What Is Live Casino? How Live Dealer Games Work

Live casino replaces the random number generator with a real table, a real dealer and a video stream. Here is what happens between the shuffle and your balance.

The studio behind the screen

A live casino is a filming studio, not a casino floor. Dealers work at physical tables in a broadcast-grade set, with multiple cameras mounted above and around each table. A control room cuts between camera angles depending on the game phase – a wide shot for betting, a close-up for the deal and an overhead view for the wheel.

Studios operate continuously, with tables for baccarat, roulette, blackjack, sic bo, dragon tiger and numerous localised games. Each table streams in several resolutions so that a player on a slow mobile connection can still follow the action.

From table to screen: how the result reaches you

Physical results are captured two ways. Some tables use optical character recognition, where cameras read the cards or the wheel and a system converts the image into a digital result. Others use embedded RFID chips in the cards themselves, which transmit their suit and value to the system the moment they are dealt.

Both routes feed a game engine that updates the interface, resolves your bet and records the round in the results history. The dealer is genuinely dealing; the software is simply watching and scoring.

Betting windows and round structure

Each round follows a fixed rhythm: a betting window of roughly 8 to 20 seconds, a 'no more bets' lock, the physical result, the settlement and a short pause before the next window opens. Requests made after the lock are void and refunded.

This structure creates a deliberate pace that is far slower than a slot machine – typically 40 to 70 rounds an hour. For players who like control over how fast money moves, that is a feature rather than a limitation.

Frequently asked questions