Live Casino Guide: Tables, Game Types and Key Terms

Live casino is the category of casino table games hosted by a real dealer and shown to players through a live video stream, with bets placed through an on-screen interface.

This page is X33's overview of the category: what sets it apart, the main game families and the terms you will meet. It does not recommend any operator. X33 publishes educational content only; we do not operate games or take bets.

Live casino and software table games

Table games are offered online in two basic forms. In software (RNG) versions the cards, wheel or dice are simulated and a random number generator decides each result; in live dealer versions the result comes from physical equipment handled by a person. Both are games of chance with a built-in house edge: the live format changes how a game is presented and paced, not the edge.

Main game types

• Baccarat: a card game in which you bet on whether the Player hand or the Banker hand will finish closer to nine, or on a tie.
• Blackjack: a card game in which players try to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21.
• Roulette: a ball is spun on a numbered wheel, and bets are placed on where it will land.
• Dragon Tiger: a simple two-card game in which one card is dealt to Dragon and one to Tiger, and the higher card wins.
• Sic Bo: a dice game played with three dice, with bets on totals and combinations.

Every game type, and often every table, has its own detailed rules and payouts.

Table limits

Each live table sets a minimum and maximum stake, often different for each bet type on the table. Limits vary from table to table, so check them before you join. Limits affect how much you can stake; they do not change a game's odds.

Key terms at a glance

• Dealer: the person who hosts the table and runs each round.
• Betting window: the timed period in which bets can be placed; once it closes, no more bets are accepted for that round.
• House edge: the built-in long-run advantage the game holds on each type of bet. It differs between games and between bets within the same game.
• Side bet: an optional extra bet alongside the main game, usually with its own payout and a different house edge.
• Commission: a fee some games take from certain winning bets, as set out in that table's rules.
• Shoe: the box holding several decks of cards in card games such as baccarat and blackjack.
• Results history: the on-screen record of past rounds at the table.

Past results do not predict the next round

Many live tables show a history of recent results, such as the roadmaps used at baccarat tables. A streak or pattern in that history does not reliably predict the next result, and it never makes an outcome "due". In games dealt from a shoe, the cards already used do slightly change the exact odds of what remains, but a pattern of past wins and losses is not a signal to bet on.

Operators and fairness

Live casino games are provided by operators and game studios. X33 does not review, rate or recommend operators, and this page makes no claim about the fairness, licensing or reliability of any platform. Read a platform's terms and the rules of each table before playing, and check whether online gambling is legal where you live.

Playing responsibly

Live casino rounds follow one another quickly, and every game carries a house edge, so losses over time are expected. Set a budget and a time limit before you start, stop when you reach them, and never try to win back losses. Our responsible gambling guide covers practical limits, warning signs and where to get help in Malaysia.