Live casino: how a real-dealer table works and what decides your odds
By Kristaps Birznieks · updated October 2026
A live casino table is a studio with a real dealer, a real wheel or a real shoe of cards, and several cameras. You place bets on a screen overlay, a timer closes the betting window, and the dealer runs the round. The result comes from physical equipment, not a random number generator, yet the maths behind every bet is exactly the same as on a land-based table. That maths is printed in the table's information panel, and reading it takes two minutes. This page explains what to look for. We do not list providers, table limits or which tables any particular operator carries: those change and are set by the operator.
Our buttons open an offer chosen by a partner network, which may not be Klondaika. Before you play anywhere, check the operator in the licence register of your country — in Latvia, the VID list of licensed organisers.
Roulette: one zero, two zeros, and the French rule
The house edge on roulette comes from the zero. On a European wheel there are 37 pockets, a straight-up number pays 35:1, and every standard bet carries a 2.70% house edge. On an American wheel the extra double zero makes 38 pockets and the edge rises to 5.26%; the five-number bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) is worse still at 7.89%. French roulette uses a single-zero wheel and, on even-money bets, the La Partage rule: when zero lands, half of your red/black, odd/even or high/low stake comes back. That halves the edge on those bets to 1.35%.
| Wheel and bet | House edge | Why |
|---|---|---|
| European, any standard bet | 2.70% | One zero, 37 pockets |
| French, even-money with La Partage | 1.35% | Half the stake back on zero |
| American, standard bet | 5.26% | Zero and double zero |
| American, five-number bet | 7.89% | Pays less than its true odds |
Blackjack: the rules are the edge
Blackjack is the table where small print matters most. A natural that pays 3:2 versus one that pays 6:5 is the single biggest difference: 6:5 adds roughly 1.4 percentage points to the house edge. A dealer who hits soft 17 costs the player around 0.2 points more than one who stands. With favourable rules and basic strategy the edge can be around 0.5%; with poor rules or guesswork it is several times higher. Insurance pays 2:1 and is a poor bet for anyone not counting cards. Many live tables have a fixed number of seats; when they are full, bet behind lets you back a seated player's hand without making decisions yourself.
Baccarat: commission and the tie
Baccarat has three main bets. Player pays 1:1 with a house edge of about 1.24%. Banker pays 1:1 minus a 5% commission, for an edge of about 1.06%. Tie usually pays 8:1 and carries an edge of about 14.4% — a bet that looks generous and is the worst on the table. No-commission variants pay Banker in full except on a winning six, usually paid at half; that raises the Banker edge to roughly 1.46%.
Etiquette and practical rules
- The betting window closes on a timer; a bet not confirmed in time is not placed.
- Chat is moderated: dealers greet players but cannot advise on bets, and abusive messages get a player muted.
- If your connection drops mid-round, the table rules decide. At blackjack a default action may be applied; at roulette bets placed before the close are settled normally.
- Note the round ID before you contact support about a result. The operator can replay the round.
For RNG versions of these games see Table games; for slots see Slots. If you also bet on sport, the same logic of edge and margin is explained in Sports betting. How live games count toward bonus wagering is covered in Wagering requirements.