Live casino UK: Best live online casinos

Live casino sites offer some of the most unique casino experiences in the UK market, which explains why it is one of the fastest-growing sectors for online casinos.

Best live casinos

Our betting experts have picked out the best live casino for live poker, roulette, blackjack, baccarat and game shows.

Of course, the right site depends on which live game you prefer to play. What appeals to a live baccarat player may not suit a blackjack fan, for example.

Best live casinos at a glance

Best for live poker - Grosvenor: Daily live poker tournament, 40% rakeback, dedicated live poker app

Best for live baccarat - The Vic: Evolution gaming streams, live streams of casino floor

Best for live blackjack - Sky Vegas: Sky-brand blackjack, 100+ live casino tables, live casino available on excellent Sky Vegas app.

Best for live roulette - Betfair: Exclusive live roulette titles, wide selection of live casino games

Best for live game shows - Ladbrokes: Huge library of live game shows, popular titles Crazy Time & Monopoly Live available, casino bonus offers for live casino

When ranking casino sites with live games, we consider factors such as the variety of tables and software for each named game on offer, the quality of the livestream, and how the welcome offer treats live casino play specifically.

All five of our recommended live casinos feature multiple games, but we have highlighted one casino per game, rather than a single best overall. These recommendations will change regularly as new online casinos hit the market, so check back to see which operators are still top of the list.

Best live casino for poker - Grosvenor

Grosvenor Casino is the online arm of the UK land-based casino chain, and they have put their know-how to good use, also shining as a live online casino.

Roulette and blackjack tables are streamed directly from real Grosvenor venues in Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Nottingham and Sheffield, not a studio set.

But where they really shine is with their live poker package. Grosvenor's venues have anchored UK live poker for years, and they host regular poker tournaments, from in-person events like the UK Poker League to daily tournaments online featuring large cash prizes.

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Live poker players are also entitled to up to 40 per cent rakeback. Grosvenor’s commitment to poker is further evidenced by a dedicated poker app, though it works better on iOS than Android.

New customers get 100 free spins and a 100 per cent deposit match up to £40 on a £20 deposit, with the deposit bonus and free spins carrying 10x wagering requirements. Live poker play only counts as a contribution of 10% towards the wagering requirements.

Pros

• Live tables streamed from six real UK venues
• Dedicated live poker app
• 15-minute fast withdrawals via bank transfer and PayPal

Cons

• Android app rating is weak at 2.6 stars from over 1,200 reviews
• Non-game-show live tables count for only 10% towards bonus wagering

Best live casino for Baccarat - The Vic

The Vic has three venues in the UK and uses them effectively to bolster its live casino offering.

The Vic’s live casino tables are streamed from those real venues, meaning players can join tables alongside real casino guests.

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With a real-world reputation for high-stakes baccarat rooms, The Vic’s live suite runs on Evolution Gaming with no live stream of baccarat from The Vic’s venues.

The Vic offer a 100 per cent deposit bonus up to £40, but live casino games contribute 10 per cent towards the welcome bonus wagering. As such, it is best to view The Vic’s sign-up reward as a slots-first casino bonus offer.

Pros

• Genuine live tables from a real casino floors
• Large selection of live baccarat tables
• 30-day bonus window, longer than most rivals

Cons

• Live casino play contributes 10 per cent towards the welcome bonus wagering requirement
• No iOS app, Android only, with a small review sample

Best for live blackjack - Sky Vegas

Sky Vegas has a dedicated Sky Vegas Live section featuring over 100+ live tables.

Where the operator really excels is with its blackjack offering with exclusive Sky Vegas-branded live blackjack tables helping it stand out from the crowd online.

There’s also Sky Vegas-branded live baccarat, roulette and poker, meaning casino players get a unique experience whatever game they want to play.

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Sky Vegas is home to live casino games from all the top providers, including Evolution Gaming, Playtech Live and Pragmatic Play Live.

The standard welcome offer is again slot-focused, with 50 no-deposit free spins plus 200 more after a £10 deposit and wager. However, there is a live casino bonus, with bettors needing to stake £10 to earn a £10 live casino bonus.

