Eve Luneborg
Live casino games are streamed in real time from dedicated studios or land-based casinos, with real human dealers managing the action. You place your bets using a digital interface, but every card draw, dice roll, or spin is performed by a dealer. Cameras and sensors track the outcomes, which are translated into game data. The results appear instantly on your screen. Most live dealer games offer an in-game chat feature, allowing interaction with dealers or other players.
There are many different games you can play with a live dealer. You’ll find standard titles like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker, alongside game shows and speciality games.
In this guide from LiveCasino.ie, we’ll be looking at the most popular live game types and the best game studios. We’ll also dive into the mechanics and technology that’s used behind the scenes, in order to give you a real-life casino experience, delivered directly to your screen.
Unlike traditional online casino games, where outcomes are determined by algorithms, live casino games rely on real-world physics and human interaction. Games are hosted in professional studios or occasionally inside land-based casinos, where real dealers manage the action in real time.
The table layout, wheel spins, dice rolls, and card shuffling all happen physically. Just like in a brick-and-mortar casino. These actions are captured using multiple HD cameras, then streamed to your screen with low-latency video technology.
To make everything function seamlessly, most providers use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and motion sensors to convert the physical outcomes into digital data. This ensures that the game results, whether it’s a roulette number or a blackjack hand, are instantly registered and displayed on your interface.
What really sets live games apart is their interactivity. Players can chat with the dealer and, in many cases, with other players, creating a more sociable and immersive experience. The atmosphere is further enhanced by studio environments tailored to match the game’s theme. They can from classic casino elegance to flashy game show stages.
Most live dealer games run 24/7, offer support for multiple languages and currencies, and are optimised for both desktop and mobile play. Betting ranges also vary widely, making them suitable for both low-stakes players and high rollers.
Playing live casino games instead of RNG games has many advantages, but also some disadvantages. Here are the main pros and cons you need to be aware of:
Live casino games pros:
Live casino games cons:
In most live casinos, you’ll find multiple different games to try. The standard ones that all offer include roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Then, casino poker and game shows are also common. If you’re playing at the big live casinos, you can expect almost 1,000 games to choose from.
Below, you can read more about some of the most common live casino games offered in Irish live casinos.
In live dealer roulette, you place your bets on where you think the ball will land on the spinning wheel. The dealer spins the wheel in real time, and you get to watch it live on your screen. You can bet on individual numbers, groups, colours, or odd/even.
The most common version of this game is European Roulette, which has a house edge of 2.7%. Some casinos also offer French and American versions, which have slightly different odds. You can also find some game show versions of this game, where real roulette is combined with RNG features.
Playing live roulette is slower than RNG games, but it feels more like a real casino experience. You can also chat with the dealer or other players.
Live blackjack lets you go head-to-head with a real dealer at a table streamed from a studio. The aim is to get a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over. You start with two cards and decide whether to hit, stand, double, or split. The dealer follows fixed rules—usually hitting on 16 and standing on 17.
The house edge in standard blackjack is around 0.5% if you use basic strategy. Live blackjack often includes side bets like Perfect Pairs or 21+3, which have higher house edges.
Playing live dealer blackjack is slower than RNG blackjack, but much more interactive. You can chat with the dealer and other players, making it a social experience. Since seat availability is limited, some versions offer ‘bet behind’ so you can still join in while waiting for a seat.
In live baccarat, you bet on whether the Player or Banker hand will be closer to a total of 9, or if it’ll be a tie. The dealer draws the cards in real time, and you watch every move via live stream. You don’t need to make any decisions after betting, so it’s a simple and quick game to follow.
Most online baccarat game versions follow Punto Banco rules. The house edge is around 1.06% on Banker, 1.24% on Player, and more than 14% on Tie bets. The live version adds suspension into the game by ‘squeezing’ the cards.
Many baccara tables include stats to help you track previous game rounds. Some versions also include side bets and multiple camera angles.
Live dealer poker games are different versions of house-banked poker games like Casino Hold’em, Three Card Poker, and Caribbean Stud. You’re not playing against other players, you’re simply trying to beat the dealer’s hand.
