Live casino Guide NZ

Live casino games

Live Roulette Guide

Live Blackjack Guide

Live Craps Guide

Live Baccarat Guide

Mega Wheel Guide

Deal Or No Deal Guide

Dream Catcher Guide

Monopoly Live Guide

Lightning Roulette Guide

Lightning Baccarat Guide

Types of Live Casino Games

This is the most complete guide that you'll find on the Internet about playing Live Casino games in New Zealand. In this part of this piece, we'll discuss in-depth, the most populargames that are available. We'll tell you about the games, including how they run and also discuss the basic terms that you will encounter when playing these casino games. Without wasting time let's begin!

Live Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most popular table games that you'll find in any casino in New Zealand. It is a card game where the goal is to beat your opponent's hand by having a hand value that is close to or equal to 21. However, if after the card sharing you have a hand value that is more than 21, you will lose that round. Playing Live Blackjack starts with you launching the game from the live games section.

This usually starts with the live streaming after which the dealer will call for bets to be placed. After bets have been placed, the cards would be dealt to each player. Two cards are usually dealt face-up to each player. The dealer will also be dealt two cards (one face up and one face down). After this, each player has to make decisions according to the game's rules that will favour their hand.

After decisions have been made, the dealer will reveal their hole card (face-down card). While you wait for the round to end, you can discuss with other players by using the chat feature. Any player who has a better hand than that of the dealer will win and receive the payout associated with winning. After that, you can decide to start a new round or end the game. Let's now focus on the basic terms that you will find when playing Live Blackjack.

Basic Terms Used in Blackjack

If you've been playing Blackjack for a while, you probably know the basic terminologies that are used in the game. However, if you're a newbie we want you to be able to start playing straight away by understanding the basic terms of the game.

Card Values - All numbered cards (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) retain their values. Face cards (King, Queen and Jack) have a value of 10. Aces can have a value of either 1 or 11.

Blackjack - This is the best hand in the game, it is usually formed by an ace and a card with a value of 10.

Up Card - The card that is dealt with the value revealed.

Hole Card - The second card dealt to the dealer with the value concealed.

Hit - To receive another card from the dealer.

Stand - To reject another card from the dealer.

Double Down - This occurs when a player doubles their initial bet, takes an extra card and must Stand afterwards.

Split - Turning the two cards dealt to you into two different hands. You will need to place another bet for the second hand.

Push - This is when the game ends in a tie. That is, your hand value and that of the dealer are the same.

Surrender - To surrender in a Blackjack game means that you want to give up your hand. This occurs when you feel you have been dealt a bad hand. When you surrender you lose half the amount that you have placed on that bet.

Bust - This occurs when your hand value is more than 21 and you lose the bet.

Example of Blackjack Games That You Can Play in New Zealand Casinos

Thanks to the work done by live casino developers like Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play, there are different types of blackjack games that you can play at an online casino in New Zealand. Some of the popular titles include Speed Blackjack, European Blackjack, Lightning Blackjack, Infinite Blackjack, One Blackjack, etc. Each variant follows the basic rules of the game but may add extra rules or try to speed up the gameplay.

Live Baccarat

Baccarat is another live game that you can play at almost every online casino in New Zealand. Baccarat is similar to Blackjack in the sense that they are both card games and that some terms and gameplay are quite similar. In Live Baccarat, you're to predict the hand between the Player and Banker that will have a higher value that will be close to or equal to 9.

In a Baccarat game, it is impossible to have a value of more than 9. Face cards (King, Queen and Jack) and cards numbered 10, are excluded from the game. So each card has a value between 1 (Aces) and 9. To Play Live Blackjack, you first need to choose the variant of your choice and begin the live video streaming. After that, players will be required to place their bets by predicting which hand will have a higher value.

