What are live casino games?
Live casino games are online casino games in which a real dealer streams from a studio and handles physical equipment in real time. Players watch the deal and place bets through a digital interface.
What Are Live Casino Games?
Live casino games (also called live dealer games) are online casino games in which a real dealer streams from a professional studio and handles physical equipment in real time. You watch the deal on video and place bets through a digital interface. The cards, wheel or dice are real, so much of the game is visible as it happens.
Seeing a deal on camera is useful context, but it is not by itself a guarantee of fairness. Regulated operators are subject to licensing requirements and, where applicable, independent testing and certification of the systems involved. The practical step for players is to verify the operator's provincial registration, read the specific game's published rules, and check whether the operator publishes testing or certification information.
This page is a hub. Each game has its own guide with rules, worked examples, odds and the assumptions behind the numbers. Start with the comparison below, then follow the link for the game you want to play.
Live Casino Games Comparison
Each figure below refers to a specific bet under stated assumptions. House edge is a long-run theoretical figure, not a session forecast. Actual games vary in their rules and paytables — always read the table you are playing.
| Game | Specific bet | House edge | Assumed rules | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Blackjack | Optimal basic strategy | ~0.40% | Favourable rules; depends on decks, S17/H17, payouts, doubling and splitting | Blackjack guide |
| Live Baccarat | Banker bet | 1.06% | Standard eight-deck; 5% commission on Banker wins; 8:1 Tie | Baccarat guide |
| Lightning Baccarat | Banker bet | Varies | Multiplier mechanics and a fee change the return; check the specific version | Lightning Baccarat |
| Live Roulette | Even-money outside bets | 2.70% | European single-zero wheel; American double-zero is 5.26% | Roulette guide |
| Live Craps | Don't Pass line | 1.36% | Standard rules; other craps bets have different edges | Craps guide |
| Live Sic Bo | Big / Small | 2.78% | Standard three-dice rules; other bets differ | Sic Bo guide |
📘 Reading the numbers
House edge is the casino's theoretical long-run advantage on a bet. Theoretical RTP is the inverse: the long-run return to players. Neither predicts a session. A low-house-edge bet still loses over time on average; it loses more slowly.
A figure without its assumptions is not very useful. Blackjack, for example, is often quoted at around 0.4% — but that depends on the table's rules and on the player actually following basic strategy. The blackjack guide explains this in detail.
Popular Live Casino Games
Short descriptions and links to the detailed guides. Availability of any specific game depends on the operator and your province.
Live Blackjack
Play against the dealer with real cards and a live croupier. Rules vary by table — number of decks, dealer stands or hits on soft 17, blackjack payout, doubling and splitting — and the house edge depends on those rules.
~0.40% under favourable rulesBlackjack guide →
Live Baccarat
Two hands, fixed drawing rules, three main bets. The Banker bet has the lowest house edge of the main bets under standard rules. Variants change the pace and presentation, and some change the payouts.
Banker: 1.06% standard rulesBaccarat guide →
Lightning Baccarat
A baccarat variant with random multipliers and an added fee on each bet. The multiplier mechanics and fee change the mathematical return, so standard baccarat figures do not apply. Check the specific version's rules and paytable.
House edge: varies by versionLightning Baccarat →
Live Roulette
European and American wheels are both common. European single-zero roulette has a 2.70% edge on outside bets; American double-zero is 5.26%. Other bet types have different edges.
European: 2.70%Roulette guide →
Live Craps
The dice table with a live stickperson. Craps has a wide range of bets with very different house edges. The Don't Pass line is among the lower-edge options; many proposition bets are much higher.
Don't Pass: 1.36%Craps guide →
Live Sic Bo
Three dice, many bet types. Big/Small pays even money with a 2.78% edge under standard rules; other bets vary widely. Check the table's paytable before betting.
Big / Small: 2.78%Sic Bo guide →
Live Game Shows
Formats such as Dream Catcher and Monopoly Live. These combine live presentation with bonus mechanics, and their mathematical return varies by game and version. Treat them as entertainment-first products and read the rules.
House edge: variesGame shows guide →
What Live Dealer Games Offer
Live dealer games differ from RNG-based online games in a few practical ways. Both can be regulated and both can be tested; the choice is mostly about experience and pace, not about one being inherently trustworthy and the other not.
🎥
Visible deal
You can watch the cards, wheel or dice as the hand plays out, rather than seeing only the result.
💬
Dealer interaction
Where the table supports chat, you can interact with the dealer and other players.
⏱️
Slower pace
Live tables typically deal more slowly than RNG games, which can make playtime and bankroll easier to manage.
📱
Device support
Most operators support desktop, tablet and smartphone, though some features may be limited on smaller screens.
