Behind "live dealer poker tables" often sits a rule that differs from table to table. The same game can follow different rules at two live tables in the same studio. Blackjack may let the dealer hit a soft seventeen at one table and stand at the next, roulette may add a second zero or random multipliers, and baccarat may drop its commission in exchange for a changed payout. Each change moves the house edge, and each is written in the rule sheet of that table.
Side bets pay large multiples on rare events and carry a house edge several times that of the main game. Live blackjack side bets on pairs or poker hands are the common example, and their payout tables differ from studio to studio. Card shoes are changed or shuffled at a cut card placed by the dealer, so counting cards gains almost nothing in a live stream. The side bet table in the rule sheet shows each payout next to its edge.
Every live table publishes its own rules and return figures, usually behind an information icon in the corner of the video. The return is given for each bet, and the figure for the main bet is the one to compare between tables. Two tables with the same name in the lobby can carry different rules if they come from different studios. Opening the rule sheet before the first round takes less time than one hand.
Answers in brief
How large is the edge on live side bets?
Side bets pay large multiples on rare events and carry an edge several times that of the main game; the rules panel shows each payout beside its edge.
Are surrender and doubling options worth checking?
Yes. When doubling is allowed and whether surrender is offered each shift the edge a little, and the table rules list both options.
How does banker commission work at live baccarat?
Classic tables take a small commission on each banker win, while commission free versions pay banker in full except on one total, where the payout is cut.
How many zeros can a live roulette wheel have?
One, two or even three; a double zero nearly doubles the edge of a single zero wheel, and some tables add a triple zero pocket on top.
What should a live blackjack natural pay?
Three to two is standard; a table paying six to five takes several times more from every player over a session.
How do multiplier roulette tables change payouts?
Random multipliers pay more on a few lucky numbers and less on every other straight bet, so an ordinary straight win returns less than at a standard table.