After bets have been placed, the dealer then shares 2 up cards each to the Banker and Player. The hands are then evaluated. To evaluate hands the card values are summed up in a manner that the total must not be more than 9. For example, if you have a hand that has cards with values 5 and 8, instead of the sum being 13, it will be 3 as 10 will be deducted. In some variants of the game, there are situations where a third card will be drawn. After the hands are evaluated, winning bets will be paid. Once that is done, a new round can start or you as a player can decide to stop playing.

Basic Terms Used in Baccarat

For a great live casino experience when playing Baccarat, you need to understand the meaning of the basic terms used in the game. Let's look at the most important ones in this section.

Baccarat - This is the name of the game, it comes from the Italian word "Baccara" which means Zero.

Banker - This is one of the possible outcomes in the game, it has a slight advantage of winning. It refers to the house.

Player - This is the second possible outcome of the game. It refers to the player's hand.

Tie - A tie occurs in live Baccarat when the card values of the player and banker are equal. In some variants of the game, a round can't end in a tie.

Natural - A natural in Baccarat occurs when the value of a hand is equal to 8 or 9.

Cut - To cut cards in the Baccarat game means to divide the deck of cards after shuffling.

Burn - Occurs when the dealer discards the first card after shuffling. It is often done to prove that there's no cheating going on.

Face Cards - Face cards refer to the Kings, Queens and Jacks in the deck of cards. In Baccarat, they are removed from the game.

Third Card Rule - This is a rule in some variants of Baccarat where an extra card can be added to the Banker or Player.

Example of Live Baccarat Games That You Can Play in New Zealand Casinos

There are many variants of Baccarat with dealers that can be played at casinos in New Zealand. The choice of the one to play usually depends on your preference. The factors that software providers consider when making Baccarat include budget, speed, expert level, and engagement level. Some examples of Live Baccarat include Lightning Baccarat, Speed Baccarat, Squeeze Baccarat, Baccarat Dragon Tiger, and Mini Baccarat to name a few.

Live Roulette

Roulette is a very simple table game that can be played with live dealers. It is played with a wheel, a table and a white ball. The Roulette wheel is coloured black and red and has numbered pockets from 1 to 36. In the European Roulette, there is an additional single zero (0) pocket while in American Roulette, there is a double zero (00) pocket. The zero pocket is usually coloured green.

Like other games, Live Roulette starts when you launch the variant you want from the Live Casino section of the casino lobby. After this, bets will be placed and the dealer will spin the wheel afterwards. The ball is then thrown on the spinning wheel by the dealer and when the wheel stops, the outcome will be determined.

Since Roulette is an easy game, knowing if you win or not doesn't isn't hard. All you need to do is to remember your bets, and if you don't remember, the dealer will announce the results. After this is completed, the payouts equal to the value of the winning bets will be payout. You can then decide to play another round or choose to stop playing.

Terms Used in Roulette

Wouldn't it be great to know the basic terminologies that are used before you start playing Live Roulette in a casino in New Zealand? Let's quickly look at the most important ones.

Roulette - This is the name of the game.

Roulette Wheel - This is the numbered and coloured wheel that is used in the game.

Roulette Table - This refers to the table where live Roulette is played.

Inside Bet - Refers to a bet that is placed on a small group of adjacent numbers that are on the inner part of the table.

Outside Bet - Refers to the bet that is placed on larger groups of numbers or categories of numbers on the outer part of the table.

Straight Bet - This refers to a bet placed on a single number. In different variants of Roulette, it is usually the highest payout but it has the lowest chance of winning.

Street Bet - This is a bet placed on two adjacent numbers by putting your chips on the line between them.

Corner Bet - This is a bet that is placed on a group of four numbers that meet at a corner.

Six-line Bet - Refers to a bet placed on two adjacent rows of three numbers each.

Red / Black - This is when a player bets on the colour where the ball will stop.

Odd / Even - This is another option where the player bets that the winning number will be odd or even

High / Low - This is a bet placed on whether the winning number will be high (from 19 to 36) or low (from 1 to 18).

