Best Live Casinos in the UK December, 2024!

Reviews of the Best Live Casino Sites UK

Pub Casino Overview

Pub Casino is one the newest gambling brands in the UK, first opening for business in 2023! Despite what you might expect, the casino quality at this newly-established brand is fantastic. The website runs smoothly, there are plenty of payment options available, and payouts are often made on the same day! 

Live Games at Pub Casino

The live dealer lineup at Pub Casino is varied and covers all of your favourite classic casino games, including blackjack, baccarat, roulette and poker. The games are provided by well-known studios, including Pragmatic Play and Evolution Gaming, so you can trust their quality!

User Experience and Dealer Interaction

Pub Casino’s website ran all of the games we tried without issue, taking us through to the games quickly and setting us up as soon as spots opened at tables. The chat was quiet when we played, but did exactly what it needed to do, and the dealers were attentive when we reached out. 

Pros 

• Experienced gambling brand

• Clean and well-designed website

• Wide variety of live dealer games 

Cons

• Few customer support contact channels

bet365

bet365 is an internationally recognised gambling brand with an iconic website and a fabulous live casino offering. It’s a little smaller than other sites, but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in the quality of the overall gaming experience. You can even claim a live casino-specific welcome bonus!

Live Games at bet365

The live casino at bet365 isn’t the most expansive we’ve seen, specifically regarding the variety of games available. It provides all of our favourites — blackjack, roulette, baccarat and live game shows — but nothing more. However all of these games are provided by top-tier developers, and some are even bet365 originals! So, if your greatest concern is quality over choice, bet365 is perfect. 

User Experience and Dealer Interaction

As we’ve suggested, the actual experience of playing live dealer games at bet365 is seamless, with speedy loading times and no lag on the live streams. All of the dealers we played with were polite and professional, and we were particularly impressed with the range of languages available at bet365.

Pros 

• Well known, international gambling brand

• Live dealer games have a variety of languages

• Fast payouts

Cons

• Smaller game selection

All British Casino

All British is a simple but expansive casino that strives to provide a stylish and comprehensive gambling experience for all who visit! You’ll find a dedicated live casino section alongside thousands of casino games from dozens of top developers and weekly promos to keep your play interesting!

Live Games at All British Casino

All British Casino’s live dealer collection is extensive, with plenty of options for all of your favourite games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker. In particular, it features a wonderful array of game shows! We also loved that it was immediately obvious what each game was, making for simple navigation.

User Experience and Dealer Interaction

The live dealer games at All British are provided by Evolution, Pragmatic Play, and Stakelogic, which are all well-respected and reliable game developers. The dealers we interacted with were all professional, friendly and happy to answer any questions we had throughout the game. The games themselves ran well too, and we didn’t run into any problems with the live streams. 

Pros 

• Attractive, simple site layout

• Regular promotional offers

• Many payment options

Cons

• Could use a better filtering system on the main casino

Jackpot City

Jackpot City Casino is a popular international brand that didn’t find its way to British shores until recently. It hosts an excellent collection of live casino games as well as a modest but varied and high-quality array of regular casino titles. While the site definitely has its weaknesses, the two decades of experience Jackpot City has shone through at every turn, and we know anyone can expect a satisfying experience when playing here.

Live Games at Jackpot City

The game library, of course, features blackjack, roulette, and baccarat among others, including game shows that offer players a nice change of pace. We thought the game sorting could be better, and the site lumped them all together under simple banners, but the games all played well, and we weren’t left wanting for content. 

User Experience and Dealer Interaction

Jackpot City’s library only comes from a handful of developers as a whole, and the live casino features games specifically from Evolution Gaming and OnAir Entertainment. Luckily, these are high-quality software providers; all of the games featured intuitive interfaces that played well on desktop and mobile, and the dealers were all friendly and professional. 

Pros

• Experienced international gambling brand

• Limited but high-quality game library

• Recurring promotional offers

Cons

• Weak customer support system

TalkSPORT Bet

TalkSPORT Bet brings forward a classic online casino experience, featuring a fantastic lineup of games and a welcome bonus that’s fully compatible with its live casino library. We love the wide range of game options, the attached sportsbook, and the excellent quality of customer support. 

Live Games at TalkSPORT Bet

TalkSPORT Bet features all of your favourite games, including baccarat, poker and blackjack, and the live gameshow lineup is nothing to sniff at either. In particular, we were big fans of TalkSPORT Bet’s filtering options, which let you sort through games by type, features, and developer so you can find the perfect title for you. 

User Experience and Dealer Interaction

The games were all provided by top developers including Evolution, Pragmatic Play and OnAir Entertainment, so we weren’t surprised by the standard of quality at TalkSPORT Bet. The dealers were friendly and kept the games moving swiftly, and we didn’t run into any technical errors during play. 

