Definition
Game Show Game
Also known as Live Game Show, Money Wheel, Game Shows
By Abhinav VasudevanReviewed Editorial policy
In short
A game show game is a live casino product styled as a television game show, with a presenter, a large wheel and bonus rounds. They carry noticeably higher house edges than classic table games.
Game show games take the live casino format and build an entertainment product around it: a presenter, a studio set, a large wheel, and bonus rounds with their own mechanics.
Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, Dream Catcher, Deal or No Deal and Mega Ball are the best-known examples, nearly all produced by Evolution.
The typical structure
Most are variations on a money wheel. Bet on a segment, the wheel spins, and matching segments pay their stated multiplier. Special segments trigger bonus rounds. A separate game with larger potential payouts.
The bonus rounds are where most of the RTP sits, in the same way slot bonus rounds work.
The cost
This is the part worth knowing before playing.
| Game | Typical house edge |
|---|---|
| European roulette | 2.70% |
| Blackjack (basic strategy) | 0.50% |
| Baccarat (banker) | 1.06% |
| Dream Catcher | 3.4–5.5% |
| Monopoly Live | 3.5–8% |
| Crazy Time | 3.6–5.3% |
| Deal or No Deal | 3.8–5.5% |
Game shows are two to ten times more expensive per unit staked than the classic tables sitting in the same lobby.
The edge also varies substantially between bets within the same game. On most money wheels the low-paying frequent segments carry a lower edge than the high-paying rare ones, sometimes by several percentage points. The information is in the game rules.
Why they succeed anyway
They are genuinely entertaining, they require no knowledge, and the bonus rounds produce large visible wins that classic tables do not.
They also attract a different audience, players who would not sit at a baccarat table, which is precisely why operators promote them so heavily.
The honest framing
These are entertainment products with a gambling mechanic, priced accordingly. Played as entertainment for small stakes they are reasonable value for what they are. Played as a serious attempt to win money they are among the worst bets in a live casino lobby, and the nearby roulette table is three times cheaper.
Common questions
Are live game shows worth playing?
As entertainment they are genuinely good. As a bet they are poor: house edges run 3.4% to 8% against 2.70% for European roulette sitting in the same lobby, so you pay two to ten times more per pound.
Which game show bets have the lowest edge?
It varies within each game, often by several percentage points, and the low-paying frequent segments usually carry a lower edge than the rare high-paying ones. The figures are in the game rules.