Is Live Dealer Poker Better Than Traditional Online Poker?

In recent years, live dealer poker has seen a huge rise in popularity, with casinos across the board finding ways to offer this new setup to poker enthusiasts. The improvements in both broadband stability and streaming technology has created an environment where live poker can thrive… but how much does this matter to die-hard poker players who want the best possible experience?

There are pros and cons to both live dealer poker and traditional online poker. You might find that one version massively suits your preferences over another, or you might find you enjoy a bit of both. A lot of people think live dealer games are the perfect combination of convenience and in-person poker fun, but there are a few reasons that traditional online poker could hold an advantage. Let’s break those down!

Online Poker’s Elimination Of Cues

One of the major changes people had to adjust to when switching to online poker for the first time was the sudden disappearance of visual cues. A lot of in-person poker was based on reading your opponents’ body language. Did they twitch when they drew a new card? Were they visibly restless and shifting in their seat? Had a normally vivacious player suddenly gone quiet?

All of these things could be used to draw conclusions about what cards they might have in their hand and how strong their position might be. Yet almost all of these visual cues vanish instantly when you move into the world of online poker. Yes, there are still some things you can look at for information (how fast are they playing, how aggressive are their bets), but there’s little doubt that online poker is a very different game from physical poker because you aren’t face-to-face with your opponents anymore.

Some people hated that change. Others loved it. Suddenly, instead of having to worry about controlling their expressions – which is notoriously difficult for certain folks – they could just focus on the cards in front of them. They could pay attention to how good their hand was. They could let all the other noise and distractions fade away and just play the core game. They could bring up guides on poker strategy and use these to enhance their approach.

Live dealer games put some of that noise back. Yes, because they’re streamed, they’re a bit different – you won’t spot some of the subtler cues and slight lag might interfere with what you see – but overall, they’ve got a lot in common with an in-person game.

If you’re someone who likes the more streamlined, card-focused play of an online game, you might find transitioning to live dealer options a distraction. You will suddenly have to think about your expressions, your verbalizations, your “thinking face.” You’ll have the distraction of the dealer. If you aren’t skilled at watching the other players and you struggle to read expressions well, you’re likely to be at a disadvantage.

Live Dealer Play Can Introduce Pressure

There’s also a risk that live dealer games will introduce a greater sense of pressure, since you’ll feel less anonymous. You aren’t hidden behind a screen and a chat room anymore; other players (in most setups) will be able to see your face and observe what you’re doing.

This makes some players who are used to online poker feel anxious and self-conscious, increasingly aware of their expressions and movements. It’s potentially distracting and could knock you off your game, making it more difficult for you to play well.

There is some pressure in a standard online poker game, of course; if you’re up against other players, you’ll need to play reasonably quickly to prevent holding people up, and you might be engaged with a chat that carries some of the elements of live poker. However, for the most part, the online environment is anonymous and low-pressure, letting you take a bit more time and relax your body language. There isn’t the same sense of immediacy as when you have a dealer in front of you, handing out cards.

Try Mixing It Up For Extra Fun

All that said, live poker does have a huge number of advantages, with the fun of meeting other players and the added dynamic of body language increasing the value of the game for many people. There’s also some additional drama, some extra flair, that comes with watching a skilled dealer shuffle the cards right in front of you, rather than depending on a machine to do it.

If you’ve never tried live dealer poker and if you want something a bit different from your standard online poker night, you might well find it’s worth adding to your gaming repertoire.

You don’t need anything special to get started with live dealer poker or online poker; a stable internet connection and an internet-compatible device tend to be the only requirements. You can play from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or even smartphone if you like, making these options highly accessible for folks all over the world.

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