How live casino games work, from studio to screen
Every round follows the same four steps.
- A dealer runs a real table in a studio
Evolution and Pragmatic Play Live are two studios that produce live game shows. Evolution states that their version of Crazy Time is released and filmed continuously.
- You bet during a timed window
A timer over the video displays the time remaining to accept bets. Once the timer runs out, bets are locked in for the current round.
- The dealer plays the round
Once the outcome is determined, it is captured and shown to the player.
- Wins go to your casino balance
Winning bets are paid in the currency of your account, and the next betting window opens.
Many players share the same table at once. Evolution's Infinite Blackjack, for example, has unlimited seats, where a normal blackjack table has seven.
Live casino games and their house edge
The house edge is the average amount the house keeps from a players total bets.
| Game and bet | House edge | Per ₦1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Baccarat, banker (5% commission) | 1.06% | ₦10.60 |
| Baccarat, player | 1.24% | ₦12.40 |
| European roulette, any standard bet | 2.70% | ₦27 |
| Crazy Time (RTP 96.08%) | 3.92% | ₦39.20 |
| Baccarat, tie at 8 to 1 | 14.36% | ₦143.60 |
The baccarat figures are the standard edges for an eight-deck shoe. Roulette's 2.70% is our arithmetic: one green zero among 37 pockets. The Crazy Time figure is from Evolution's own game page, which also puts the chance of a bonus round at 1 in 6 per spin.
Blackjack is missing from the table because its edge depends on you. Playing each hand by basic strategy keeps it among the lowest in the casino, and every mistake raises it.
Why the speed of live casino games matters
The same bet, played faster, costs more per hour.
- Speed Baccarat: 27-second rounds, about 133 an hour₦1,413 an hour
- Standard baccarat: 48-second rounds, 75 an hour₦795 an hour
Average cost of ₦1,000 on banker every round, at the 1.06% edge. The round times come from Evolution's Speed Baccarat page. A faster table keeps the odds of each bet the same and simply fits more bets into an evening.
Multipliers, side bets and fees in live games
The big numbers come with conditions.
- Lightning Roulette
As per Evolution, 1 to 5 Lucky Numbers get struck each round and pay 50x/500x on a straight up bet.
- Lightning Baccarat
Evolution places 2x/8x multipliers on Lightning Cards. A 20% Lightning Fee is charged on the player's bet.
- Crazy Time
There are 4 bonus games with the top bonus multiplier being 20,000x. The game has an overall RTP of 96.08%.
- Blackjack side bets
Infinite Blackjack offers four: Any Pair, 21+3, Hot 3 and Bust It. Each has its own paytable and edge.
A 20% fee on every bet is the clearest example: the multipliers are paid for somewhere. Open the game's help screen and read the paytable before you bet on a feature.
Live casino games from Nigeria
Two things to check before you sit down.
Not every table opens here. At Thrill, Evolution tables such as Crazy Time and Monopoly Live showed as "Unavailable in your region" from Nigeria, while its Pragmatic Play tables opened. Table limits can also sit in another currency: at 1xBet, Crazy Time runs 1 to 5,000 EUR even on a naira balance.
We compare 9 live casino lobbies in our article, and provide information on which games count less toward wagering requirements. Our wagering requirements article provides additional information.
What the law says
What the law saysSince a Supreme Court ruling of 22 November 2024, each state licenses gambling within its borders. Crypto is legal and regulated by the SEC. A casino licensed abroad is not licensed by any Nigerian state, and our reviews say which kind each casino is.
Check before you play
Check before you playLagos law makes promoting unlicensed gaming an offence, and the Lagos authority publishes a list of operators it calls illegal; none of them appear on this site. Check that playing is lawful where you live. Our guide is crypto gambling legal in Nigeria explains the rules.
Live casino games: common questions
Live dealer games involve a professional dealer who manages a game in a studio and transmits the game to you online. You place bets via the Internet during a specified period. The dealer then collects your bets and gives you rewards, if any, to your online account.
Yes, the online transactions of bets and rewards are in the currency of your casino account. You can withdraw your reward, if any, per the online casino’s conditions.
You can minimize the house edge by placing the right kinds of bets in games. The house edge for baccarat is 1.06% for the banker bets, while it is 14.36% for the tie bet.
The online casino does not need to cheat. The rules of the games ensure that the house wins.
Live tables never close, so set your own end
A 24/7 stream has no last round.
Set a limit on the time and money you wish to spend while at the online casino. Leave if you feel that you’re spending too much time and money at the online casino.
Always take a break from gambling if you think that gambling is negatively affecting your life.
Gamble Alert: +234 916 295 7989 (24/7), toll-free +234 705 889 0073. MANI: 0809 111 6264.
Free, confidential helplines. You must be 18 or older to gamble.