Pros

• Exclusive Sky Vegas-branded live blackjack tables
• Strongly rated iOS and Android casino apps for play on the move
• Live casino welcome offer available

Cons

• Live casino library (100+ tables) is smaller than some rival online live casinos
• Very few casino bonuses

Best for live roulette - Betfair

Betfair’s exclusive Betfair Studio roulette variants make the operator the clear choice for our live roulette pick.

Auto Mega Roulette Live and Pinball Roulette Live specifically are huge draws, with both games unavailable at rival live casinos.

Betfair provides 80+ live roulette tables from Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play Live, plus exclusive Betfair Studio tables.

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The Betfair welcome offer pairs 50 no-deposit free spins with 100 more after a £10 deposit, none of it wagering-locked. It should be noted Betfair are not a PayPal casino with no e-wallet deposits accepted as part of the welcome offer.

Beyond the welcome offer, there’s Prize Pinball, a free daily game with featuring various prizes, including a £1,000 cash jackpot.

It is interesting to note the difference in mobile experience between Android and Apple users. The Android app is rated 4.3 stars, but the iOS app sits at just 2.5 stars with reviewers reporting crashes.

Pros

• Exclusive roulette variants not available at most live casinos
• No wagering requirements on the welcome offer
• Instant bank transfer withdrawals

Cons

• Weak iOS app rating (2.5 stars) with reported crashes
• E-wallet deposits excluded from the welcome bonus

Best casino for live game shows - Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes' live casino is the biggest in the UK market. In fact, the 600+ live table figure is three times the size of the next-largest recommended live casino in this comparison.

As such, it is no surprise that there is a great variety of live game shows on Ladbrokes’ casino.

A dedicated game shows section showcases all the popular titles, such as Monopoly Live, Crazy Time and Dream Catcher.

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There is also a dedicated live casino promotions section offering bonuses on live roulette and blackjack, as well as a free-to-play trivia show featuring seven cash prizes.

Pros

• Largest live casino library in the UK at 600+ tables
• Dedicated live casino promotions
• One of the UK’s best payout casino sites

Cons

• No instant withdrawal option, even on debit cards
• Large library could be easier to navigate

UK live casinos compared

Best live casino software providers

There are three big players when it comes to the best live casino software providers. Most providers also produce slot games.

Evolution Gaming

The largest live casino studio group in the world, which explains why it supplies most of the branded game shows such as Crazy Time and Monopoly Live. Other offerings include roulette, blackjack and baccarat tables. Evolution Gaming is present at all five sites on this page.

Playtech Live

A long-running studio focused on the UK. It has a reputation for strong baccarat coverage and blackjack variants, which are used by Sky Vegas and Ladbrokes.

Pragmatic Play Live

A newer entrant with a fast-growing game show catalogue. It is also used across most of the sites on this page as a second or third supplier, highlighting its growing popularity.

Beyond studios that produce games and live tables, certain online casino sites frequently tie into their physical locations.

Grosvenor and The Vic take advantage of in-house venue feeds, streaming some tables directly from their own UK land-based casino floors - rather than a dedicated studio. This added authenticity is a nice and unique touch.

Types of live casino games

• Live roulette - Featuring a real wheel and ball, the results are read by a camera and sensor rather than a random number generator. Variants include European, speed and studio-exclusive versions, like Betfair's Auto Mega Roulette Live.
• Live blackjack - Streamed live and showcasing a human dealer using a real shoe. Side bets and multi-hand tables are common. Sky Vegas' branded tables are a good example of an operator building its own take on the format
• Live baccarat - A popular game thanks to its simple three-outcome bet. Live baccarat is traditionally associated with higher-stakes rooms.
• Live game shows - A newer format blending a live host with a large studio wheel or board. Examples include Crazy Time or Monopoly Live.

