Best Irish Live Dealer Casino Sites

What is a Live Casino?

Live casino games have taken the online gambling world by storm in recent years, utilising full studio sets, friendly dealers and croupiers, and crisp streaming technology to bring live roulette, live blackjack, live baccarat and many more live dealer games to players all around the world.

You don’t need to download any extra software to play, either. Just log into your preferred casino site as normal, hit the live dealer game of your choice, and you can start placing your bets just like you would in a brick-and-mortar casino.

But which Irish online casinos offer the best live experience in ‘January? We’ve done the research for you –– simply browse through our list of recommended sites, compare what each site has to offer, register to claim your welcome bonus, and get stuck into the live dealer experience in moments.

How Do We Choose the Best Live Casinos?

It’s a testament to the popularity of live casino games that there are so many options out there, but it can be tricky to cut through the noise and find the very best live dealer experiences. That’s where we come in. Our experts take a close look at every aspect of each site to provide independent, unbiased reviews and make it easy for you to pinpoint the right online casino for you.

Here are some of the factors we take into consideration.

Licensing

It’s one of the golden rules of online gambling: you should only ever place bets at a reputable, licensed site. While Ireland doesn’t currently have a specific regulatory framework for online casinos, you can still tell which sites are “above board” by looking out for the logos of respected industry bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority.

These are the only kinds of casino sites you’ll ever see recommended at TopRatedCasinos, as licensed sites ensure fair gameplay, encrypted transactions, and a host of ethical considerations aimed at keeping players safe whilst gambling online.

Game Selection

When it comes to the selection of games on offer at a casino site, our experts look for quality as well as quantity. We keep an eye out for the leading software developers specialising in authentic live dealer experiences –– think the likes of Evolution and Playtech. We also consider what else you can find on the site apart from live dealer games, because the best sites will also offer online slots, RNG casino games, and sports betting markets.

Design and UI

A great selection of quality games is one thing, but if a site is badly laid out it can be pretty frustrating. We always pay particular attention to the layout of a site, and how easy it is to navigate. Top sites will let you get to the sections you want using tabs and search filters, so you can swiftly locate games categories like live dealer games, slots, progressive jackpots, and so on.

The best Irish casino sites will also let you filter games by software developer. For example, if you wanted to check out the offerings from Evolution only, we expect you to be able to do so with a quick click or tap.

Payment Options

We know players don’t want to be inconvenienced by having to set up a whole new kind of banking method just to bet at a casino. The top casino sites in Ireland have you covered by supporting numerous payment options including debit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets like PayPal and Skrill, prepaid cards and pay by mobile options.

We know you’ll be keen to get your hands on your winnings quickly, too, and in this respect we also pay attention to withdrawal speeds to highlight the very best fast withdrawal casinos.

Bonuses and Promotions

The quality of welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions is a critical factor when comparing casino sites in Ireland. We weigh up how much players stand to receive, as well as what strings may be attached, from wagering requirements to winnings caps.

Pros and Cons of Live Dealer Casinos

New Live Irish Casinos

New live casinos in Ireland must meet growing demand in terms of what players expect to see with their platform. In the early days of live dealer play, you’d have to tune into your TV late at night and place your bets separately from a laptop or mobile device.

Of course, in 2023, it’s a much more intuitive, immersive and enjoyable experience. New live casinos usually offer games backed by some of the leading software providers, offer full support for live mobile gaming, offer rewarding bonuses and are on hand with customer support services in the off chance that you need some assistance.

Live Dealer Games Vs. Online Casino Games

Live dealer games offer customers a hybrid of the physical casino experience and that which an online casino offers. There are pros and cons to both, and a preference for either will depend on the individual.

At a live casino, developers attempt to simulate an authentic casino atmosphere by livestreaming the action. By offering games run by professional dealers, who converse and manage bets just as they would on the Vegas Strip, players feel like they’re taking part in the real thing but from the comfort of their own home.

Chat boxes further enhance the authenticity by allowing players at the table to communicate with one another during games.