The aim of each specific game depends on the variant, but most involve forming the best possible hand using your cards and community cards. The house edge ranges from around 2% to 5%, depending on the game and the strategy you use. You place bets, make decisions, and watch the dealer handle the cards live.
These games can feel slower than regular poker, but this is part of the experience. Some versions also offer progressive jackpots or bonus side bets, adding to the excitement.
Live craps lets you play with real dice and a real dealer, streamed straight to your screen. You don’t get to throw the dice yourself; an automatic shooter or dealer does that, but you still get the full craps experience.
The aim of the game is to bet on the outcome of the dice rolls. You can place bets like Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come, or field bets. Craps is a game that can feel complex at first, but most live versions include on-screen guides. The house edge varies: Pass Line bets are around 1.41%, while other bets can be higher.
While playing, the live dealer explains the action, and some versions even slow the pace a bit for online players.
Live dice games include several different titles, like Sic Bo and Craps. You place bets on the outcome of one or more dice rolled live in a studio. The aim depends on the version; some involve totals, doubles, or specific number combinations.
A dealer drops the dice into a machine or rolls them manually, and you watch the result in real time. RTP usually ranges between 95% and 97%, depending on your bet. Some versions, like Lightning Dice, include random multipliers to give you the possibility of bigger wins.
These games don’t require strategy, just select your bet and wait for the roll.
Live casino game shows mix casino betting with TV-style games. A host runs the game from a studio set, and you bet using the pop-up interface. You place bets before each round and watch it play out live. The game itself can be anything from a wheel of fortune, dice, roulette, or even more inventive types, like board games.
Popular examples include Sweet Bonanza Candyland, Monopoly Live, and Crazy Time. These games often use multipliers and random bonuses. The RTP is usually between 94% and 97%, and there’s little to no strategy. In this sense, game shows have more in common with slot machines than any other game type. Some versions even include animations or augmented reality effects, especially during bonus rounds.
While playing, expect a high level of entertainment, as the host will continuously interact with the in-game chat.
The Lightning series includes enhanced versions of classic games, like Lightning Roulette, Lightning Baccarat, Lightning Blackjack, Lightning Dice, Lightning Ball, and Lightning Storm, among others. In total, the game studio Evolution has created 19 games in this series.
The main games in the Lightning series are quite standard, but with added random multipliers on certain outcomes. The idea is that you can win more if your bet hits a multiplied number or hand. For example, in Lightning Roulette, some numbers are randomly boosted to pay up to 500:1. Blackjack and baccarat versions follow similar logic with adjusted payouts and rules.
You still play against a live dealer and place the same bets, but the extra features add a twist. Just keep in mind that the base game payouts are slightly reduced to fund the multipliers.
First Person games look and feel like live games, but are in reality RNG games. You control the pace and can enter the live version whenever you like. There are many game types to choose from, like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, or craps. The game rules are the same as their live dealer equivalents.
These games are designed with high-quality 3D graphics and realistic camera angles to give a live-like experience. RTP is the same or slightly higher than the live versions, since there are no dealer or studio costs. With no dealer, there’s no chat, so this is a less social way to play, compared to standard live dealer games.
In some versions, you’ll find side bets or bonus features, and the interface is always clean and fast.
VR live casino games combine virtual reality technology with live dealer gameplay. By wearing a VR headset, you can enter a fully rendered casino environment where you can walk up to tables, pick up chips, and interact with the dealer in 3D.
The aim of these games depends on the type, but the gameplay stays true to the standard rules. RTP and house edge match the live versions of each game, so your chances to win are the same as always. The difference is only in how you see and interact with the casino. You get full immersion, spatial sound, and hand-tracking, depending on the device you’re using.
At the moment, VR live games are still niche and not widely available. However, more operators are testing it out, so we’re bound to see more of it in the years to come.
The best casino operators work with a long list of game studios for their live casino. Typically, the ones you find at almost all Irish live casinos are Evolution and Pragmatic Play, and these are high-quality providers who deliver excellent games. But there are also many smaller studios that are worth checking out. Here, we’ve given you a short introduction to the top 10 live studios.
Evolution was founded in 2006, and they’re the biggest name in live casino. They offer a full range of live games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, craps, and game shows. It’s especially in the latter category that they have an edge on their competitors.
