Live Poker

Thanks to the rise in popularity of live casino gaming, a new wave of fast-paced live poker variants have hit top casinos, where you go head-to-head with the dealer, rather than other players. So, if you’re looking to experience the quickfire action only found at the live tables, be sure to keep reading our guide to the best live poker games.

Best Live Poker Casinos

Below, we’ve highlighted some of the best live poker casinos where you can enjoy a fantastic selection of games and some great bonuses. Simply choose your favourite and click the respective link to get straight to the heart of the action.

2
Platin Casino
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Casino Highlights
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18+ New Players Only. Minimum deposit: $20 (or currency equivalent). Welcome Bonus: 100% up to €500 plus 200 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza. Free spins are awarded over four consecutive days. Maximum bonus €500. 40x wagering. Bonuses are active for 7 days. Full terms apply. BeGambleAware.org.
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LuckyCircus
Welcome Bonus Matched Deposit Bonus: 100% up to $1,500 Plus 150 free spins
Casino Highlights
  • Four deposit bonuses
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18+ only. New players eligible. 100% matched bonus up to $1,500 + 150 free spins on select slots. Fair wagering requirements apply. Full T&Cs apply. Play responsibly.
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Revolution Casino
Welcome Bonus 150% up to €1,500 + 200 bonus spins Exclusive bonus
Casino Highlights
  • Minimum qualifying deposit: €20
  • Up to 200 bonus slot spins
  • Spins have 40x wagering
18+. New players only. Minimum deposit €20. First deposit bonus spins are added as a set of 20 per day for 10 days – amounting to 200 bonus spins in total. The wagering requirements are 35 times the initial amount of the deposit and bonus received. The wagering requirements of winnings from free spins are x40. Full terms apply. Always gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.
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Roobet Casino
Welcome Bonus 20% daily cashback on losses for the first 7 days after sign-up Claim up to $200 Back Daily
Casino Highlights
  • Minimum qualifying deposit: $5
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  • Validity period: 7 days
18+. New players only. Minimum deposit of $5. Only slot gameplay counts towards the calculation. Capped at $200 daily. 20% of all net losses on eligible slot games during your first 7 (seven) days. Full terms and conditions apply. BeGambleAware.org.
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BetandPlay
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Casino Highlights
  • Minimum Qualifying Deposit: €20
  • Wagering Requirements: 30x
  • Validity Period: 7 days to complete the wagering
18+. New players only. Minimum qualifying deposit of €20 (or equivalent). Bonus funds are subject to a 30x wagering requirement (deposit amount). Validity period of 7 days applies. Accepted currencies: EUR, USD, BTC, ETH, DOGE, and USDT. Full terms and conditions apply.

What Exactly Is Live Poker?

Terminology can be rather ambiguous at times, which can lead to potential confusion. The term live poker is a prime example as it can be taken to mean either player versus player action in a live environment or, alternatively, the collection of games where players go head-to-head with a dealer in a live casino setting. For the purposes of this guide though, we’ll be covering the latter option.

Essentially, you can find a wide range of live poker games in the live casino section of any top casino. These are often variants of popular games, which streamline the gameplay to allow more hands per hour but still follow similar rulesets to games such as Texas Hold’em. The key difference though is that you’ll be playing against the dealer for a chance to win fixed odds payouts.

The Rules of Live Poker

Given the range of live poker variants, you’ll need to be aware of their respective rulesets before playing as there are subtle differences when it comes to your betting and playing options. Thankfully though, most games utilise a standard poker hand ranking system so as long as you understand the basics you’ll be well-equipped to take on the dealer.

In games such as live 3-card poker, you must place a mandatory Ante bet before the cards are dealt. After examining the cards, you can then choose to either make a Play bet, which must be equal to your Ante, or fold. If you choose to continue, the dealer must have at least ‘queen high’ to qualify and if that’s the case it’s simply a matter of comparing the hands as per traditional poker rankings to determine the winner.

How To Play Live Poker?

Before you get started, you’ll first want to decide which live poker variant you want to play. After choosing your preferred game, it’s simply a matter of navigating to the site’s live casino section, selecting the right table and taking a seat. From that point, you simply select your preferred stake and follow the betting rules throughout each hand. If you win, you’ll instantly receive a fixed odds return based on the game’s betting/payout rules.