The customs surrounding pace of play and betting calls follow naturally, since these live dealer games take place in real time. Live casinos are therefore ideal for gambling newbies who want to get a feel for the pace of play before visiting a brick-and-mortar casino.

Conversely, when playing online casino games solo, you have more control over the game speed. Faster casino play can often cause gamblers to get lost in the action and lose track of their bankroll, so trying out these different formats to see what suits you is key. Another option is to initially play free-to-play games to get used to things, but this option won’t be available for the live streamed live casino games.

Live casino is a relatively new enterprise, and compared to standard online casino games, there are far fewer developers creating live dealer titles. This means that the game variety tends to be better among online casinos. However, without any human interaction, these games can sometimes lose their appeal. On the plus side, players may find that online casinos offer more dedicated bonuses and promotions.

Low Stakes Live Dealer Games Vs. High Stakes Live Dealer Games

The best live casino sites will accommodate a range of gambling budgets by providing both low and high stakes games. Often, tables are marked as one or the other, and sites usually offer dedicated tables for the highest of rollers.

However, since live dealer games cost more for casinos to run, the lowest stakes games will usually be reserved for online casinos. Here, players will find games accepting bets as low as €0.01, but live dealer games tend to start at the €0.10 mark. These betting ranges can stretch all the way to €10,000 and €15,000 in the highest stakes games.

If you can afford to do so, playing at a high-stakes live dealer casino can be exhilarating. You’ll receive heftier bonuses with larger deposits, be granted VIP access which may involve invitational events, and possibly even dedicated account support. It’s clear, though, that betting €15,000 on a hand of blackjack isn’t accessible for all, and lower stakes games still offer exciting gameplay in a more responsible manner.

Live Casino Software Providers

Evolution Gaming

Evolution Gaming’s founding in 2006 engendered a new era in online gambling. Unlike every other software developer of the time, Evolution decided against creating slot games and RNG classics, instead choosing to focus solely on the development of live dealer games.

It’s now the leading name in the live casino space, having crafted some of the finest online gambling products of the last 15 years – these include live game shows like Crazy Time and Dream Catcher, as well as Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt, the first-ever casino game to employ VR technology. All of Evolution’s games are live streamed from purpose-built studios in Latvia, Spain, Malta, Belgium, Romania, Lithuania, Canada, and the US.

Playtech

Founded in 1999, Playtech claims to have the fastest streaming technology in the business and the longest uptime in the industry. Its live dealer efforts concentrate on delivering the best table game experiences to casino players, which are streamed from studios in the UK, Italy, Spain, Romania, and Latvia, where Playtech has built the world’s largest live casino.

Playtech also uses VR in some of its table games, and its unique Multi-Game feature allows players to place bets at several tables at the same time.

NetEnt

NetEnt ranks alongside Playtech as one of the most important software developers in the industry. For years, NetEnt’s forte was considered to be the realm of video slots, but it diversified its gaming portfolio with top live dealer titles in advance of its acquisition by Evolution.

Its offering primarily caters to mobile players taking the immersive experience on the go, with easy-to-use interfaces and the seamless ability to play in either portrait or landscape mode. Founded in 1996, NetEnt’s live dealer studios are located in Malta and Latvia.

Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic has enjoyed rapid progress as a software developer since its founding in 2015, and it signalled its intention to join the live dealer market by opening its first studio in Romania in 2019. Its multilingual interface is supported in over 30 different languages, and players will receive 24//7 live customer support when playing Pragmatic’s live dealer games.

As well as offering all the table game classics and their many variants, Pragmatic’s most popular live dealer titles include Dragon Tiger, Mega Wheel, and Mega Sic Bo.

Live Casino on Mobile

While many gamblers may prefer to replicate the customs of a casino by playing live dealer games at a table on a desktop, the best live casinos in Ireland offer their members mobile gameplay on both Android and iOS devices. At the very least, this will involve an optimised mobile version of the site, where games are adjusted to fit smaller screens and localise different touchpoints.

