Live Casino: Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat with a Real Dealer
The live casino is where a real dealer runs the game on camera and you bet through the screen. For a sports bettor it is the casino experience closest to in-play betting: everything happens in real time, decisions have a time limit and the table, not you, sets the pace. This page explains the rules and maths of the main tables. We don't quote details of the casino lobby linked to the Tipsport brand — they change and you can check them at the operator.
How a live table works
The dealer sits in a studio or on a casino floor, the cards or wheel are physical and the picture is streamed to your device. You get a betting window, typically a few seconds, after which bets close and the round plays out. Results are recorded and settled automatically. Connection quality matters: if the picture freezes during the window, the round goes ahead without you.
House edge on the main tables
| Game | House edge | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|
| European roulette (single zero) | 2.70% | fixed for standard bets — 1 pocket in 37 |
| Double-zero roulette | 5.26% | two zeros almost double the edge |
| Baccarat, banker bet | about 1.06% | with 5% commission on wins |
| Baccarat, player bet | about 1.24% | no commission |
| Baccarat, tie at 8:1 | about 14.4% | tempting odds, high price |
| Blackjack | well under 1% | with basic strategy; exact figure depends on table rules |
These are mathematical properties of the game rules, not data about any particular table. Game shows and side bets usually carry a higher edge — the table's info panel lists it.
Roulette: simple rules, fixed price
European roulette has 37 pockets including the zero. A bet on red pays even money but wins in only 18 cases out of 37. The difference is the 2.70% house edge, and no combination of bets changes it. Systems such as doubling after a loss (the martingale) only change the shape of results — many small wins and occasionally a very large loss, often larger than the table limit allows you to recover.
Blackjack: where your decisions count
In blackjack you decide whether to hit, stand, double or split. Basic strategy — a chart of optimal decisions for every hand — cuts the house edge to a minimum. Watch the table rules: a blackjack paying 3:2 is better for the player than 6:5, and the number of decks and the dealer's rules also move the numbers. Side bets such as pairs carry a much higher house edge.
Baccarat: fast and decision-free
In baccarat you bet on banker, player or tie and the cards are dealt to fixed rules. The banker bet has the lowest edge even after commission; the tie at 8:1 looks attractive but is one of the most expensive bets in the casino. Speed variants shorten each round, which means more rounds per hour — and more house edge paid in the same time.
Live casino and your budget
Live tables have minimum stakes that are usually higher than on slots. With €50 and a €1 minimum you have 50 rounds at full stake; at €2 only 25. Decide the number of rounds and the stake in advance and leave the table when the budget is gone. As with in-play betting, the fast pace invites impulsive decisions. Tables without a dealer are covered on the table games page.