Best Live Casino Sites in NY 2023: Live Dealer New York Online Casinos
When legal online casino gaming comes to New York, players all over the state will line up for live dealer table games. It's the closest thing there is to being on the casino floor, without the pit boss looking over your shoulder. But before you play live dealer games, you should know the facts.
Top-Ranked Live Dealer Sites for NY Players
Coming soon! When the first legal online casinos launch in New York we will rank them here.
What is a Live Dealer Casino Game?
It's what it sounds like. A live dealer casino game is a table game similar to what you'd see in a brick-and-mortar casino, with the players all joining the game remotely. The game is run by an actual person you can see on your computer or mobile device screen. You can watch them deal cards or spin wheels. What's more, you can interact with them and other players through a chat feature.
Our Recommended New York Live Dealer Casinos
When Live Dealer NY online casinos are up and running, you'll want to know which ones are the best of the bunch. Really it's going to come down to personal preference, but any of the New York online casinos that are licensed by the state should give you a fair shake.
It remains to be seen which online casinos will be the first batch to get a license to operate from the New York State Gaming Commission when online gaming is legalized. The smart money is that the commission the will favor operators with land-based casinos in New York, as well as those with online sportsbooks that already enjoy a working relationship with the state. That means you can reasonably expect to see the following online casinos operating New York live dealer games when the laws change:
- BetMGM
- Caesars Casino
- DraftKings Casino
- FanDuel Casino
- BetRivers
- Bally
- Wynn
Additionally, as the laws around gambling in New York have been in the news in recent years, there has been talk about Golden Nugget, Betfair and Hard Rock entering the market.
Tips for Choosing the Best Live Dealer Sites
- Find a site that allows you to demo the games before you have to bet real money.
- Read in-depth reviews of sites to understand if players tend to be satisfied.
- Carefully examine promotional offers to see if there are any specific to the live dealer table games.
- See what kind of support options are in place in case something goes wrong.
What You Can Expect When You First Play a Live Dealer Game
When you take a seat at a live dealer table, expect a professionally-dressed dealer to greet you in short order. Be ready to throw your chips in and place your bet when the time comes, especially if there are other players at the table. You should also expect to see a timer letting you know when the bets close, and you'll want to be patient when it's the turn of others at the table.
Live Dealers vs. Traditional Online Casino Games
So why play live dealer games? If you like gambling online but find it a little impersonal, this can be a more social experience. In addition to seeing the dealer in front of you, a busy chat room can give your home office an atmosphere closer to your favorite casino. .
It can be a tradeoff though, especially if you like to play fast. The nature of the human touch slows the process down. And the games are going to be more expensive all around. The overhead is high, so you're not going to get penny slot prices here.
Promotions at NY Live Dealer Games
When online casinos in New York become a regulated and legal way to gamble, you can safely expect all kinds of promotions to appear in the run-up to launch -- remember how it was with the sportsbooks? Plenty of promotions will have restrictions on where and when you can use bonus funds, but as long as there's nothing in the terms and conditions keeping you from using bonuses on live dealer games, give 'em a go.
Playing Live Dealer Games Online vs Playing at a Land-Based Casino
Physical retail casinos are a great time, without question. The online casino live dealer experience is as close to being in a casino as possible, but there are still some important differences. Online casinos can't be beaten for convenience, since you can visit several over the course of a day without getting off the couch.
The games themselves are pretty similar, but the available minimums are likely to be lower online. And while the chat room is there for interaction with your fellow players, you won't see or hear anyone else in the game but the dealer.
And a crucial difference is that if you're in a physical casino, you're unlikely to be able take advantage of any bonus funds by using a bonus code. An online casino platform, on the other hand, will regularly roll out promotional perks to keep you playing with them, rather than swiping over to a different app.
Live Dealers at Online Casinos
The live dealers themselves are what separates these games from the conventional table games at your favorite online casinos. They're likely to greet you when you take a seat, and from there you can feel out the room to see how social the other players feel like being. It's up to the dealers to keep the game moving. For your part, you will need to act before the time limit on your turn has expired.
By the way, if you have a favorite dealer, don't expect them to be running a game just because you're playing. The dealers you get for a game are chosen randomly. But the chat window will allow you to converse with the dealer as well as the other players, and some of the games will even let you tip your dealer, just like if you were on the casino floor.
How to Play Live Casino Games
When legal online casinos arrive in New York, it's entirely possible the technology will have improved even further, but the guidelines should be basically the same. You'll register for an account with one or more online casinos, ideally using a promotional code if you're a new customer. Then, you'll make your first deposit, and off you go to where the live dealers are - they usually have their own section you can find somewhere on the platform interface.
- Head to the online casino's website by following the links on our pages and tap "Register."
- Create a username and password associated with a personal email account that only you use.
- Give them your personal and contact information, generally consisting of:
- Your full legal name and mailing address
- Your phone number
- Your date of birth and the last four digits of your social security number (for identity verification purposes)
- Enter a promotional code if we have one for that brand, verify that you're 21 or older and accept the terms and conditions of the casino.
Tips for Playing Live Dealer Casino Games
- Know the rules of the specific game before you join an online dealer game.
- Choose your table carefully to ensure you're playing within your limits.
- "Road House" rules: Be nice to the dealer and to the other players. If you can't be nice, be polite. If you can't be polite, take it to a table where there are no live dealers.
- Consider tipping your dealer on the way out if the table allows for that. At the very least, thank them. Those folks work hard.
