Guide · Live casino
Live casino, explained
Real tables streamed from a studio, and why your welcome bonus probably won't cover them.
A live casino game is played at a real table, with a real dealer and real cards or a real wheel, filmed in a studio and streamed to your screen. You place bets through an on-screen panel, the dealer does the rest. It's slower than a slot. Many people like it for exactly that reason.
What you'll find on the tables
Roulette
A dealer spins the wheel; you bet on numbers, colours or groups. European roulette has a single zero, which gives the house a smaller edge than American wheels with a double zero. It's worth checking which one you've opened. The Online Casino lists Live Roulette among its highlights.
Blackjack
Seats at a live blackjack table are usually limited, so you may wait for one or bet behind another player. Decisions are timed. Take a minute to watch a few hands before sitting down.
Baccarat
You back the Player hand, the Banker hand or a tie; the dealer follows fixed drawing rules. Few decisions, quick rounds. The tie bet pays more, but the house edge on it is much higher.
Game shows
Wheel-based shows with a presenter and bonus rounds, closer to television than to a casino table. Crazy Time is the best known, and both Swift and PlayKasino list it. Rounds are fast and the bonus features can pay large multiples, which also means the pace of spending can run away from you. Decide your stake before the wheel starts.
Why the welcome bonus usually won't help here
This is the point we'd most like new players to take away. Look closely at the terms on our list:
- Swift, Luna and PlayKasino say only slots count towards wagering.
- The Online Casino and Vegas Mobile say contribution varies per game and the bonus is available on selected games only.
In practice, if you mostly play live roulette or blackjack, a slots-based welcome bonus isn't built for you. Declining it keeps things simple, and at Swift and Luna the terms say cancellation can be requested. Playing only with your own deposit also means no wagering to track at all.
Things worth knowing before you sit down
Table limits
Every live table shows a minimum and maximum bet. They vary a lot between tables, so check the limit before you join. Unlike online slots, there's no statutory per-spin stake cap on live table games, so the limit you set yourself matters more.
Your connection
Live streams use far more data than slots. On mobile data, a long session can eat into your allowance. If the stream drops mid-round, the round still completes at the table; the casino's rules explain how disconnections are settled.
Chat
Most tables have a text chat with the dealer. It's moderated, and the usual courtesy applies. The dealer can't give advice on your bets.
Time
Live rounds feel unhurried, and that's easy to underestimate. Switch on reality checks so you get a reminder of how long you've been at the table.
Where to play live at our listed casinos
Luna and Swift list live casino as part of their game range, and Swift, PlayKasino and The Online Casino each name a live title among their highlights. What's open at any given moment depends on the studio schedule, so browse the live lobby after you log in. Each review on our shortlist covers the wider game range.
Gambling on live tables carries the same risks as any other game. If you'd like to set limits or take a break, our play safe page explains how.