Live dealer chat: audio versus typed

There are a growing number of live casino platforms out there and the features and sophistication of each varies considerably.

One feature, that we haven’t really focused too much on in our live casino comparisons or platform comparisons is dealer chat.  Whether or not there’s dealer chat/interaction functionality is pretty much where we leave things.  But it’s worth having  a closer look at the type of chat offered because it differs substantially from one platform to the next.

Chat options offered may be categorized, for the purposes of simplicity, as 1 of 3 types:

1. No chat – you can’t interact with the dealer at all

2. Limited chat – you type-chat to the dealer; they type-chat back

3. Real chat – you type-chat to the dealer; they speak back via audio

We’ll leave no chat out of the discussion and look a bit closer at the other two options.

Limited chat…

Here you have a chat window in the bet interface that allows you to type a message to the dealer.  The dealer can then respond…by type.

The problem with this is that the dealer has a limited ability to use their hands to respond to players and can only really send quick, token messages between deals.  Not very personal, and certainly nothing like the banter you might experience sitting at a traditional casino table.

Below is an example of this type of chat functionality.

Real chat…

As above you have a chat window in the bet interface that allows you to type a message to the dealer.  But that’s where the similarity ends.

Rather than a typed response from the dealer, you get a verbal one.  With audio, the dealer can interact with players at the same time as dealing the game.  Responses are instant and real conversations can take place.  It’s more like the bricks and mortar casino experience and adds a more human feel to the game.

So which casinos have real chat?

Playtech’s European dealer platform and those from Evolution Gaming both include real dealer chat with nice clear audio.

Casinos using these games include:

888.com | PartyCasino | bet365 | EuroGrand | Unibet | William Hill | Victor Chandler