Live game shows are the latest craze among online casino fans as they bring a whole new dimension to gambling over the internet. They have an entirely different dynamic compared to conventional live games like roulette and blackjack, boasting greater entertainment value, more interactivity, and significantly larger payouts.
Hosted by charming live presenters, some of them borrow their themes from televised entertainment shows, while others were adapted from popular board games. Evolution Gaming pioneered this distinct genre with the 2017 release of Dream Catcher and other major software studios like Pragmatic Play and Playtech quickly followed suit.
There is a unique ‘soft’ gambling quality to them but you should not let this fool you. Similarly to casino mainstays like roulette, live dealer game shows are statistically tilted in favor of the house. In today’s article, we shall focus on several popular live game shows, examine their paytables, and see how they compare to traditional table games in terms of theoretical return.
Dream Catcher – The Prototype of Live Dealer Game Shows
Evolution Gaming was the first software studio to venture into the game-show realm with the 2017 release of Dream Catcher. In this groundbreaking game, a charismatic live presenter spins a giant wheel divided into 54 segments separated by pins.
Out of those, 52 segments contain numbers 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40, with each number yielding its corresponding payout (eg. a $10 on number 10 pays ten times the wager, or $100). The other two segments contain 2x and 7x multipliers.
| Dream Catcher Summary | |
|---|---|
| Release Date | February 2017 |
| Software Studio | Evolution Gaming |
| Game Type | Wheel-Based Game Show |
| Betting Limits | $0.10 to $2,500 |
| Maximum Prize | $500,000.00 |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop, iOS/Android Smartphones, Tablets |
| RTP Range | Up to 96.58% |
If the wheel stops on a segment containing a number, players who have bet on said number win the corresponding payout.
If it stops on a multiplier, all wagers remain in action and the presenter respins the wheel. Wins resulting on the next spin are boosted by the respective multiplier. If another multiplier hits again, the wheel is respun and subsequent wins are multiplied by the cumulative value of the multipliers.
Player X places a $10 wager on number 10. The first spin produces a 7x multiplier, the second one results in another 7x multiplier, and number 10 hits on the third spin. Player X wins $10 x 10 x 7 x 7 = $4,900.
Simple, right? The tricky part is that the numbers producing the highest payouts have fewer stops on the wheel, which reduces your chances of landing a bigger win. Compare the winning probabilities below and you will see what we mean.
| Dream Catcher Wheel Segments, Probabilities, and Theoretical Return | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Number of Wheel Segments | Probability of Winning | Theoretical Return to Player | House Edges |
| 1 | 23 segments | 42.59% | 95.34% | 4.66% |
| 2 | 15 segments | 27.77% | 95.51% | 4.49% |
| 5 | 7 segments | 12.96% | 91.24% | 8.76% |
| 10 | 4 segments | 7.41% | 96.58% | 3.42% |
| 20 | 2 segments | 3.70% | 92.74% | 7.26% |
| 40 | 1 segment | 1.85% | 90.81% | 9.19% |
As you can see, number 10 is your best bet as it yields the lowest house edge and produces the highest returns over the long haul. Despite this, it still has lower winning odds compared to Evolution Gaming’s live single-zero roulette (97.30%) and auto roulette with la partage (98.65%).
Monopoly Live
Evolution Gaming partnered with Hasbro, the creator of the original Monopoly, and the result is this enticing and highly interactive rendition of the massively popular board game.
It plays similarly to Dream Catcher as players have the option to place wagers on wheel sectors containing numbers 1, 2, 5, and 10 for the chance to pocket 1x, 2x, 5x, or 10x their bets.
| Monopoly Live Summary | |
|---|---|
| Release Date | April 2019 |
| Software Studio | Evolution Gaming |
| Game Type | Wheel-Based Game Show |
| Betting Limits | $0.10 to $2,500 |
| Maximum Prize | $500,000.00 |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop, iOS/Android Smartphones, Tablets |
| RTP Range | Up to 96.23% |
Also featured on the 54-segment wheel are sectors for 2 rolls (3 stops), 4 rolls (1 stop), and Chance (2 stops). When the wheel stops on a chance segment, an animated Rich Uncle Pennybags with his trademark top hat draws a chance card and awards random multipliers or cash prizes.
In case of a multiplier, bets remain active, the wheel is respun, and the winners have their payouts boosted by the multiplier value.
Players who place wagers on 4 rolls or 2 rolls get to participate in an exciting bonus game that involves rolling a pair of dice. The bonus round features familiar elements from the original board game, including Go to Jail, Passing GO, Income Tax, Super Tax, and Community Chest.
