Live casino

How live casino works

A live table is a real game streamed from a studio. A dealer shuffles real cards or spins a real wheel, a camera streams it to your phone, and you bet through buttons laid over the video. Bets close when the dealer says so, the round plays out, and winnings are credited automatically. Most studios run around the clock.

The main types are:

• Blackjack: seats at a table, or “infinite” versions where any number of players play the same hand.
• Roulette: European single-zero tables, plus versions with random multipliers on numbers.
• Baccarat: fast player-or-banker rounds.
• Game shows: wheels and bonus games such as Crazy Time, Monopoly Live and Funky Time, hosted like TV shows.

Who supplies it

Evolution is the largest live casino studio and supplies most live tables at South African sites, including Betway, YesPlay, Easybet and 1Win. Others include Ezugi (owned by Evolution) and Pragmatic Play Live. Some bookmakers also stream BetGames lottery-style draws alongside their live casino.

RTP and the house edge

Live games keep the same rules as their table versions, so the house edge depends on the game: single-zero roulette has an edge of about 2.7%, and basic-strategy blackjack is typically lower. Game shows usually have a bigger edge, and their bonus rounds make them very swingy. Side bets in blackjack and baccarat almost always carry a higher edge than the main bet.

Live casino and bonuses

Most welcome bonuses are built for slots. At many South African sites, live casino counts for only a small share of wagering, or not at all; for example, Virgin Bet’s terms weight roulette and baccarat at 2%. Check the contribution table before you claim, and see our live casinos list for sites with live-specific offers.

Playing live tables sensibly

Live games feel social and slow, but bet sizes are often higher than on slots. Pick a table minimum that fits your budget, avoid side bets if you want the lowest edge, and set a session limit. For card-game rules, see our table games page. The NRGP helpline is 0800 006 008.