Pros

• Varied live casino library

• Excellent game filtering

• High-quality customer support

Cons

• Very few payment options

How do Live Casinos Work?

Live casinos are founded on the live dealer casino game, a variation of classic casino games that are played with human dealers in a studio through the magic of technology. The dealer is live-streamed to you from a professional studio with a slew of other dealers, and you interact with the game via the game interface and chat with the dealer via a live chat box. When described like this, it might sound a little clunky. However, while live casino games can be a little slower than their virtual counterparts, live dealer games offer a smooth and intuitive experience that brings you closer to the reality of a real, brick-and-mortar casino.

When you click on a live dealer game, you will have to wait for a new game to start, during which you can usually spectate and get an idea of how the game will work. Once you do, you’ll get access to the game interface, and you’ll have a hand dealt to you (provided your game is card-based, roulette and craps will behave identically to their normal versions). Use the game interface to play the game, such as hitting in blackjack or raising the stake in poker, and your dealer will act accordingly. 

Since you’re waiting on the real actions of your dealer as well as the movements of fellow players, playing a live dealer game can be a little slower than classic online casino games. However, if you prioritise the authentic casino experience or prefer to see the shuffling and dealing in real life rather than relying on software to do it, live casino games are a great alternative. They also feel more sociable than the regular games, which can be isolating when you’re playing alone at home.

What Makes A Good Live Casino?

There’s a lot that goes into making a live casino worth your while. We’ve gone through a lot of live casinos in our time, so we’ve compiled a detailed list of what we consider some of the most important factors that make a live casino truly great. 

• Game Variety — Your average player is going to open a new live casino and have one primary concern: the games. Modern players value choice and value over many other factors, and we definitely agree, at least to a point. When judging sites, we emphasise not quality but variety; we want to see many different types of games at live casinos, not just a large number of them. We at least need to see all of the classics, including blackjack, baccarat and roulette, with bonus points for less common games like sic bo, poker and live game shows. 

• Live Dealer Quality — An important factor here that isn’t a concern with regular online casinos is the quality of the dealers. Is their service professional, fast and friendly? This will usually come down to the quality of the game providers and how well they train their croupiers. We want attentive dealers who help the game to run smoothly and provide confidence in their service.

• Streaming Quality — Live dealer games don’t just need a good host but good hosting software. The streams themselves should run smoothly with no lag, and this should preferably extend to peak times! Live dealer games have the potential to hold as many as ten players at once, and the games shouldn’t be slowed down when they’re full. Additionally, the game interface itself needs to be intuitive and lend itself to the play experience.  

• Bonuses and Promotions — Many live casinos are offshoots of larger online casinos, and sometimes just a single tab! Since the service is so much smaller, it can be passed over regarding promotions, so we want to know that the best live casinos are offering bonuses that are compatible with live casino games. This usually comes in the form of a dedicated welcome bonus, but the cream of the crop will also have compatible recurring deals. You can check the T&Cs to see if the bonus you’ve claimed is compatible with live casino games. 

• Security and Licensing — This point is usually a given when it comes to UK casinos, but any live casino you even think about playing at should have the appropriate UKGC licences. While online casinos are legal in the UK, they can only operate lawfully when correctly licensed and regulated. The licence affords you greater agency over your gambling, especially regarding your player rights and payouts. Additionally, websites should all implement a form of encryption security to keep player data safe and away from prying eyes. 

• Payment Options — Speed and variety of payment methods are very important as they let you control the way you transfer money, the safety of it, and how quickly it gets to you. Different payment methods will process withdrawals at different speeds and in different quantities. We believe that a site with a better variety of options is more player-friendly. We’re more concerned with the categories of payment methods and hope to see at least three of the following: debit cards, DBT, e-wallets, prepaid cards and mobile payments. 

• Mobile Compatibility — This is a much more modern concern than others we’ve looked at, but more and more customers are looking to access their online gambling through mobile devices. Nowadays, we expect all online casinos we recommend to have some kind of mobile option, whether it’s an adapted mobile website or a full-blown dedicated casino app. Live casinos in particular need to be handled carefully so you don’t lose functionality of the live-streams. 

Guide to Signing up to a Live Casino

Signing up with modern live casinos has never been easier! Just follow our sign-up link to the page and follow the instructions. In case you want a helping hand or just an idea of how the sign-up process will go, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide:

1. Use our link to reach the sign-up page to get our exclusive welcome bonuses. 

2. Click ‘sign-up’ and register your new account, following the on-screen steps — this will require sensitive information like your date of birth and home address. 

3. Register a new payment method and make your first deposit above the minimum for your welcome bonus. 

4. Claim your welcome bonus — if it isn’t automatically credited to your account, you’ll need to accept your bonus from the promotions tab in your account. 