According to Evolution Gaming, the average return to player ranges from 91.30% to 96.23%, which is even lower than that in Dream Catcher. Check the table below to compare the house edges and theoretical returns for the different bets in Monopoly Live.
| Monopoly Live Wheel Segments, Probabilities, and Theoretical Return | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Number of Wheel Segments | Probability of Hitting | Theoretical Return | House Edge |
| 1 | 22 segments | 40.74% | 92.88% | 7.12% |
| 2 | 15 segments | 27.77% | 96.23% | 3.77% |
| 5 | 7 segments | 12.96% | 91.30% | 8.70% |
| 10 | 4 segments | 7.41% | 96.02% | 3.98% |
| 2 Rolls | 3 segments | 5.55% | 93.90% | 6.10% |
| 4 Rolls | 1 segment | 1.85% | 93.67% | 6.33% |
| Chance | 2 segments | 3.70% | N/A | N/A |
Looking at the table above, we see players have the best winning chances when betting on number 1, in which case they earn even money. Ironically, this bet carries the second-highest house edge offering a return under 93% due to the payout reduction.
This is worse than many online slots where the theoretical return percentages rarely drop below 94%. Your best bet in Monopoly Live seems to be number 2 as the long-term RTP reaches 96.23%.
Lightning Dice
Lightning Dice is yet another hot property from Evolution Gaming that unfolds in a stylish Art Deco environment. Part of the Lightning series, the game show plays with three dice and provides players with multiple betting opportunities, allowing them to win up to 1,000x their bets.
The live presenter pulls a lever to release the three dice and each time she does this, lightning strikes one to four random numbers on the betting grid. The struck numbers then receive random multipliers, boosting the profits of winning players who have placed wagers on them.
| Lightning Dice Summary | |
|---|---|
| Release Date | June 2019 |
| Software Studio | Evolution Gaming |
| Game Type | Dice game show with a live presenter |
| Betting Limits | $0.20 to $250 |
| Maximum Prize | $250,000.00 |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop, iOS/Android Smartphones, Tablets |
| RTP Range | Up to 96.21% |
Below are the payouts for the different winning bets with and without the multipliers.
| Lightning Dice Bet Types and Payouts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet Type | Wins On | Payout w/o Multiplier | Max. Payout with Multiplier |
| Low | 3 through 9 | 1 to 1 | 9 to 1 |
| High | 12 through 18 | 1 to 1 | 9 to 1 |
| Any Triple | All dice must show the same number (eg. 2/2/2) | 24 to 1 | 249 to 1 |
| Any Double | Two dice must show the same number (eg. 2/2/5) | 1 to 1 | 3 to 1 |
| Total 3 or 18 | 3 or 18 | 149 to 1 | 999 to 1 |
| Total 4 or 17 | 4 or 17 | 49 to 1 | 499 to 1 |
| Total 5 or 16 | 5 or 16 | 24 to 1 | 249 to 1 |
| Total 6 or 15 | 6 or 15 | 14 to 1 | 99 to 1 |
| Total 7 or 14 | 7 or 14 | 9 to 1 | 99 to 1 |
| Total 8 or 13 | 8 or 13 | 6 to 1 | 49 to 1 |
| Total 9 or 12 | 9 or 12 | 5 to 1 | 49 to 1 |
| Total 10 or 11 | 10 or 11 | 4 to 1 | 49 to 1 |
Where return to player is concerned, the percentages are bet-specific but the maximum you can squeeze out of this game is 96.57% for any triple. The theoretical return can drop all the way down to 96.03% for a house edge of 3.97%.
This is significantly higher compared to the Pass/Come and Don’t Pass/Don’t Come wagers in craps where the house edges stand at 1.41% and 1.36%, respectively. These wagers can altogether lose their house edges if you take or lay odds on them. The only conclusion we can draw looking at these numbers is that Evolution’s Live Craps is way better than Lightning Dice in terms of winning probabilities.
Crazy Time
June 2020 saw Evolution Gaming delivering yet another enticing wheel-based game akin to the hugely popular Dream Catcher and Monopoly Live. Crazy Time also plays on a 54-segment wheel but offers four bespoke bonus mini-games that further add to the level of interactivity.