Types of Live Dealer Casino Games
Only some types of games are available for a live dealer experience, but there are plenty of games you'll be able to play, depending on the online casino and how many tables they have.
-
Live Dealer Blackjack
Any casino with live dealer games will have blackjack, and usually several different versions of the card game, such as Speed Blackjack and Infinite Blackjack. What's the difference? Don't worry, the rules are usually easy to find from the online lobby.
-
Live Dealer Poker
There's nothing like a hot poker room, and with the live dealer upping the ante, you're in for a great experience. The most common types of live dealer poker are Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold 'em.
-
Live Dealer Roulette
Let a live dealer for a spin it with American Roulette, Auto Roulette, European or French Roulette.
-
Live Dealer Baccarat
Put on your t-shirt that looks like a tuxedo, shake a martini and give your live dealer your best British accent while you play 007's game of choice.
-
Other Live Dealer Casino Games
Online casinos may also have other games available with a live dealer. You can find Sic Bo, craps, money wheels, bingo and even game show-style experiences if you know where to look
Playing Live Dealer Games on Mobile Apps
One of the great things about live dealer games is that you can play them anywhere you can get a high-speed connection. Obviously, there isn't as much real estate on your phone as there is on a computer screen. But the game software is built to be played as easily through a mobile casino app as on a computer. And if you're using a bonus code or any other promotional offer, you can use the same offers on an app that you can on your desktop machine.
How to Download an Online Casino Mobile App
Installing an an online casino gambling app is as easy as 1-2-3.
- Depending on the operating system of your device, open the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Search for the name of the online casino app you want to download (for example, "FanDuel Casino").
- Tap the download button to add the app.
Online Casino Deposits & Withdrawals
The New York State Gaming Commission has guidelines in place around banking options for online gambling software, including online casinos and sports betting apps. The guidelines are there to prevent questionable practices by the players and the financial services. This is also why different states have different rules regarding what payment methods players can use. That said, debit and credit cards, online banking, PayPal and prepaid Play+ cards are popular methods for getting funds into your bankroll. PayPal and online banking tend to be the fastest and most secure ways to withdraw your winnings.
Live Dealer Casino Games Software
The software that powers live dealer games is pretty sophisticated since it needs to be secure enough to handle financial transactions, stream video and more. The software improves all the time, but that's not to say it isn't already adequate enough. For the most part, you won't have to deal with many issues as long as your internet connection is sound.
As you try out live dealer games, you're likely to see games run by top-tier providers such as Evolution Gaming, PlayTech and NetEnt Live. Additionally, some online casinos will use their own proprietary software to run exclusive games.
Safety & Security of Live Dealer Games in NY
Online casinos work tirelessly to ensure that your data is protected from end-to-end. They generally utilize Secure Socket Layer encryption protocols when any financial or personal data is transmitted. Because of the strong and continuously improving security methods used by the online gambling industry, we've yet to see a major security breach resulting in data theft.
Are live dealer games rigged?
Anyone who claims the live dealer games in a legal online casino are rigged is probably someone who has been taken advantage of by an illegal offshore operation. But legally-operated online casinos need to ensure the games are fair. Otherwise, they can get into trouble.
Government authorities have the power to audit the casinos, and the live dealer gets paid the same amount whether you win or lose. It's simply not in their interest to rig a game. And on the side of the casino itself, the house has an edge to begin with. Long term, even if you win and win big, they'll come out ahead on the basis of other players' losses. There's no need for them to rig a game.
If you're unsure if a game is legit, you should feel empowered to ask the support team about game testing and licensing. Or just walk away and try a different casino.
How We Rate the Best Live Dealer Casinos
What goes into the best live dealer experiences? If the live dealer games are meant to give the closest experience to being on the floor of the casino, that's what we're looking for. Additionally, we want to see the following.
- Safety and security - If the casino isn't licensed by the state's gaming body, we're going somewhere else. Without the oversight of the state, the games can be rigged, and there's no guarantee of claiming your winnings if you manage to come out ahead.
- Game variety - Being able to offer a wide array of options is going to help a casino stand out. You can safely expect any online casino offering live dealer games to have a couple of blackjack tables, and maybe some Texas Hold 'em and Baccarat. The best live dealer casinos will offer more.
Live Dealer Casino Play at NY Online Casinos FAQ
The live dealers at casino table games provide a more social experience, and one closer to the action you'll find in a brick-and-mortar casino. You'll have to get your own drink, but they'll do the rest.
Based on the easy-to-understand rules and a large number of live dealer tables across the online casino space, it's pretty clear that blackjack is the most popular of the live dealer games.
We've yet to see an online casino operating in the U.S. that allows you to try out live dealer games for free. However, you may be able to try video games that have the same rules first. When you're accustomed to the game, take your action over to the live dealers.
Blackjack is just the tip of the iceberg. You'll also be able to play Roulette, Baccarat and poker in most online casinos. More games are coming, and by the time you can play in New York, more specialized games like bingo, craps and Sic Bo may be commonplace.
It depends on the casino operator, but it's possible. More likely the live gaming tables and dealers are at what's known as a casino studio, built out just for that purpose. The popular Evolution Gaming has casino studios in four U.S. cities alone.
This is another reason to read the terms and conditions. It can vary from house to house. But a good rule of thumb is that if the problem is on the casino's side, any money you had on the table will be refunded. If you lose your connection due to internet or computer issues on your end, the game continues and your bet will likely be forfeited when your timer is up.