Game shows are some of the most popular game types you’ll find in Irish live casinos. These games offer a form of online gambling that combines real-time streaming with interactive gameplay. Most live casino game shows are hosted from studios where a live presenter spins a large wheel or runs other casino equipment.
Playing live game show games don’t require any knowledge of casino rules or strategies, so they are mainly suitable for casual players. With a mix of a TV game show feel and casino betting, they offer a different experience from what you get in standard live dealer games.
In this LiveCasino.ie guide, we’ll explore what live game show games are and how you play. We’ll also have a look at some of the most popular game titles and live studios to help you find a game that checks all your boxes.
Game shows are live casino games streamed in real time from a studio, with a host guiding the action. These games combine elements of traditional casino games with formats inspired by TV quizzes and game shows. You can join via your online casino and place bets on the outcomes.
Most live game shows use real physical casino equipment, like spinning wheels or dice, but random number generators (RNGs) are also part of the games. The RNG works behind the scenes to ensure fair and unpredictable results in parts of the game where physical equipment isn’t used. Bonus rounds and digital mini-games are typical examples.
Live game shows offer a more relaxed and entertaining experience than standard table games. There are no complex rules or strategies you need to learn in order to succeed.
All games are streamed in high quality, often with interactive features like live chat. Since entertainment is a large part of the game experience, the hosts are generally very attentive to the chat, keeping the conversations going.
There are many game show games available at live casinos, as new versions keep on popping up. It’s always exciting to try a new version, but still, there are some that players keep on coming back to. Here, we’ll have a closer look at the top 5 most popular game show games, found at Irish live casinos.
Crazy Time is a live game show from Evolution. It’s based on a large spinning wheel with 54 pegs. You place your bets on one of four bonus games or the numbers 1, 2, 5, or 10. The result is determined by where the pointer lands when the wheel stops. If it lands on a number, payouts are based on that number. If it lands on a bonus game, it takes you to a special round with bigger prizes.
The four bonus games are Coin Flip, Cash Hunt, Pachinko, and Crazy Time. These rounds offer chances to win multipliers, which can give you as much as 10,000x your bet. There’s also a Top Slot above the main wheel that adds random multipliers to selected segments before each spin.
The RTP in Crazy Time ranges from 94.41% to 96.08%, depending on what you choose to bet on. As for betting limits, it starts as low as €0.10. The maximum the game will allow you to win is €500,000.
Monopoly Live is a live game show from Evolution, made in partnership with Hasbro — the original creator of the popular board game. It’s based on a big wheel with 54 segments. You can bet on the numbers 1, 2, 5, or 10, or the bonus games, 2 Rolls and 4 Rolls. A host spins the wheel, and you win if it stops on a segment you’ve placed a bet on.
If the wheel lands on 2 Rolls or 4 Rolls and you’ve placed a bet on it, you enter the bonus game. This part takes place on a 3D Monopoly board with Mr Monopoly walking around. Two or four dice rolls are used, depending on the trigger. Each square on the board has a prize or multiplier, and landing on houses or hotels can increase your payout.
The RTP ranges from 91.30% to 96.23%, depending on your bet. You can bet from €0.10, and the highest possible win is capped at €500,000 per game round.
Sweet Bonanza Candyland is a live game show from Pragmatic Play. It’s played on a big wheel with 54 segments, and you can bet on numbers 1, 2, 5, or 10, or on one of the bonus games: Candy Drop, Sweet Spins, and Bubble Surprise. There’s also a Sugar Bomb feature that adds a multiplier and triggers a respin.
Number segments pay standard odds, while bonus games offer higher wins. In Candy Drop, a virtual candy ball drops through a wall, collecting multipliers. Sweet Spins gives 10 free spins on a version of the Sweet Bonanza slot with tumbling symbols and multiplier bombs. Bubble Surprise gives instant multipliers or sends you to another bonus round.
The RTP ranges from about 91.80% to 96.95%, depending on what you choose to bet on. You can bet from €0.20, and the maximum win is 20,000x your stake.
Dream Catcher is a live casino game from Evolution featuring a large Money Wheel divided into 54 segments. You place bets on numbers 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 or 40. When the host spins the wheel, it may land on one of these numbers. If it does, you win that payout. For example, the number 40 pays 40x your stake.