Dozen Bet - When you place bets on a group or 12 numbers it is called a dozen bet. There are 4 groups which are 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36.

Column Bet - Betting on one of the three vertical columns of numbers.

Example of Live Baccarat Games That You Can Play in New Zealand Casinos

Live Roulette games are created and made available in online casinos by the best live casino developers like Evolution Gaming. Some of the interesting Roulette variants to play include European Roulette, French Roulette, American Roulette, Lightning Roulette, etc. It is worth noting that the way Roulette is run may vary slightly depending on the software provider.

Live Poker

If you want to play a Live dealer game that mixes strategy with the dynamic interplay of cards, then, you can't go wrong with Poker. Poker in online casinos is used to refer to all the different variants of the game that are based on the traditional card game in land-based casinos. The objective of Live Poker is to have a hand ranking that is higher than that of the dealer.

The streaming begins once you launch the game from the Live Casino section and you will be connected to a dealer. In Poker, you'll be dealt two cards (facing down) and there will be 5 community cards that are dealt facing up. The objective is to build a strong hand of 5 by using 3 other cards from the community cards to join your 2 cards. You will receive the payout associated with the ranking of the hand you form. The hand must also be better than that of the house for you to win.

Poker Hand Ranking

You won't be able to play poker like a pro if you don't understand the hand rankings in the game. Here's a breakdown of all the hands from the highest ranking to the lowest.

Royal Flush - This is the highest-ranking hand in the game. It is formed by the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit. E.g. Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of Diamonds.

Straight Flush - This is a sequence of 5 cards of the same suit. For example, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 of spades.

Four of a Kind - This refers to 4 cards of the same rank. An example of this is four Kings and any other card.

Full House - Full house is the combination of 3 of a kind and a pair. An example is three 6s and two 9s.

Flush - Flush comprises any 5 cards that are of the same suit. The numerical order of the cards doesn't matter. An example is 4, 10, Jack, Queen, and 3 of Hearts.

Straight - A straight is a sequence of 5 cards of different suits. E.g. 4 of diamonds, 5 of spades, 6 of diamonds, 7 of hearts, and 8 of club.

Three of a Kind - Three of a Kind refers to 3 cards of the same rank. E.g. 3 Jacks and any two other cards.

Two Pair - This refers to any two pairs of cards of the same rank. An example is two 5s, 2 Kings, and any other card.

One Pair - One pair refers to a pair of cards of the same rank. E.g. 2 Queens and any other 3 cards.

High Card - If none of the other hand rankings apply, the hand with the highest-ranking individual cards wins.

Common Terms Used in Live Poker

Now that you know the hand rankings used in Poker, let's focus on basic terminologies that you will encounter when playing poker.

Ante - This refers to the initial bet that must be placed before the cards are dealt.

Hole Cards - These are the two down-facing cards that are dealt to players.

Community Cards - Refers to the 5 cards that are dealt face-

Flop - Refers to the first 3 community cards

Turn - This is the fourth community card.

River - This refers to the 5th community card.

Call Bet - The call bet is placed after the flop is dealt, it is usually twice the ante.

Fold - When you see the first 3 cards in the community cards, you can decide to fold. That means you want to forfeit your ante bet. But you won't need to place the Call Bet.

Push - This occurs when there is a tie between the player's hand and the dealer's hand. The Ante and Call bets will be returned.

Example of Live Poker Games That You Can Play in New Zealand Casinos

Live Poker is one of the traditional games that can be played with these dealers. There are different variants of Live poker available at casinos in New Zealand. The most popular ones are Texas Hold'em, Carribean Stud Poker, Three-Card Poker, Casino Hold’em, and Omaha Hold'em. The most popular providers of Poker in online casinos include Evolution Gaming and Ezugi.