5. Have fun with your bonus, and try to meet the wagering requirements before the time limit!

What are the Benefits of Playing Live Dealer Games?

There are many reasons you may choose to play live dealer games over regular titles. These both enhance your experience and even your potential payout! Let’s take a closer look at the various benefits you might get while playing live. 

Higher Payback Percentages

Most live dealer games are card and table games, like blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Card games usually involve a degree of skill, and even roulette can be improved with a good understanding of probability and where the best and worst bets are on the table. As a result, live dealer games usually have much higher RTPs, or payout percentages. While it’s a very simplified way to look at it, this essentially means that you’re more likely to win when you play them. (RTP is not guaranteed, and you shouldn’t rely on it when playing at a casino. The house always wins.)

Interact with Other Players

One of the biggest drawbacks of online gambling compared to brick-and-mortar casinos is the removal of the social aspect of the game. Communicating with your dealer and the other players at the table can enhance the experience and ensure you’re having a better time. Well, live dealer games can’t return this to you wholesale, but they’ll get you as close as possible. Using the chat box in the game, you can talk with your dealer as you play, as well as other people at the table, all connected from remote places. 

Slower Pace

Depending on your preferences this point may or may not be a positive, but we know many people will enjoy the slower-paced gameplay you get from live casino games. Regular virtual table games move very quickly, with a computer dealer and no other players to wait on. Live dealer games, however, require you to wait for physical cards to be dealt, and you’ll have to wait for other people at the table to make their moves. Thanks to this, the games are much slower and make for a more relaxed experience. This lets you think a little more about your moves and helps you keep a clearer head in the long run. 

Immersive Gaming Experience

The main reason you might choose to play a live dealer game is that you want an experience closer to what you can expect from a real, land-based casino. Getting to interact with a dealer, having a professional deal your cards and seeing everything play out physically, even if it’s through a screen, brings you further into the experience than anything else will. For this reason alone, we recommend that all online casino players try out a live dealer game at least once, just to see if you like it better. 

Live Casinos Bonuses: What to Look For

The vast majority of live casinos are simply a subsection of a larger online casino. As such, it can be a little frustrating to find casino bonuses that specifically work with live dealer games — frustrating but far from impossible. 

Live casino bonuses are usually welcome bonuses, but more and more, we’re finding that regular recurring casino bonuses are compatible. When you find a live casino bonus, it is most likely to be some kind of deposit match bonus, where you receive bonus funds proportionate to however much you deposit to claim them. With welcome bonuses, this can be super generous, matching at 100% or more. Regular reload bonuses will be closer to 10% or 20%. Other types of bonuses you might find at live casinos include cashback, refer-a-friend deals, free spins no deposit offers and exclusive tournaments.

The main pitfall of live casinos when it comes to bonuses is simply the types of games we prefer to play live — table games. Usually, regardless of whether they’re live or not, table games will be excluded from bonuses simply because of the high RTPs and element of skill. This is why it’s so important to check the terms and conditions when trying to find a good live casino bonus — check which games are compatible before claiming to avoid disappointment.

Live Casino Games

There are live dealer versions of many different casino games nowadays, but the most popular ones will always remain blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. This is in large part due to how easy they are to adapt compared to other options. Roulette in particular is a fantastic fit for the live format as it’s mostly a spectating game, betting on an uncontrolled outcome without any hands. 

While it’s a harder game to adapt to live dealer, poker has also found a decent amount of success in live dealer formats, but usually starring games that are played against the dealer instead of other players. 

The most interesting development that has come from live casinos is a whole new genre of game called ‘live game shows.’ These games put the player in the place of a TV game show contestant, such as Wheel of Fortune or Deal or No Deal. The live dealer hosts that game, and you get to participate in a game that’s unlike any other title online!

Popular live game shows include Dream Catcher and Crazy Time, two examples of classic prize wheel spinning games, and Monopoly Live, which takes the prize wheel and adds an interactive board game element! It’s hard to explain the full appeal of live game shows, so we recommend you get stuck in and try out a few for yourself. 

Live Casino Software Providers: The Tech Behind the Live Casinos

Most online casino don’t create their own games. While the biggest sites may produce original games, this isn’t particularly common, and this is especially true for live dealer games. These live dealer titles require large studios, trained professional dealers and 24/7 maintenance, so it’s only natural that dedicated software developers would handle the difficult bits. 

Each live casino software producer comes with its own style, interface and themes. It’s rare to find a live casino game that isn’t reliable, thanks to how large-scale the product is, but depending on which provider a casino hosts (and you choose to play with), you’ll find a slightly different experience. So we recommend checking out a few different providers at your online casino and seeing which one works the best for you!

