Live Dealer Hold’em Poker

About Live Dealer Texas Hold’em

Unlike traditional Texas Hold’em, in the live dealer version you aren’t trying to cunningly outwit and out-bluff your fellow players, but rather you’re playing 1v1 against the dealer. At any one time, there could be hundreds of you playing on the same flop, turn and river. This makes the game seriously exciting as it’s all about backing your hand against the blind-playing dealer.

Naturally this will act as a deterrent to serious poker players who live for bluffs and double bluffs, but for those who enjoy the game (perhaps without being experts), the live dealer option is great fun. The dealers themselves are usually very chatty, responding to questions and making the game hugely entertaining.

Where to Play in New Zealand

You can now play Live Dealer Texas Hold’em at tonnes of online casinos here in NZ, so don’t worry about that. The games are legal to play from New Zealand, and all of our recommended casinos below conform to the strictest regulations and fair play rules.

Game Variations

There are a few different variations of Casino Hold’em (the version of Texas Hold’em adapted for player vs dealer gameplay) and your options will depend on the specific casino you visit. Each casino will have its live dealer games provided by a specific software developer, possibly one of Playtech, Microgaming or Evolution Gaming.

• Classic Casino Hold’em – You make an ante (pre-flop) bet, then have the chance to bet again after the flop. From there, the dealer turns their cards, reveals the remaining two row cards and we see who wins!
• Evolution Jumbo 7 Jackpot – You can make an additional side bet of hitting a 7-card straight flush – if you place the bet and manage the result, you’ll win the massive progressive jackpot!
• Live Caribbean Stud Poker – Place an ante bet then you and the dealer are dealt 5 cards, but only one of the dealers’ is face up. Place a second bet and try to beat the dealer’s hand.
• Live Texas Hold’em Poker – This lets you check or raise post flop or river, in addition to the normal rules.

Betting Limits

Poker is traditionally a game for those with fat wallets, and the stakes are often very high. For those who might be worried their bank accounts won’t stretch that far, however, you needn’t be: casino hold’em is only between you and the dealer. One player might be wagering $5 every other hand, when another is laying down $1000s at a time. For the specific betting limits at certain casinos, check out our table below.

Mobile

The big players in live dealer casino (like Evolution Gaming, for example) have their games available on any device, including smartphones and tablets. While you will have to contend with a smaller screen and perhaps a bit more squinting, the convenience of mobile gaming is its own reward. You can play with a real dealer on the train, while out on a walk or even in the office if you’re sneaky!

If you want the latest mobile-specific bonuses and the casino offering them, check out the table below.

Live Dealer Texas Hold’em Poker Software

Online casino software is the key to all of the great games you enjoy, and when it comes to Live Dealer Texas Holdem, no one does it better than Evolution Gaming. Their classic game is just that: pure class. They also have their revolutionary Jumbo 7 Jackpot in addition to the unique Caribbean Stud variation.

Playtech and Microgaming are other big names in the live dealer Hold’em world, though the likes of Ezugi and Global Gaming Labs are also up there.

Live Dealer Texas Hold’em Poker vs RNG

A Random Number Generator (or RNG) is the technology used to ensure that regular online casino games are completely fair, and not rigged or predictable in any way. They are most popular for their use in video slots, but also in classic online Texas Hold’em.

The gameplay is the exact same as the live dealer variation: bet, deal, bet, resolve. It’s simple, but effective. The classic version is also much faster than the live dealer game, since you can hammer on the mouse and the calculations are completed instantly.

On the flip side, the live dealer game allows you to interact with a real person, see how your winnings compare to fellow players and, probably, make the game feel more real and important to you. It’s risky to play games (for money) which feel too much like games, and live dealer poker feels more like vegas!

Is Live Dealer Texas Hold’em Poker Fair?

There are stringent rules and regulations followed by all live casinos to ensure that everything is completely fair and above-board. The cards are regularly shuffled and there’s no way to predict what’s coming next. Remember the casino always makes a profit from its games, so there’s no good reason for them to start hoodwinking players – not when the punishments for getting caught are so severe!

Bluffing in Live Dealer Texas Hold’em

Since you’re playing one-on-one against the dealer, it’s impossible to bluff in Live Dealer Hold’em – there’s no one to con! It’s more a game of luck (and a small part statistics) than anything else.

Free Games

While live games themselves are scarcely available for free play (since they are, after all, live!) you can get some practise in at the hold’em table by playing one of the free RNG games. If you pay a visit to any of the popular casino websites in NZ, there will almost certainly be a “Casino Hold’em” game which you can demo, or play for free.

These are great for getting a bit of practise before committing your money to the live dealer version.

Conclusion

Modern Texas Hold’em Poker with a live dealer combines the most exciting elements of poker (suspense, dealer interaction, big payouts etc) with all the comforts of your own home. If you enjoy poker, you’re sure to love live dealer hold’em, so why not give it a try?