Other Casino Games That Can Be Played With a Live Dealer

We've just extensively looked at the most popular games that you can play. However, those are not the only games that can be played with a live dealer. There are other casino games that you can play in online casinos in New Zealand. Examples of such games include Dream Catcher, Mega Wheel, Deal or No Deal, Monopoly Live, etc. Each of these games has its unique features and comes with interesting gameplay. As you can see, apart from your favourite table games, there are other games that can be played.

More about live casino games

Live dealer casino games are usually located within the games lobby of online casinos. Since these games are becoming more popular, many well-established online casinos feature a diverse portfolio of these types of games. New casinos are also joining the party, and while some may offer just three or four options, it is nice to know that live dealer games are more widely available than ever before. These games are designed to replicate a real casino atmosphere in the best way possible. Several cameras are set up to provide players with live-streamed action from all angles and from different views. This will include a general overview of the table, a bird's eye view of the surroundings and more.

When you play live dealer games, the video stream is sent to your computer or smartphone instantly and without delay. This provides players with real-time action, so you don't miss a minute of the gameplay. Professional dealers oversee all proceedings. They will not only manage the game but shuffle the cards if you are playing a card game, spin the Roulette wheel and interact with players during gameplay. Players can communicate with the dealer and other players at the table using a convenient chat function. This social interaction adds to the realism of the game. And since everything happens in real-time, players can expect responses from dealers in a timely fashion during the course of the game. When it comes to the look and feel of the games, they differ depending on the casino and game you are playing. That said, many games come with built-in features, adjustable video settings and user-friendly interfaces. This creates a completely inspired gaming experience that is as close to a land-based casino as you can get.

Live casino games and developers

As with many online casino games, many of the biggest software developers produce live dealer games for your enjoyment. These developers make a special effort to provide players with the most high-quality game solutions, including smooth and seamless gameplay and excellent video streaming capabilities. Some of the most popular names include Evolution Gaming, Extreme Gaming, NetEnt, Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, and Ezugi, to name a few.

When it comes to actual games, live dealer games are generally table games like Blackjack, Roulette, craps and Baccarat. That said, there are also Poker, Keno and Red Dog options. Many of these games are available in different versions. These include French, American and European Roulette and numerous Blackjack options as well. The selection on offer is dependent on the online casino and the software developers and technology it uses.

Nowadays more show like games are becoming popular as well. Examples are Mega Wheel, Deal or no deal, Dream catcher,Monopoly live, Lightning roulette and Lightning baccarat.

How to play live casino games

Playing live dealer games is simple and straightforward and similar to playing at a real-life casino. Players with some knowledge of land-based games will find playing these games a breeze. To start playing, you must register at your favourite casino, which usually takes no more than a few minutes. It is worthwhile noting that most live casino games are not available to play for free and players must place real money bets in order to get a piece of the action. This has to do with the high operating costs that come with this feature.

Many online casinos accept various currencies, including the New Zealand dollar, but it will make sense to check the banking options for clarity before signing up. Most live dealers speak English, although some do offer a number of languages to ensure all needs are met. Again, it is a good idea to check the individual casinos to see what is available.

Online Casinos with the most live casino games

Mobile gaming at live casinos

As mentioned before, many live casinos are available to play via mobile devices. Since mobile gaming is the way of the future, many software developers ensure that their products are fully compatible to be played on the move via your smartphone or tablet. In most cases, these casinos are available instantly via your web browser without the need to download any software. This adds to the convenience of your experience. Many of these live dealer games are designed using the latest HTML5 technology. It is supported by most major mobile platforms, including Android, iOS, Blackberry and Windows.

Conclusion

Live dealer gaming is fast becoming a popular option for players looking for a more authentic gaming experience. The gaming experience and social aspect give these games feature authentic gaming experience that give a realistic feeling that is not often achieved at regular online casinos. Take some time to research various live casinos before choosing one that suits your individual needs and preferences. And remember, the online gambling industry in New Zealand is huge and can fetch you some money but you should always play responsibly.

Frequently asked questions about live casino games