Basic Poker Hands

The following table outlines the traditional poker hand ranking system used in most live poker games, from best to worst.

HandExample
Royal flushA, K, Q, J, 10 suited
Straight flush6, 7, 8, 9, 10 suited
Four of a kindJ, J, J, J, 8
Full house10, 10, 10, 7, 7
Flush4, 6, 8, J, K suited
Straight2, 3, 4, 5, 6 any suit
Three of a kind8, 8, 8, 2, Q
Two pair3, 3, 5, 5, 8
PairQ, Q, 2, 5, 6
High cardK, 4, 7, 9, 10

Live Poker Terms

  • Ante: A mandatory bet placed before receiving your cards.
  • Qualify: The minimum ranking hand required to continue playing.
  • Play Bet: A bet placed to compare hands to determine the winner.
  • Side Bet: An optional bet you place for a chance to win a fixed odds return.

Given how popular poker has become in recent years, it’s hardly a surprise that the term no longer refers to one specific game. Instead, it now relates to multiple live variants that players can freely enjoy from the comfort of their own homes. As such, we’ve briefly outlined some of the most popular live poker games below that are commonly available at most casinos.

Why Should You Play Poker Online at a Live Casino?

Choosing to play poker at any of the best live casinos rather than at a land-based site provides you with plenty of fantastic benefits. Not only is there a wide array of great variants that are instantly accessible but you’ll also be in the best position to earn rewarding online casino bonuses and offers. Most variants also offer a selection of side bet options, which you can utilise to improve your potential returns – some games even have progressive jackpots that can net you a life-changing payout!

How Do I Play Live Dealer Poker Online?

Nowadays, playing live dealer poker couldn’t be easier. All you need to do to get started is select an online casino that has a catalogue of live dealer games, select your preferred live poker table and take a seat. In most cases, you won’t even need to wait for a seat to open up as most live poker games are played head-to-head against the dealer, which means an unlimited number of players can play simultaneously. You simply select your preferred stake and follow the betting rules of your chosen variant in an attempt to beat the house.

Is It Possible to Play Live Poker on a Phone?

Technology has always been the driving force behind the growth of the online casino market, and considering how the industry must adapt to the latest demands it should come as no surprise that you can just as easily play live poker on the smaller screen.

There are hundreds of mobile casinos that now offer the same fantastic selection of games on both smartphone and tablet, meaning you can play whenever and wherever you have a stable internet connection. All of the games are fully optimised for mobile play, with intuitive UIs allowing you to follow the action with a few taps or swipes of your device’s screen.

What Are The Differences Between Live Poker and Online Poker?

Once again, certain terminology presents itself to cause potential confusion. Here, although live poker and online poker may seem like two ways of saying the same thing, there are several key differences to be aware of, which we’ve outlined in the table below.

slotsia Live Poker
  • Player vs. dealer gameplay
  • Unlimited number of seats
  • Available at most online live casinos
  • Streamed in real-time HD visuals
  • Side bet options and progressive jackpots
slotsia Online Poker
  • Player vs. player gameplay
  • Limited number of seats per table
  • Only available at dedicated poker sites
  • Often a digitised UI and display
  • Cash games, tournament play and sit and gos

Top Live Poker Game Developers

One of the key factors behind the rising popularity of live casino titles such as poker is that certain game developers have committed to delivering cutting-edge games that even the most discerning players can enjoy. Industry specialist Evolution has long been the industry’s frontrunner, but many other studios have begun to throw their hat into the ring as of late, including the following:

  • Evolution
  • Pragmatic Play
  • Ezugi
  • Microgaming
  • Playtech
  • Vivogaming

Frequently Asked Questions

Live poker has many different aspects to consider – below are some common questions and answers.

No, all live poker games must undergo a rigorous testing process before release to meet fair play standards and strict regulatory requirements. Furthermore, all of the live dealers must pass a strict training regime before becoming eligible to host any live poker games.

Yes, that’s the ultimate objective of each hand. Depending on your chosen variant, to beat the dealer you must have a higher-ranked hand at the end of the round. If successful, you’ll receive a fixed odds return along with any additional winnings from side bets you placed before the start of the hand.

Like any other online casino game, it’s possible to win money playing live poker. Your primary goal is to beat the dealer in a heads-up scenario to earn a payout, whilst you can also place optional side bets to increase your payout potential.