Live casino explained

How live dealer games work

Cameras film the table, and the video is sent to your device with a short delay. A game control unit or software layer records what happens physically, such as the wheel result or the cards, and passes it to the interface so that bets are settled automatically.

Studios are staffed by trained dealers and run on fixed schedules. Some tables are always open, while others run at set hours. The results come from the physical equipment, a shuffled shoe or a spinning wheel, and not from a computer-generated number, though a few live-style games use a mix of both.

The same fairness question applies as for slots, with different mechanics. For the general idea of how fairness is tested, see RNG and game fairness.

Main game types

• Blackjack. You play against the dealer and try to get closer to 21 without going over. Decisions such as hit, stand and double change the outcome, and the rules of each table (for example, how many decks) affect the house edge.
• Roulette. A ball is spun on a wheel. European roulette has 37 pockets with one zero, so the house edge is 1 / 37, about 2.70%. American roulette has 38 pockets with two zeros, so the edge is 2 / 38, about 5.26%.
• Baccarat. You bet on the player hand, the banker hand or a tie. There is little decision-making. Each bet has a different house edge.
• Game shows. Wheel or number-draw games hosted by presenters, often with multiplier features. The rules differ from game to game, so read the in-game help.

A table limit and a game variant can change the cost per bet. Whatever the game, no pattern in past results changes the next result. Strategy affects some decisions in blackjack, but it cannot remove the house edge.

Table limits and bet sizes

Each table shows a minimum and a maximum bet, for example 1 to 500. Cheaper tables suit small budgets, while high-limit and VIP tables require larger stakes. Limits are set by the studio and operator, and they may differ between sites that offer the same game.

Choose a table where the minimum bet fits comfortably in your budget. Live games run at a fixed pace of perhaps 30 to 60 seconds a round at roulette, so a bet of 5 on every round can add up to a sizeable sum in an hour. Work out in advance how much you can afford to spend, not just the bet size.

The table shows the amount staked, not the amount lost. Over time the expected loss is a share of the total staked, set by the house edge.

Bonuses and game weighting

Many casino bonuses count live games at a reduced rate towards wagering, and some exclude them completely. This is called game weighting. A weighting of 10% means that only 10% of each bet counts towards the requirement.

Example: a bonus has 3,500 of wagering left. Slots count 100%, so 3,500 in slot bets completes it. If live blackjack counts for 10%, you would need 35,000 in bets, because each 1 bet counts as 0.10. At 0% it would never count.

Always read the weighting table in the bonus terms before you play a live game with a bonus active. Our wagering requirements guide explains the arithmetic, and the wagering calculator can do the sums.

Betting on live games while a bonus is active can breach the terms, for example by exceeding a maximum bet or playing an excluded game. A breach can lead to the bonus and winnings being removed.

Playing sensibly

Live casino has social features such as chat and the presence of a dealer, which can make sessions feel longer than they are. Tables run all day, so there is no natural end.

• Set a deposit limit and a session time before you start. See setting gambling limits.
• Use reality checks if the casino offers them.
• Do not raise bets after a loss in order to recover it.
• Treat any result as entertainment spending, not a plan for income.

To compare casinos on their live offering, licence and payment options, see how to choose an online casino.