A live casino game is streamed from a studio, with a human dealer, real cards or a real wheel, and on-screen controls. Seeing a person deal does not change the maths. The rules and the payout table do.
How a live table works
You watch a video stream and place bets on screen during a short betting window, usually with a countdown. When the window closes, the dealer plays the round and the result is recorded on screen.
The pace matters more than people expect. Rounds keep coming, so the total staked climbs quickly, and that total drives what you can expect to lose. Read our guide to house edge for the sums. Also check the table rules for what happens to an open round if your connection drops.
Baccarat
You bet on Player, Banker or Tie before any cards are dealt. The hands then follow fixed drawing rules, so you make no decisions after betting.
In the standard eight-deck game, Banker carries the lowest house edge even after the usual 5% commission on wins. The Tie looks tempting at 8 to 1, but it has by far the highest edge. “No commission” tables change the payout on some Banker wins, which changes the edge, so read the rules.
Blackjack
Blackjack is the one game here where your decisions change the result. Played with correct basic strategy under typical rules, the house edge is around 0.5%. Played by feel, it is much higher.
The table rules matter a lot. A blackjack that pays 6 to 5 instead of 3 to 2 costs you about 1.39 percentage points, which can make the edge several times larger. Check that first. Insurance and side bets generally add cost as well.
Roulette
European roulette has 37 pockets (0 to 36) and a house edge of 2.70%. American roulette adds a double zero, making 38 pockets and an edge of 5.26%, with the same payouts. If both are offered, the wheel makes a large difference. Some live variants change payouts in order to add multipliers, so read the table before you assume these numbers apply.
Sic bo
Sic bo uses three dice. Big and Small each pay 1 to 1 and carry a house edge of 2.78%, because both lose on any three of a kind. Other bets on the layout pay more and vary widely, and many carry a much higher edge.
The numbers side by side
| Game and bet | House edge |
|---|---|
| Baccarat, Banker (5% commission) | 1.06% |
| Baccarat, Player | 1.24% |
| Baccarat, Tie at 8 to 1 | 14.36% |
| Blackjack, basic strategy, 3 to 2 | About 0.5% |
| Roulette, European | 2.70% |
| Roulette, American | 5.26% |
| Sic bo, Big or Small | 2.78% |
These are long-run averages for standard rules. A table with different rules can have a different edge, so the payout table in front of you always comes first.
Check these first
- Payout table: does it match the standard rules above, such as 3 to 2 for blackjack?
- Table limits: minimum stakes can be far higher than you planned.
- Side bets: they are often where the highest house edge sits.
- Your own limits: decide on time and money before the first round. See responsible gaming.
Online gambling is generally an offence in Malaysia. Read what the law says.