RNG-based online games are typically faster and often have lower minimum bets. Neither format changes the underlying house edge on a given bet — that comes from the rules and payouts, not from how the cards are produced.
Regulation in Canada
Online gambling regulation in Canada is provincial, not national. Different provinces take different approaches, so it is worth being specific.
Ontario
Ontario operates a regulated market for private online casino operators. Operators must be registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and conduct business with iGaming Ontario (iGO). Online casinos with an Ontario gaming license can only serve players in Ontario.
Alberta
In Alberta, operators must be registered with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC) and conduct business with Alberta iGaming. An online casino in Alberta can only server players in Alberta.
Other provinces and territories
Other Canadian provinces have a single government run gaming operator. Online casinos licensed in another province such as Ontario or Alberta cannot serve players outside of those provinces. To see which casino operators are available in your province, please visit Licensed Casinos Canada.
What to verify before you play
- The operator's provincial registration and the regulator's public registry entry.
- The specific games currently offered, with their published table limits and rules.
- The payment methods and support options the operator actually provides to your province.
- The current terms for any bonus or promotion.
🔎 On fairness
Regulated live dealer games are subject to regulatory requirements and, where applicable, independent testing and certification of the systems involved. That is a meaningful safeguard, but it is not a personal guarantee about any individual session. Verify the operator, the studio and the specific game rather than relying on a blanket claim.
Live Dealer Providers
Live games are produced by dedicated studios and distributed through casino operators. The developer and the operator are different parties: the studio makes the game, and the operator is who holds your account and who is regulated in your province.
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Evolution
One of the largest live-dealer suppliers, with blackjack, roulette, baccarat and game-show formats across multiple regulated markets.
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Playtech
Operates live-dealer studios and supplies table games to operators in multiple regulated markets.
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Other studios
Additional live-dealer suppliers serve specific operators and regions. Availability depends on the operator and the province.
Note: NetEnt, previously listed as a separate live-dealer provider on this page, has been part of Evolution since 2020. Provider catalogues and operator availability change; verify current offerings with the operator.
How to Get Started
Step-by-step
- Confirm the operator is registered in your province. Check the regulator's public registry.
- Create and verify your account. Complete any identity checks the operator requires.
- Deposit using a method the operator supports for your province. Options vary by operator.
- Open the live lobby and check the table's rules, limits and payouts before joining.
- Place your bet and watch the hand play out.
Sources, Assumptions and Review Policy
This page is maintained by Ace Goldwyn at LiveCasinoGames.ca. House-edge figures on this page are theoretical values for the specific bets and rules stated in the comparison table. They come from standard published game mathematics and are consistent with industry references. Regulatory information is drawn from the primary sources below.
Assumptions behind the figures
- Blackjack (~0.40%): requires favourable table rules and optimal basic strategy. Not a universal figure; see the blackjack guide.
- Baccarat Banker (1.06%): standard eight-deck game, 5% commission on Banker wins, 8:1 Tie payout.
- Roulette European (2.70%): single-zero wheel, even-money outside bets. American double-zero is 5.26%.
- Craps Don't Pass (1.36%): that specific bet. Other craps bets have different edges.
- Sic Bo Big/Small (2.78%): standard three-dice rules. Other bets differ.
- Lightning Baccarat: multiplier mechanics and a fee change the return. No standard figure is quoted.
Primary sources
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) — agco.ca. Ontario gaming regulation and operator registry.
- iGaming Ontario — igamingontario.ca. Ontario regulated market information.
- Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) — aglc.ca. Alberta gaming regulation, including Play Alberta.
- Responsible Gambling Council — responsiblegambling.org.
Reviewed by: Ace Goldwyn, LiveCasinoGames.ca.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What live casino games are available in Canada?
Availability depends on the province and the operator. In provinces with a regulated online market, players can typically find live blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, Sic Bo and game-show formats. Check the operator's registration and current game listings before playing.
Which live casino game has the lowest house edge?
Under favourable rules and optimal basic strategy, live blackjack can have a house edge around 0.4%. That figure depends on the specific table rules and on the player following basic strategy. Baccarat's Banker bet has a 1.06% edge under standard rules with a 5% commission on Banker wins.
Is live dealer gameplay regulated in Canada?
Regulation is provincial. Ontario has a regulated private-operator market overseen by the AGCO and iGO. In Alberta, the AGLC identifies Play Alberta as the province's regulated online gambling website. Always verify the operator's provincial registration before playing.
What equipment do I need for live casino games?
A stable internet connection and a modern device. Most operators support desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphone through the browser, though some features may be limited on certain devices.
What is the minimum bet for live casino games?
Minimum bets vary by table and operator. Check the specific table's published limits before joining.