Two segments are marked 2x and 7x. If the wheel lands on one of these, all bets stay in place and the wheel spins again. If it then lands on a number, that number wins and is multiplied by 2 or 7. Multipliers appearing consecutively will stack, offering the potential for a huge win.
The overall RTP of Dream Catcher is about 96.58%, though it varies depending on the number you bet on. Betting on 1 gives you an RTP of 95.24%, while a bet on 40 offers only 89.88% RTP.
Bets typically start at €0.10, rising to as much as €5,000 per spin, making it optimal for both casual players and high rollers. Payouts can reach up to 20,000x your bet.
Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt is a game show created by Evolution, based on the popular character Gonzo, from one of NetEnt’s most popular slot machines. When playing, you bet on one or more of six coloured stones: brown (1x), orange (2x), purple (4x), green (8x), blue (20x), or red (65x). 70 stones are placed on a big wall, and you can choose up to 20 picks. Your total stake for each game round equals your bet multiplied by the number of picks you choose.
Before any stones are picked, Prize Drops may occur. These add extra bonuses to random stones, so the win is multiplied if the stone is selected. Up to 10 Prize Drops can occur per game round.
The theoretical RTP in Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt is 96.56%. But this varies depending on the stones you place your bets on. The RTP is 96.35% when betting on purple, while it increases to 96.56% for bets on green. If you’re lucky, you can win up to 20,000x your bet, but since the volatility is high, you should also prepare for a rather lengthy losing streak, once in a while. Bet sizes typically start at €0.10 per pick and may go up to around €1,000 in total, although this can also be dependent on the casino you play at.
Behind each game show, there is a game studio. These are the companies that develop and produce the games and handle everything related to software and streaming technology.
In the realm of live dealer games, there are many different game studios and creators, but if we look specifically at game shows, there are really just three that stand out. Let’s have a closer look at them.
Evolution began offering live game show titles in 2017, and the first game to hit the market was Dream Catcher. This interactive, entertainment-focused format was completely new, and it didn’t take long for players to embrace the concept. Following the success of this first game, Evolution expanded its portfolio to include several other live game shows. To this day, they are at the forefront when it comes to creating unique features and gameplay mechanics.
Game shows by Evolution typically involve a live host guiding players through a game of chance. Most titles use large money wheels, ball-drawing machines, or interactive screens. Many titles incorporate bonus rounds and multipliers, which raise the excitement with the potential of a huge win.
Some notable Evolution live game shows include:
Pragmatic Play entered the live game show market in 2020 with Mega Wheel, a simplified money wheel game offering multipliers up to 500x. This launch marked the beginning of their expansion into live casino games. Up until this point, Pragmatic Play had focused more on creating slot machines and offering sports betting.
Since then, Pragmatic Play has launched several other live game shows. Some are based on their most popular slot machines, like Sweet Bonanza Candyland, while others draw inspiration from popular board games, like Snakes & Ladders. What’s for sure is that each game comes with unique mechanics and bonus features.
Here are some of Pragmatic Play’s most popular game shows:
Playtech began offering live game show titles in 2018. They kicked it off with the launch of Spin A Win, a money wheel game featuring multipliers and side bets. Since then, they’ve expanded their portfolio to include several other live game shows, each with something new to offer in the way of mechanics and bonuses.
There’s always a live host guiding you through Playtech’s live game shows. They are the ones spinning a wheel or managing other traditional casino equipment. In addition, they lead the game-show-style entertainment, interacting with the players. In the various game titles, you can expect bonus rounds, multipliers, and interactive features.
Some notable Playtech live game shows:
Playing live game shows is easy, and here, we’ll take you through all the steps you need to complete. Don’t worry, it’s not a lengthy process. You can get through it in just a couple of minutes.
The first thing you need to do is select a casino. Here at LiveCasino.ie, we have listed several casinos that are safe and trusted among Irish players. Simply click the ‘Get Bonus’ button of the casino you select, and you’ll be redirected straight to the casino’s website.
At the casino, register as a new player. The sign-up process is simple, as you’ll just have to fill in the registration form. It will ask for basic information, such as your name, date of birth, gender, address, mobile number, and email. In addition, you’ll have to create a password and confirm that you agree with the casino’s terms and conditions.
