With online sports betting sites coming soon to Tennessee, all eyes are on the possibility of online casinos.
Regulation for online casino games was not a part of state bill S 16, which explicitly legalized betting on sports in the Volunteer State. If the rollout of mobile sportsbooks is a success, many hope that casinos will follow.
In states that already have regulated online casino games, live dealer table games are popular.
The concept is simple.
Casinos set up studios in their brick-and-mortar venues, with cameras pointing at the felt from various angles.
Real dealers are running the games.
When you log on to an online casino, you’ll see the overlay, which you use to bet and make in-game decisions.
Many games are running at live dealer casinos. You’ll read all about these below, along with a more detailed overview of how the games work.
This page is only a preview. If and when live dealer online casino games come to Tennessee, you’ll find out about it here first.
In the meantime, you will find legal online casino options (though not with live dealer games) via the sweepstakes casinos and poker rooms.
Video streaming technology has been with us for many years.
The ability to see a casino game dealt in real-time is a relatively straightforward use of this technology.
What makes live dealer casino games possible online, though, is the robust system of placing and settling bets.
Here is a hand of blackjack, from start to finish, as an example.
Once the previous hand is completed, you’ll see a countdown over the felt while the dealer clears away the cards. This timer is around 30 seconds at most casinos and, if you miss the cutoff, the hand will start without you.
To bet, you will need to click on a chip and place them on the “play” or “bet” square. You can place more than one chip, and side bets are often available as separate wagers.
When the time is up, the cards will be dealt to all the players, precisely as it would in a casino. Each player will be asked to make decisions in turn, which are are also timed. If you timeout, you will simply stand.
Once all players have acted, the dealer will take cards, as needed, to complete his or her hand.
At this point, the software will automatically assess the winners, and payout virtual chips via the electronic overlay. Losing bets are removed. You now get the chance to re-bet (or double your bet at some casinos), with a single click.
Other options include the ability to chat via text with the dealer and other players at your table. Dealers will not be able to type replies, although they can and do regularly reply to comments while they deal. Some tables are social, while others are quiet.
Blackjack is played at tables of up to seven players. Many other games are played “one-to-many” instead.
This type means everyone joining the game plays the same hand against the dealer. Since some people will fold and others bet (regardless of the odds), hands are played to the end.
Roulette and several casino poker games work well in a one-to-many format.
As live dealer casinos have the added expense of a dealer and studio, the stakes are often a little higher.
Currently, there is not enough demand in the regulated states to have these open 24/7. When they do come to the Volunteer State; however, expect the hours to be between 2 p.m. to midnight.
When you enter the lobby area of a live dealer casino, you can’t miss the vast selection of blackjack tables.
Blackjack and roulette are the most popular games, but there are many others available.
You’ll find three-card poker, Caribbean Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, baccarat and Casino Hold’em variations, too. Not every casino will have all of them, with blackjack, baccarat and roulette being the games all casinos have in common.
Here is an overview of the type of games to expect if and when live dealer casinos come to Tennessee:
Casino games where you play against software still exist. When online casinos come to Tennessee, you will have the choice of both formats. There are some great reasons to play both.
The best shot at live dealer casino games becoming available in Tennessee is for the rollout of online sportsbooks to be a success. Tax revenues from betting in other states have been enormous. This success could then lead to future bills seeking to expand the types of online gambling available and include poker and casino table games.