But at the top Irish live casinos, players can download dedicated native apps for an enhanced mobile experience – these apps offer better functionality and faster loading times, and they can alert players to the latest bonuses through push notifications. Casino sites such as 888 Casino, Play OJO, and Karamba are just some examples of the operators offering excellent live casino apps to Irish players.

Live Dealer Games

Live casino games come in a broad array of formats, covering the full gamut of casino classics and even delivering innovative new options, such as virtual game shows. Let’s take a look at some of the games you can expect at good live casinos.

Live Blackjack

There’s a special thrill that comes from taking on a real dealer when you’re playing live blackjack. The classic version of the card game is available, but you can also explore live casino variants like the fast-paced Speed Blackjack, high-stakes VIP Blackjack and the unashamedly fun Blackjack Party where you’ll find music and lively chat that ramps up the social factor.

Live Roulette

Live roulette is a fantastic alternative to RNG-based roulette games you’ll find at top online casinos, not least because there’s something inimitable about watching a real ball spin around the classic black and red pockets.

Along with traditional versions of the game, like American Roulette and European Roulette, one of the most popular live variants is Lightning Roulette, taking place in a glitzy, golden studio and giving players the chance to win massively multiplied payouts. Keep an eye out for Immersive Roulette, which uses movie-like camera angles to enrich the experience with sheer immersion.

Live Poker

Thanks to live dealer casinos, you get to enjoy the buzz of casino poker without worrying about revealing any tells. If Texas Hold’em is your bag, you can take a virtual seat at the table and see what the human dealer will lay out for you.

Fancy something a little quicker? Three Card Poker is a fast-paced variant which is ideal for poker newbies. A particularly novel take on the game is Side Bet City, which has an ‘80s Las Vegas’ aesthetic and is a great example of how innovative live casino games can be.

Live Game Shows

You’re certainly not limited to classic table games when you enter the best live dealer casinos in Ireland. Here are some game show-style titles to look out for.

Monopoly Live

Yes, the iconic property trading board game has had the online casino treatment. The gameplay involves a live host spinning a vast Monopoly-themed wheel, with players betting on where it will come to a halt. There’s also a bonus game which makes use of a colourful, virtual reality version of the classic Monopoly board, complete with an animated Mr Monopoly who scampers around before your eyes.

Deal or No Deal

Ever wanted to match wits with the Banker in Deal or No Deal? Now you can, thanks to the live casino version of the great game show. Players are faced with 16 sealed briefcases containing different amounts of money. As briefcases are opened and the Banker calls to tempt you with his offers, you’ll have to make edge-of-the-seat judgment calls and hopefully come away with big winnings.

Mega Ball

This vibrant game follows lottery-like mechanics and provides a serious jolt of excitement. To play, you simply purchase a select number of bingo-style cards which contain grids of numbers. You then watch as balls are randomly drawn from a custom-made machine, keeping your fingers crossed that the numbers match with paylines on your cards. Multipliers up to 100x are unleashed after the last balls are drawn, significantly upping the ante.

Other Games

There are even more ways to lap up the live dealer experience. Here are some other games you can explore.

Live Craps

For a long time, cynics dismissed the idea of live dealer craps, believing the game’s complex rules and social elements couldn’t be replicated by streaming alone. Thankfully, the dream has now become a reality, with Evolution’s version of the dice game whisking you into a sultry, speakeasy-style studio. You can even play in ‘Easy Mode’ which simplifies the rules for new players; the perfect way to get to grips with the game.

Live Baccarat

Don’t be fooled by its formidable reputation: baccarat is as simple as it is glamorous. In effect, it’s like playing slots with cards, with players simply betting on what will be drawn next. As you can imagine, there are multiple variants available, including the dynamic and immersive Multi-Camera Baccarat, and the energetic Speed Baccarat.

Live Poker

Thanks to live dealer casinos, poker fans can enjoy the buzz of a casino without worrying about revealing any tells. If Texas Hold’em is your bag, take a virtual seat at the table and see what the dealer will lay out for you. Or if you fancy something with a quicker tempo, Three Card Poker is an energetic variant, ideal for new players of the game looking to get up to speed.

