people from different areas the world over to play a game live sure takes some doing. It involves technical concepts like optical character recognition, game control units, high-resolution cameras, latency, and other live-streaming jargon.
Let’s get the ball rolling.
What are Live Casino Streams?
Live casino streams are a special form of online gambling event that allows players to play various casino games from the comfort of their homes as they would in a traditional casino. Players can participate in live table games like poker, roulette, blackjack, and others without physically sitting beside other players.
These live casino streams differ entirely from the video game versions of casino games in the following regards:
- Players can interact with the dealers
- Outcomes are determined by people and real-time events, and not algorithms
- Real elements like cards, wheels, and dealers are used
It is like being at a Macau casino, except you’re anywhere else in the world, but stay connected with an internet-enabled device. Players can ask for directions or clarifications by communicating with the dealers via live chat functionalities.
How Live Casino Streams Work: Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Software
Live casino streams work based on live-streaming technology.
This technology includes hardware and software that enables a live event, such as a casino game, to be filmed and sent over the internet in real time without prior recording. Live streaming has become very popular recently, as over 7.2 billion hours of content were watched during 2022’s third quarter alone.
In a live casino stream, a dealer moderates any casino game of choice from a physical location, and the operator broadcasts the activities for players to join in via the internet from other locations. The casino operators upload the link to a live stream on their website, and players worldwide can tap into the excitement by clicking on the link via a mobile phone or computer. Others also allow players to join through their TV channels.
Live casino streams can be done from both private casino studios or brick-and-mortar casinos. Irrespective of the streaming location, most live casino operators typically have setups that involve the following rooms:
- Live studio
- Analyst room
- Software room
Players can follow these processes seamlessly with the help of the Optical Recognition Software. This advanced technology uses cutting-edge, high-resolution cameras to track all major events and characters like card symbols, dice combinations, wheel numbers, and any characters important to the game. Check out aviator 1win. The OCR software converts these images into data and validates them using the casino’s database to ensure accurate results are displayed on the screen.
OCR software helps transform live casino streams into interactive and immersive sessions rather than live broadcasts.
What are the Technological Components of a Live Casino Stream?
All live casino streams require the following hardware components in conjunction with the OCR software discussed earlier.
Game Control Unit (GCU)
As the name implies, the GCU is the central processing unit of a live casino game. It is a box-sized piece of hardware that assists the live dealer in controlling the game.
The GCU is attached to every casino game’s table before the dealer to encode the live gaming event and track all activities. It works with other hardware and software components, such as computers and servers. They all ensure that all details like player accounts, bets, payouts, and game session records are well-tracked and recorded.
Doing this is crucial to giving players the real-life experience in a traditional casino.
Monitor
Monitors help players and dealers get an overhead and wider view of the event.
Dealers use monitors to keep track of all open and possible wagers, see all online players, and take prompt action when necessary. For instance, a dealer can remove gamers who violate gaming rules and trigger plays from willing participants.
Furthermore, monitors facilitate quick communication between players and dealers. This functionality is augmented with the player’s choice of audio devices and calibrated home theatre systems for players playing from the comfort of their homes. Ultimately, they enable that realistic gaming experience by ensuring dealers can stay on top of every situation during the live stream without ruining the player’s immersion.
Cameras
Cameras are responsible for bringing the dealers and players into face-to-face contact.
Players can use their computer’s webcam or mobile device’s built-in camera to film themselves. On the other hand, dealers broadcast the live casino venue using sophisticated, high-resolution digital cameras.
Most live casino streams usually involve three or more cameras serving the following purposes:
- Taking table photos
- Taking wheel photographs (For roulette)
- Recording the events or displaying the images
Sometimes, these three cameras may be used for different purposes or angles. Likewise, more or less cameras can be used altogether, depending on the game or broadcast location.
Wheels
Wheels are optional hardware components that depend on the casino game. Casino games like roulette require wheels, so they are placed in the dealer’s location. Although other table games may not require wheels, many casino operators still place them in the broadcast venue for players who would love to switch games along the line.
Most wheels have built-in sensors and connections that accurately track the ball’s location to avoid errors, ensuring transparency. As a result, players can see the ball rotating on the wheels, but the sensors confirm the final result by displaying the ball’s landing spots on the monitor.
