Live casino games are played with a real dealer, real cards or a real wheel, streamed to your screen in real time. This page explains the common formats, how the rules of each game work and what to check before you join a table at The Hippodrome Online Casino.
Common live casino variants
Live casino is a category rather than a single game, so the formats differ. The common variants are:
- live blackjack, where you try to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21
- live roulette, usually played on a European wheel with 37 pockets
- live baccarat, where you bet on the player, the banker or a tie
- live poker variants, where you play against the dealer or the other players
- game shows, where a wheel or a board sets the outcome and the bonus rounds vary from show to show
Which of these tables The Hippodrome Online Casino offers, and the limits on each, is worth checking before you play. Look at the stake limits and the rules shown for each table before you sit down.
How the main live games work
In live blackjack, each player is dealt two cards and the dealer shows one of theirs. You can then hit, stand, double or split, depending on the rules of the table. Rules differ between tables, for example whether the dealer must stand or draw on a soft 17, and what a blackjack pays. Read the table rules before you bet.
In live roulette, you place bets on a single number, a colour, an odd or even group, or a section of the wheel. A straight-up bet on one number pays 35 to 1. The house edge comes from the green zero pocket, which is why the odds are never equal.
In live baccarat, the hand closest to nine wins. Cards from ten upwards count as zero, and the banker's bet often carries a commission. Each round is independent of the last, whatever the scoreboard shows.
In every live game, the outcome of each round is random. The dealer deals the cards or spins the wheel, but nobody can predict the result.
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Live dealer or RNG version
In an RNG version, the outcome is produced by a random number generator inside the software. Rounds are usually quicker and you play at your own pace. In a live dealer version, a real dealer and real equipment are streamed to you. Rounds take longer, and you can see the cards or the wheel as they are used.
Game shows are a separate live format. They are built around a wheel, a board or a multiplier with bonus rounds. The paytable and the bonus features differ from one show to the next, so read the game's information before you stake.
A live version is not better or safer than the RNG version of the same game. The odds are set by the rules of each game, and the format only changes the pace and the experience.
Before you play
- Learn the rules and the payouts of the table before you place a bet.
- Check the minimum and maximum stake shown for the table.
- Set a budget before you start, and only use money you can afford to lose.
- Keep to your budget and stop when it runs out. The safer gambling page explains the tools you can use to control your play.
Once you have checked the rules, you can visit The Hippodrome Online Casino.