This game studio is known for high production quality and fast streaming. They’re also known for being the most innovative game developers in the industry, continuously coming up with new and exciting mechanics and features.
Evolution owns other brands, too. Ezugi is the one they have that offers live games, while NetEnt, Red Tiger Gaming and Big Time Gaming are focusing on RNG games, like slots.
Playtech launched its live casino division in 2003 and runs studios both in Europe and Asia. They offer live blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, and various game shows. With exclusive branded tables and multi-camera setups, they’re known for their high-quality studios.
Over the years, Playtech has launched several popular live games, such as the Quantum and Age of the Gods games. They offer a solid live casino experience, known for side bets and multiple views.
The live casino vertical is part of a much bigger company that also offers slots, bingo, and sports betting.
Pragmatic Play started its live casino vertical in 2019, and they have a studio based in Bucharest. They have multiple classic live games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, along with game shows such as Mega Wheel and Sweet Bonanza Candyland.
All the Pragmatic Play tables are fast-loading and mobile-friendly. And, the studio set-ups always look great. As for the game interface, it’s simple and intuitive, without too many bells and whistles.
While the live dealer vertical is growing in popularity, Pragmatic Play is still best known for its innovative slot machines.
Authentic Gaming was founded in 2015 to focus on a niche within live roulette. Their speciality is roulette, streamed directly from a land-based casino, instead of from a studio. This gives you more of a real-world feel and an authentic casino experience.
They have since launched studio-based roulette as well. And now they offer auto-roulette, classic roulette, and special branded formats.
LeoVegas was the company that originally founded Authentic Gaming, but they have since been acquired by Light & Wonder. This is a company that creates slot machines, but Authentic Gaming still stays focused on roulette.
Ezugi launched in 2012, and in 2018, they were acquired by Evolution. This game studio offers a wide range of live games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, and Asian styled games like Andar Bahar and Teen Patti. In addition, they have some lottery-style games and keno.
It’s especially in Asian and Latin American markets that Ezugi are popular. The streams are reliable, and the table layout is easy to use.
No other game types than live dealer games are available from Ezugi, as their sole focus is on their live studio.
BeterLive was launched in 2021 as the live casino vertical of Beter. This studio offers blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and a few game show-style titles.
While playing, you’ll notice the clean studio design and smooth interface. The games focus on speed and simplicity, and less on dealer interactions.
There are no other game verticals offered by BeterLive, as all the games in their portfolio are variations of live dealer titles.
BetGamesTV was founded in 2012, and its studio is located in Lithuania. Instead of classic table games like blackjack, roulette and baccarat, they focus on fixed-odds live games.
Their games include titles like Lucky 5 (lottery), Dice Duel, and Wheel of Fortune. The aim isn’t to beat the dealer but to place odds-based bets on different outcomes. This makes BetGames feel closer to betting than typical casino games.
This company has chosen to place all their attention on their live casino vertical and does not offer any other game types.
Absolute Live Gaming (ALG) launched in 2020 and focuses on live roulette and blackjack. It offers both studio-based tables and real-wheel streams from land-based casinos.
You’ll find European, American, and Auto Roulette, as well as some classic blackjack variants. The design is basic but functional, and they’re known for low-frills live games with good uptime.
ALG offers no other casino game types besides its portfolio of live dealer games.
Bombay Live is a luxury-focused live casino brand. They launched in 2020 and offer blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. All games are streamed from premium studio environments, designed to give you a VIP feeling.
The tables come with high betting limits and polished dealer presentation. Bombay Live targets players looking for exclusivity and private table experiences. This live studio is part of the Bombay Group, which also runs land-based casinos.
Bombay Live focuses entirely on live games and doesn’t provide slots or other verticals.
Lucky Streak started in 2014 and offers blackjack, baccarat, and roulette with live dealers. Their games are known for simple layouts and mid-range betting limits.
You can expect well-lit studios and interactive chat features. Games run smoothly on desktop and mobile.
Lucky Streak focuses on live tables, so they are not offering any RNG titles.
Live casino games rely on high-quality streaming technology and purpose-built studio infrastructure. Games are usually filmed using multiple HD cameras that capture different angles. This ensures that you can see both wide shots of the whole table and close-ups of cards or wheels.