The most popular live dealer game producer is far and away Evolution Gaming. While it wasn’t the inventor of live dealer games, it popularised the format and brought it into a sustainable, viable form of casino game, which other studios have been mimicking ever since. The other name you’ll see pop up more than others is Pragmatic Play, a relatively young casino game provider which has found huge success in the decade it’s been operating. 

Here’s a list of some of the best game developers in the industry for you to check out:

• Evolution Gaming 

• Pragmatic Play 

• Playtech 

• OnAir Entertainment

• NetEnt Live

• Ezugi

Mobile Gaming: Live Casinos on the Go

Live casinos are more demanding than regular games in terms of processing power. In the past, the idea of a live casino game being functional on a mobile device was far-fetched, but nowadays, you can access all of your favourite live casino games through dedicated apps and mobile websites!

Mobile adaptations of online casino games have become an important part of the iGaming experience. Customer convenience is king, and people are more likely to play a few games on their mobile devices than sit down for an extended play session. Plus, many people use smartphones and tablets as their primary point of internet access, and a casino that can’t reach them on mobile can’t reach them at all. 

Most dedicated casino apps can support live casino games now, with smooth live streams, interfaces that work well on smaller touchscreens and seamless transitions between mobile and desktop play. 

Security and Licensing at Live Casinos

In the UK, online casinos aren’t legally allowed to operate without the appropriate licencing. The UK licencing body is the UK Gambling Commission, and you can find a site's UKGC licence at the bottom of its website. The UKGC holds casinos accountable when they transgress user rights or try to exploit vulnerable parties.

Thanks to the UKGC licencing, all UK casinos host responsible gambling tools and participate in GAMSTOP. The UKGC even ensures that all of your cashouts will reach you (and if they don’t, the UKGC is who you want to complain to). 

All of the websites we recommend to UK players have full UKGC licencing, which we always verify. We wouldn’t dream of recommending a site without a licence. Additionally, our top casino sites are expected to have encryption security and to keep player data safe. 

Top Tips for Live Casino Players

Not everyone will be familiar with live casinos, or at least you may not have taken the dive for yourself. So we’ve put together some tips to help you get started and make the most of your live casino experience:

Start with Low Stakes

As with any casino game, you should never walk into a game you don’t know making giant wagers. While you’re still getting used to the game, make small wagers to keep your risk low. As you learn and make mistakes, you won’t be losing much in the process, and once you’re more confident, you can ramp up the stakes to something you’re used to. 

Learn the Game Rules

Even before you start having a go, it always pays to read through the rules. Every game comes with a simple description of how it works, either provided by the game itself or the casino you’re playing. If you’re playing a new game, always take the time to ensure you understand the basic rules before taking the plunge. 

Take Advantage of Bonuses

This advice applies to all online casino gaming, but you should make the very most of bonuses wherever they’re available, especially when you’re starting out. Bonuses give you the chance to win real cash without staking a penny of your real money, so when you find a bonus that works with live casino games, don’t hesitate to snatch it up. This is particularly valuable when you’re just starting out, as it takes low stakes down to zero stakes while you’re still getting used to the way these games play. 

Interact with Dealers and Players

Live casino games inject that social factor of land-based casinos back into online gambling. So you should take advantage of that! The chat box isn’t there for decoration; it’s so you can chat with fellow players, and especially the dealer, throughout the game. Communication with your dealer is key to a good experience, and making a few friends while you’re at it is an added perk. 

Responsible Gambling

Live casinos in the UK must provide you with a range of responsible gambling tools by law, and we highly encourage you to use them whenever you can, regardless of whether you think you have a healthy relationship with gambling. Deposit, loss and time limits are the keys to responsible spending and reality checks can help you keep yourself in line. And, of course, time-outs and self-exclusion, including GAMSTOP, are there to help, and you should reach for them the second you think you want them. 

Always strive to gamble responsibly and reach out to a helpline if you ever need an ear or some advice. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are live dealers real people or AI-generated?

Live dealers are trained, professional humans who perform from within a studio. They aren’t AI.

Are live dealer casinos safe?

Yes. Live casinos with all the appropriate UKGC licencing are perfectly safe to play at in terms of legal and privacy concerns. 

What are the best live casino bonuses?

You can find our top picks for the best live casino bonuses at the top of this article, but our very favourites are from William Hill and bet365.

Are live casinos legal in the UK?

As long as a live casino holds the appropriate UKGC licence, it is operating legally.

Can I play live casino games on my mobile device?

Live casino games can also be accessed through your mobile device! You can even find dedicated mobile apps specifically geared towards live casino gaming. 

How do live dealers interact with players?

Live dealers cannot see players but can interact with them by combining their ability to communicate directly through the live stream and by reading comments in the chat box. When playing, it’s important that you make good use of the chat for dealer communication.