The game is entirely based on chance and all you must do to win is predict which sector the wheel will stop on after it comes to rest. You can bet on numbers 1, 2, 5, and 10 for the chance to win 1x, 2x, 5x, and 10x your wager. The alternative is to back one of the four bonus games, Crazy Time, Pachinko, Cash Hunt, or Coin Flip.
| Crazy Time Summary | |
|---|---|
| Release Date | June 2020 |
| Software Studio | Evolution Gaming |
| Game Type | Wheel-based game show |
| Betting Limits | $0.10 to $100 |
| Maximum Prize | Up to $500,000 |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop, iOS/Android Smartphones, Tablets |
| RTP Range | 94.33% to 96.08% |
The two-reel mini slot above the wheel activates on each spin to randomly award a multiplier on one of the betting spots. The payouts, probabilities, and returns vary across the board, depending on your wager.
| Crazy Time Wheel Segments, Probabilities, and Theoretical Return | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Number of Wheel Segments | Probability of Hitting | Theoretical Return | House Edges |
| 1 | 21 segments | 38.88% | 96.08% | 3.92% |
| 2 | 13 segments | 24.07% | 95.95% | 4.05% |
| 5 | 7 segments | 12.96% | 95.78% | 4.22% |
| 10 | 4 segments | 7.41% | 95.73% | 4.27% |
| Coin Flip | 4 segments | 7.41% | 95.70% | 4.30% |
| Crazy Time | 1 segment | 1.85% | 94.41% | 5.59% |
| Pachinko | 2 segments | 3.70% | 94.33% | 5.67% |
| Cash Hunt | 2 segments | 3.70% | 95.27% | 4.73% |
As it turns out, some bet types in Crazy Time offer lower theoretical return than double-zero roulette where the house edge generally stands at 5.26% for most wagers. The only exception is the five-number bet where the house edge escalates to 7.9% but then again there is no great rush on this type of wager, to begin with.
Spin a Win
Software studio Playtech quickly took notice of the success of game shows and ventured into the genre one year after the release of Evolution’s massively popular Dream Catcher. In February 2018, Playtech released a similar money-wheel game show called Spin a Win.
Playtech modeled Spin a Win upon the classic Wheel of Fortune game show that dates back to 1975. We hate to say it but this rendition seems like a ripoff of Dream Catcher in terms of rules, bet types, and gameplay.
| Spin a Win Summary | |
|---|---|
| Release Date | February 2018 |
| Software Studio | Playtech |
| Game Type | Wheel-based game show |
| Betting Limits | $0.10 to $500 |
| Maximum Prize | $500,000.00 |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop, iSO/Android Smartphones, Tablets |
| RTP Range | 90.67% to 97.22% |
Apart from the setting, the main difference is that Spin a Win features a wheel with 53 rather than 54 segments. Players can additionally experiment with several side wagers on odd or even numbers and multiplier segments. Also, the wheel features three instead of four segments for number 10.
| Spin a Win Wheel Segments, Probabilities, and Theoretical Return | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Number of Wheel Segments | Probability of Hitting | Theoretical Return | House Edge |
| 1 | 23 segments | 43.34% | 95.34% | 4.66% |
| 2 | 15 segments | 28.30% | 95.51% | 4.49% |
| 5 | 7 segments | 13.21% | 91.24% | 8.76% |
| 10 | 3 segments | 5.66% | 96.58% | 3.42% |
| 20 | 2 segments | 3.77% | 92.74% | 7.26% |
| 40 | 1 segment | 1.89% | 90.81% | 9.19% |
| Odd Side Bet | 30 segments | 56.60% | 97.22% | 2.78% |
| Even Side Bet | 21 segments | 39.62% | 91.67% | 8.33% |
| Multipliers | 2 segments | 3.77% | 96.30% | 3.70% |
As you can see, the RTP is within the 90.81% to 97.22% range. No guaranteed strategy can improve your winning odds as the game is based entirely on chance. The best you can do is choose bets with a higher theoretical return.
The side bet on odd numbers stands the best chance of winning with an RTP of 97.22%, which is slightly lower than what single-zero live roulette has to offer. As for individual numbers, wagers on number 10 give you the best odds of winning with an RTP of 96.58%.
Closing Thoughts
Savvy players always look at the return percentages because they indicate how much money the games will pay back in the long run. The closer the return is to 100%, the smaller the amount you can expect to lose from a given live dealer game.
As engaging as they are, live game shows are not your best bet from this perspective since most of them yield a theoretical return of less than 96%. If you insist on joining the friendly live presenters occasionally, at least do so in game shows with lower house edges like Cash or Crash, Dream Catcher, and Spin a Win.