An Intro to Live Dealer Poker: Everything You Need to Know
The world of poker has evolved dramatically over the past 3 decades or so, with the game first moving online in the 1990s before transforming into what it has become today, in 2025. The latest transformation in online poker, live dealer poker, has taken the world by storm.
If you’re thinking of trying out this more immersive and engaging form of online Texas Hold ‘em, then read on to find out everything you need to know about the game. Further on in the article, you’ll find out:
• About the current online poker landscape
• What makes live dealer poker different to the current variants available online
• If you need to adapt your strategy to play
• How and where to find the best games
2025’s Online Poker Landscape
Step foot in any casino on the planet and, 99 times out of 100, you will find that the entire building is absolutely rammed with slot machines and video terminals that outnumber the table games by a ratio of at least 20 to 1.
That’s because people love playing slots and terminal games. One such terminal game that is beloved by land-based casino visitors and online enthusiasts is video poker. This incredibly simple game can trace its roots back to the world’s first ever slot game.
The Liberty Bell, which was designed by Charles Fey and released in San Francisco in 1894, featured on its reels of cards. If players matched a certain hand, they would win a prize, with the highest-ranking hand winning the best prize – typically several beers or a fully paid-for meal.
Behind video poker, of course, comes the more typical online poker, of which high-profile tournaments only play a small role. The majority of players battle it out with one another in smaller card rooms that cater for all skill levels.
Coming up quickly in the rear-view mirror, though, is live dealer poker, which is proving incredibly popular with players on the small selection of websites that provide it.
What is Live Dealer Poker and What Makes it Different?
Well, it does what it says on the tin. Live dealer poker is online poker, but with a live dealer streamed to every player's device, giving it the feel of playing in an exclusive club. Some of the best providers also have facilities that allow players to live stream their audio, too, which makes for a far more immersive experience. Casino org’s live dealer guide details where players looking to replicate the feeling of the land casino tables should play, and just as importantly, which providers to avoid.
What makes live dealer poker different from other forms of online poker is obvious – it’s live and interactive. What makes it different from traditional, in-person poker is interesting, though. Whilst the stakes undoubtedly feel higher than in a typical game of online poker, there is still an element of anonymity and, therefore, safety that players can feel.
In that way, it’s almost like playing casino poker but with an added air of confidence that comes from not feeling self-conscious as play progresses around the table.
Do you need to adapt to Play Live Dealer Poker?
Yes. You need to lock in a lot more. The people who play live dealer poker are typically of a far higher skill ceiling than the fish you’ll find swimming around on your usual travails through the card rooms.
In addition to that, you’ll need to pay a lot more attention. You might not be able to see your opponent’s faces, but if you can hear them, listen to how they sound when they’re making bets and try to infer any tells that you can.
Where to Find the Best Games
Never trust someone who gives you a direct casino recommendation – they’re almost always being paid to do so. Online casinos are very much like beauty; they are both in the eye of the beholder. What I find interesting and engaging, might not hit with you, so the best piece of advice that we can give to you is this – use a comparison site.
Keep an eye out for the posts that are clearly sponsored, and just zero in on the reviews and what other players are saying. Once you find a provider that matches with the things you value, go ahead and sign up with them.