How we rank live casino sites

1. Live table variety and software providers - We look at how many tables are offered, from how many studios, and whether a site runs any exclusive or branded variants.
2. Stream quality and stakes range - We test how consistent the picture and audio quality is, plus how accessible games are for casual players based on the minimum stakes.
3. Welcome offer treatment of live casino - We consider whether live casino play counts towards bonus wagering, since several brands reduce - or even zero out - that contribution
4. Ongoing promotions for existing players - We will consider whether there are ongoing offers such as live-casino-specific cashback, tournaments and loyalty mechanics, not just slots-focused daily games and free prize wheels.
5. Deposits and withdrawals - We analyse the accepted payment methods, checking to see if they are PayPal, Skrill, PaySafe or pay by mobile casinos. We also check withdrawal speeds by payment type, and the minimum deposit and withdrawal limits. To verify any claims about speed, we make a real withdrawal whenever possible.
6. Mobile experience - We check if a casino has an app, and what the app store ratings are on iOS and Android. We assess the performance of the mobile version of the site if there is no app.
7. Responsible gambling - We confirm what safer gambling tools a casino provides, such as deposit limits, time-outs, reality checks, and self-exclusion lists. On top of that, we consider how well signposted they are.

Are live casino games rigged?

No, live casino games at UKGC-licensed sites are not rigged. Not only are they subject to oversight by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), which leads to random spot checks on both live studio and RNG games, any disputes must be routed through the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS).

Unlike slots, live casino games use real dealers, real cards and a real wheel, which are all monitored by multiple cameras and optical sensors rather than a random number generator deciding the outcome directly.

Further Independent testing verifies that the equipment, shuffle machines, and studio processes are run fairly, with all of it audited by third-party agencies, including GLI and eCOGRA. For extra peace of mind, look for the audit logo in the site footer.

All five sites on this page are UKGC-licensed. If a live casino site can't show its UKGC licence, don't play on it.

Live casino FAQ

What is a live casino?

Live casino features real dealers, real tables, and real equipment live streamed to players in real time, as opposed to RNG-only slots and table games, sometimes described as virtual casino games.

Evolution Gaming, Playtech Live, and Pragmatic Play Live are the biggest studios behind most UK live tables. Casino sites tied to physical casino locations, such as The Vic, will live stream tables from their casinos in the UK.

How do you play live casino games?

First you must register at a UKGC-licensed site. Once you have opened an account, head to the live casino lobby, pick a table within your stake range, and place bets through the on-screen interface while watching the real dealer on stream.

Most sites will let you play in either a demo or watch mode before staking real money on some tables, to allow you to get to grips with their live casino games.

Which platforms offer live blackjack games?

All five recommended live casinos run live blackjack tables. Sky Vegas’ branded exclusive live blackjack tables is the highlight.

It is important to remember that table availability and stake ranges vary by time of day, so it is worth checking the lobby directly for live blackjack games.

Where can you play live baccarat online?

The Vic is the standout choice for baccarat. Other casinos with live baccarat offerings include Grosvenor, Sky Vegas, Betfair and Ladbrokes.

What is Crazy Time?

Crazy Time is an Evolution Gaming live game show built around a large spinning wheel with bonus rounds. It is one of the most popular live casino game shows in the UK.

On this page, Ladbrokes' 600+ table live library gives it the deepest access to game shows like Crazy Time.

How do you play live roulette?

Live roulette works like standard roulette, but instead of RNG and a representation of what number is being produced, it instead shows a live stream of a real wheel and dealer. Players place bets on-screen before the wheel is spun.

Betfair's exclusive studio variants Auto Mega Roulette Live and Pinball Roulette Live are just one example of how live roulette offerings can differ between operators.

What is a live dealer casino?

The terms live dealer casino and live casino actually refer to the same thing - a casino site that has real human dealers running the game from a studio or venue, streamed to players in real time.

This differs from RNG slots and automated table games, where there is no human dealer.

We aim to offer every online gambler and reader of The Standard a safe and fair platform through unbiased reviews and offers from the UK's best online gambling companies.

Gambling can be addictive, always play responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. Gambling sites have a number of tools to assist you to stay in control, including deposit limits and time outs. If you think you have a problem, advice and support is available for you now from BeGambleAware or Gamcare.

Any offers or odds listed in this article are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change. Terms & Conditions apply to all offers.