A live dealer casino streams a real dealer running blackjack, roulette, baccarat or a game show from a studio, with your bets placed through the same interface as an RNG slot. The quality gap between operators comes down to a few concrete things: table variety, minimum and maximum bet limits, and how many tables run in your local peak hours versus off-hours.
Table limits matter more than most players expect. A casino advertising "live blackjack" might only run one or two tables at low stakes during quiet periods, while a larger operator with multiple studio partners keeps a full spread of VIP and standard tables live around the clock. If you play at a specific time of day, check table availability at that time before assuming the lobby you see on the homepage reflects what is actually open.
Latency and stream quality also vary by studio provider and your own connection, so a mobile-optimized live lobby is worth checking specifically if you plan to play on a phone rather than desktop — some casinos compress live streams more aggressively for mobile data, which affects the experience during fast-paced games like Crazy Time or Lightning Roulette.
Finally, live dealer games are rarely included in welcome bonus wagering requirements, or count at a reduced percentage (often 10-20%) even when they are. If a promotion looks aimed at live casino play, confirm the game-weighting table in the bonus terms before assuming your live blackjack sessions will clear it at the advertised rate.