Most studios use green screens and have advanced lighting. The tables and the equipment needed for the games, like roulette wheels or cards, are the same as in land-based casinos. This creates a realistic environment. Some providers also stream from real physical casinos.
Each game station includes RFID sensors or card scanners to track results and display them on your screen in real time. The stream adjusts the video quality based on your internet speed.
Dealers use in-ear monitors and screen prompts to interact with players through chat. The studio is connected to a game control unit, which encodes and transmits data to the casino platform. This setup ensures fair gameplay and allows you to interact with live dealers as if you were in a physical casino.
Live casino game mechanics combine traditional rules with digital interfaces. When you join a table, you place your bets using on-screen chips and menus. The dealer manages the game, dealing cards, spinning the wheel, or rolling the dice, just like in a land-based casino.
Cameras and sensors capture each move, and the system recognises and records the results. The outcome is then processed and shown on your screen.
In blackjack, for example, the dealer draws real cards while you decide to hit or stand using buttons. In roulette, a camera zooms in on the wheel while software tracks the winning number. Timers control betting rounds to keep the game moving.
Most games include on-screen stats, history, and side bet options. The mechanics are designed to mirror the real casino experience while using secure, regulated systems to ensure fairness and accuracy.
The only places RNGs are found are in speciality games, like game shows. There, you’ll often find a mix of real-life games and RNG features. For example, in Lightning Roulette, the main part of the game is played in real life, but an RNG is used to place multipliers on certain numbers. Monopoly Live is another example, where you’ll find a real-life lucky wheel and digital bonus rounds that use RNGs to generate results.
In live casino games, the RTP (Return to Player) tells you how much you can expect to win back over time, while the house edge shows the casino’s built-in advantage. In other words, RTP and house edge are the same, just seen from either the player’s or the casino’s perspective.
RTP and house edge values are based on standard rules and optimal play. Blackjack usually offers the highest RTP, while games like roulette and game shows have a higher house edge. The fact that you’re playing live dealer games instead of RNG games won’t affect your chances of winning. Only the rules of the game and your strategy or skill will determine your long-term winning chances.
Here’s an overview of the typical RTP and house edge in the most popular live dealer games:
| Game Type | Typical RTP | House Edge |
| Blackjack | 99.50% | 0.50% |
| Baccarat (Banker) | 98.94% | 1.06% |
| Roulette (European) | 97.30% | 2.70% |
| Craps (Pass Line) | 98.60% | 1.41% |
| Casino Hold’em | 97.84% | 2.16% |
| Game Shows | 95–96% | 4–5% |
| Lightning Roulette | ~97.10% | ~2.90% |
| Dice Games | Varies (95–98%) | 2–5% |
Responsible gambling is essential when playing live casino games or any form of online gambling. Especially when playing live games, keep in mind that their immersive format and continuous streaming can lead to longer sessions and increased spending. Therefore, always set clear limits on time and money before you start playing, and avoid chasing losses or playing under emotional stress.
Many operators provide tools like deposit limits, session reminders, and self-exclusion options. To help manage your gambling habits, make sure you use the tools available to you. Never forget that gambling should be viewed as entertainment, not a way to make money.
If you find it difficult to stop gambling or feel it’s affecting other areas of life, seek help through support services or local helplines. In Ireland, resources like GambleAware.ie offer confidential advice and assistance.
Live casino games offer real-time gambling, created to mirror a land-based casino experience. You interact with professional dealers, follow physical game actions, and place bets through a digital interface. The most popular games include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker, with many variants and side bets available. Game show titles and speciality dice games are also widely played. The games are streamed from studios or land-based venues, using multi-camera setups and technology that captures each result.
While live dealer games offer transparency, social interaction, and immersive visuals, they also come with slower gameplay and offer no demo options. Internet speed and seat availability can also affect your session and experience.
Still, for many players, the combination of real dealers and online convenience makes live games a preferred choice. Multiple providers now offer 24/7 streaming, ensuring that you can access a wide selection of games with different limits, layouts, and features, whenever you feel like playing.
Eve Luneborg – Live Casino Specialist at LiveCasino.ie
Eve Luneborg has been part of the online casino industry since 2014, when she moved to the sunny shores of Malta to pursue her passion for gaming.