Once registered and logged into your account, you need to head to the deposit page and make your first deposit. Start by selecting the payment method you prefer, and enter the required banking details along with the amount you want to deposit. After this, simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete the payment. If you choose to pay using cryptocurrency, you simply copy the casino’s crypto address from the digital currency you prefer, and then complete the transaction from your crypto wallet.
Your funds will be credited to your casino account immediately if you used a fiat payment, and within a couple of minutes if you used crypto. Once the funds have arrived, you can go to the live casino section and pick a game. Most casino operators have chosen to collect all game shows in one category, making it easy to see which choices you have. To select a game, simply click it, and it will load in your browser.
Once you’re in the game, start by going to the game information and reading the rules. This way, you’ll get a quick overview of how the game works. Then, adjust your bet and any other settings before joining. Once your bet is placed, you need to wait for the betting window to close and the game round to begin.
Whenever the result of a game round goes in your favour, your winnings are automatically added to your casino balance. You can play for as long as you want, and when you’re done, you can cash out your winnings. Go to the withdrawal page, found within the casino’s cashier, and select a withdrawal method. Enter all the required banking details and the amount you wish to withdraw. If it’s your first withdrawal, the casino will ask you to complete a KYC verification before approving the cashout.
If you want to increase your chances to win when playing game show games, you should make sure you use every benefit at your disposal. Even if the games are in and of themselves games of chance, it’s still possible to enhance your long-term chance of success if you play smart.
In this section, we’ll offer our best tips to ensure that you can get as much as possible from your gambling session.
Many online casinos offer their Irish players casino bonuses, such as match reload bonuses. However, when playing live games, it is important to check the terms and conditions of the bonus before using it. Some casinos limit which games count towards wagering requirements, and game shows may have lower contribution rates than slot machines.
Using a casino bonus can sometimes double your balance, giving you more money to play with. A bigger balance means more chances to hit a big win, so definitely take part in such offers when you get them. But, also keep in mind that any bonuses you get come with rules dictating how much you can bet, and possibly how much you can win. So make sure you read all terms to ensure you stay compliant.
Bankroll management is important when playing game show games or any form of gambling. It means setting a budget for how much money you are willing to spend. Most importantly, you also need to stick to this budget. Divide your bankroll into smaller bets to avoid losing everything in just a couple of game rounds.
Good bankroll management helps you play responsibly and enjoy the games longer within a budget you can afford. This can also help you reduce stress and helps you make smarter decisions when betting. Keeping track of your wins and losses is also a good idea, so you can adjust your bankroll strategy based on your results.
Choosing the right game show game is important if you’re looking to make the most profit from your gambling session. Look at the RTP and payout structure to find games that suit your strategy and budget. Some games have higher volatility with bigger but less frequent wins, while others offer smaller, more regular payouts.
Consider how much you want to bet and how much risk you’re willing to take. For example, if you’re risk-averse, it makes no sense to pick a game that can only pay out big if you place high and risky bets. Then it’s better to go for low volatility, where you can potentially win big from a small bet. Of course, also check if you enjoy the game’s format and features, like bonus rounds or multipliers.
While playing live game show games, along with all other forms of real money gambling, it’s imperative that you play responsibly. You should always ensure that you play within your means, and only for money you are willing to lose. This will ensure that you can enjoy real money games in a healthy and sustainable way, without risking your financial or mental wellbeing.
Most online casinos offer tools to help you play within limits you’re comfortable with. Use tools like deposit, session, wager and loss limits to prevent harmful gambling. If you feel your gambling is getting out of control, activate a cooling-off period or self-exclude from the casino – either for a short period or permanently.
Here are some tips to help you gamble safely and responsibly:
Live casino game shows offer a unique alternative to traditional table games. By combining real-time gambling with entertaining formats inspired by TV shows, you get a casino experience like no other. The combination of live hosts, real casino equipment, and RNG technology ensures games are both fair and exciting.
Providers like Evolution, Pragmatic Play, and Playtech offer a wide range of themes and game mechanics in their game show portfolios. Expect bonus features and game rounds that boost the winning potential to levels not available in traditional live dealer games. Try new games and find the ones that suit your bankroll and gambling style the best.
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.