For a particularly novel take on the game, check out Evolution’s Side Bet City, which has an ‘80s Las Vegas aesthetic and is a great example of how innovative live casino games can be.

One of the most popular live dealer poker games is Casino Hold’em, which follows a similar format to Texas Hold’em but with a few differences. The first is that this is a game between dealer and player only – there are no other participants at the table.

Cards are dealt as they would be in a game of Texas, with two personal cards followed by three community cards. Before laying down the ante or blind, players must make a decision as to whether they want to utilise the game’s unique side bet. This pays out when players are able to form a pair of aces or better from their hand and the first three community cards.

Live Sic Bo

Translated from the Chinese for precious dice, sic bo is an ancient game of chance played with three dice. It involves making bets on the outcome of the roll of the three dice, such as a bet that the total value of the dice will be above ten. Sic bo players have a choice of a bunch of different bets, all of which result in a simple win or loss outcome.

Top Rated Live Dealer Games in 2022

Here at TopRatedCasinos.ie, we want to make things as straightforward as possible. To try your hand at one of the best live dealer games released in 2021, take a look at our five recommendations.

Golden Wealth Baccarat

Baccarat is a card game similar in style to blackjack. Evolution’s Golden Wealth Baccarat transports players to a land of Asian opulence, where vibrant red and gold colours decorate the table. This is a low volatility live dealer game with a high return to player (RTP) percentage of 98.85% and a betting range of €1 to €15,000.

The most exciting feature of this game is the golden cards  —  at the end of each betting round, players have the option to opt-in to the golden round in exchange for a 20% increase in their stake. If they decide to take part, players will select one card from a choice of five, hopefully revealing a multiplier that can be worth up to 8x the stake. There’s also a side bet option for players making pairs in their first two cards.

Bac Bo Live

Evolution claims that this is the first bac bo title to ever be developed for live casinos, and it comes with a betting range of €1 to €10,000. The rules couldn’t be simpler  —  the game takes place between player and dealer, who each have two dice. The dice are rolled, and whoever correctly bets on who has the highest total wins the round.

With an RTP of 98%, this is a gentle beginning for those looking to kickstart their live casino careers with a simple game.

Mega Fire Blaze Roulette

Rivalling Evolution as champions of live dealer games is Playtech, which has adapted its hit RNG title Mega Fire Blaze Roulette for a live dealer audience. This game is played on a European wheel, meaning that there’s a single zero pocket and an RTP of 97.3%. Before each spin of the wheel, between five and ten pockets are engulfed in flames; if the ball lands in one of them, the game’s bonus round will be triggered.

This bonus round involves multiplier values cascading across a grid that’s divided into six sections. If players manage to fill a section with multipliers, they’ll be able to claim one of four jackpots, the biggest of which is worth 2,000x the stake. Betting ranges start from just €0.20 and rise to €2,000 in this game.

The Money Drop

Ireland’s live dealer casinos aren’t always just about the table games. Evolution’s seminal title Crazy Time kickstarted a trend of live casino games adapted from popular TV-style game shows. Playtech’s The Money Drop is another prime example, taking inspiration from Channel 4’s Million Pound Drop.

This game is based around a spinning wheel that’s split into 54 segments; 51 of these represent a multiplier between 8x and 2,500x, while the other three are reserved for the game’s card clash feature, which offers wins up to 1,000x the stake.

Much like in the show, players must decide where they place their money after an opening wager; there are four drop zones in each round, one or two of which are safe. This game’s RTP depends on the size of the player’s bet, which ranges from €0.10 to €250.

Lightning Blackjack

Evolution has followed up on its hugely popular Lightning Roulette title with Lightning Blackjack  —  a game with a massive RTP of 99.6% and a betting range of €1 to €5,000. This game follows the European rulebook, with eight decks in play here.

Lightning Blackjack also makes use of multipliers  —  these attach themselves to every win and are applied to the following round. Wins with hands of 17 or lower will receive a 2x multiplier; for wins between 18 and 20, it’s 5x, 8x, or 10x respectively; for 21 it’s 15x; and for blackjack, the multiplier is 25x, which has the potential to bring home a max jackpot of €125,000.

Lightning Blackjack also includes the six-card Charlie rule  —  any hand containing six cards that hasn’t gone bust is a winner, regardless of its overall value.

Banking Options

The best live dealer casinos offer a range of payment methods to customers. There are many options available to suit players’ needs, whether they wish to prioritise security, ease of use, or fast withdrawals.

Live casino players may find themselves needing to quickly add funds to their account to join a game room in time. Thankfully, virtually all casino payment methods offer instant deposits, but you may find the process of setting up your deposit is quicker with certain methods than others. For example, if you already have your card details saved to your phone or browser, this will make it simpler than signing in via an external e-wallet account.

Debit Cards

Visa and Mastercard are the most ubiquitous banking methods found at live dealer casinos. They offer robust security through Visa Secure and Mastercard Identity Check and are ideal for customers who don’t already have an e-wallet account.

Another benefit of using a debit card at a live dealer casino is they are virtually always accepted by all sites. This affords you a great range of options when selecting a welcome offer at a new live dealer casino.

Drawbacks of debit cards include slower withdrawal times than alternate payment methods — typical processing times are up to five days, although Visa Fast Funds is a game changer for casino players as it processes payments within four hours.

e-Wallets

Digital wallets are used widely across the internet for all types of purchases. E-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill and Neteller allow you to store funds and make and receive payments. They’re also free to set up and don’t usually charge fees.

One of the main benefits of e-wallets for casino players is they remove the need to share sensitive banking information with the online casino. While licensed and regulated casinos will offer high security and data protection, many players enjoy the peace of mind that comes from not having to share their bank details with another site.

Casino players using e-wallets also benefit from fast payouts from Irish gambling sites. Withdrawals are usually processed in 1–2 days, compared to up to 5 days for debit cards.

The main drawback of using e-wallets for your casino deposits is that they are not always eligible for bonuses. Be sure to have a look at the terms and conditions of an offer before making your qualifying deposit to avoid disappointment.

Alternative Payment Methods

Most live dealer casinos will offer additional payment methods beyond debit cards and e-wallets. Prepaid vouchers are a popular alternative as they are extremely secure and help cap spending, as you can only spend what is on the voucher. The main drawback is casinos don’t usually support withdrawals via prepaid cards.

Paysafecard is one example of a physical voucher you can buy from a shop. They come with a 16-digit code that you’ll use to set up your casino deposit. Alternatively, AstroPay is a virtual voucher that can be purchased through its dedicated mobile app.

Other services are set up to be used as banking intermediaries. With Trustly, casino players don’t even need to set up an account with the payment method to deposit and withdraw. The process involves logging in to your bank via Trustly, rather than entering your bank details on the casino site. Trustly then securely processes the payment, with withdrawals often received within 24 hours.

Live Casino Bonuses

Below are some bonus types you might be offered at a live dealer casino. Before making use of these bonuses, it’s always worth reading the site’s terms and conditions as some operators place restrictions on which of their games are eligible to play with bonus funds.

They may also limit the contributions of wagers placed on them for the playthrough requirements. Often, it’s table and live dealer games that miss out, so make sure you check the small print before you make a qualifying deposit.

Matched Deposits

Matched deposit bonuses increase a player’s casino balance with funds given by the casino itself. These offers might take the form of ‘100% up to €50’, which would see the casino match the deposit in full and the recipient land €100 from a €50 deposit.

No Deposit Bonuses

These are just like matched deposits, but don’t require a deposit into a casino account. While these bonuses come entirely at the casino’s expense, they tend to be much less generous as a consequence.

Low Wagering Bonuses

The industry standard for wagering requirements is between 25-40x the value of the bonus, so low wagering bonuses will sit somewhere beneath this benchmark – the lower the requirements, the more player-friendly the bonus.

This bonus type allows players to take to their favourite Irish live casinos without having to worry about steep wagering requirements, giving them a more realistic chance of converting the bonus into withdrawable cash if their luck is in.